Popular programs, events ‘reinvented’ in pandemic will stick around
Drive-in Movies, Supporting Gahanna Together Day, and the Great Ghanna Goblin Trail are some local events that debuted due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic but are returning for a sequel due to their popularity.
Mary Szymkowiak, Gahanna’s marketing manager, said Parks & Recreation’s programs were hardest hit by the pandemic.
“Our dedicated and creative P&R team was able to shoot and offer a variety of new programs as well as reinvent some of the existing programs in a virtual or still ‘personal’ way, while adhering to all COVID-related protocols and mandates. ” She said.
Szymkowiak said the department launched the summer drive-in and concert series in 2020 and will repeat it this summer.
The drive-in series is a bit of old-school fun and features family-friendly movies at Headley Park, 1031 Challis Springs Drive, she said.
“Shrek” will be in the drive-in theater starting July 16 at 9:00 pm, and “Hook” will hit the big screen on August 6 at 9:00 pm.
Advance ticket sales of USD 20 per vehicle are required and can be purchased online.
Szymkowiak said the free live summer concert series is also back, but instead of the drive-in format, attendees will be performing face-to-face at Friendship Park, 150 Oklahoma Ave. see, online reservation required in advance.
Presented by Tina Wedebrook, REMAX Connection, the concerts begin at 5pm and will feature Roxy Mae on July 10th; Thieves & Rivals, July 24th; Pop Gun, Aug. 14; and The Goldsberrys, August 28th.
Szymkowiak said the Great Gahanna Goblin Trail in October 2020 was a huge success and the plan is to take it this year from October 21-22 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Academy Park, 1201 Cherry Bottom Road, to organize.
Tickets go on sale on October 1st and are limited.
She said the drive-thru Halloween event sold out quickly last year with a choreographed light show, fire performer, and stilt walkers.
“Following the success of last year’s Supporting Gahanna Together Day, we will repeat the event on September 4th in different locations across Gahanna,” said Szymkowiak. “The #SupportingGahannaTogether Day brings together partners from the community, organizations and residents to celebrate our city with activities and projects.”
Virtual feet
Lori Kappes, executive director of the Ghanna Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the organization-sponsored Pies in the Park was turned into a virtual event last year and will be repeated this year.
“We used social media to feature a local pizzeria every day for a week and we encouraged people to order pizza locally and vote for their favorite sauce, crust and people’s choice,” she said. “We have had positive feedback from the pizzerias, including The Mug.
“They said they saw increased business this week. They also said they gained several new customers as a result of the event,” she said. “Otherwise you could not take part in the personal event in the past.”
Kappes said the office, also known as Visit Gahanna, has also added some new activities to keep people busy safely.
Activities included the Creekside Pumpkin Crawl, the Creekside Luminary Walk, and the Cocktail and Chocolate Walk held on Valentine’s Day.
“It is likely that we will repeat all of these events because we were happy with the response and people seemed to be enjoying them,” she said.
Protocol plans
Melissa Rapp, Mifflin Township Public Information Officer, said some protocol changes remain in place in the township.
“In 2020, during the renovation work on the new operations center, we added an ionization unit to the air filter system to clean the air and protect it from airborne viruses,” she said.
In addition, laptops were made available to employees who could work remotely at the beginning of the pandemic, and this will continue in the event that anyone tests positive for the coronavirus or another contagious disease, she said.
“We have also added stations for hand disinfection in the office, especially at the entry points for external guests,” said Rapp. “We will continue the COVID prevention protocols, such as hand washing and masking for unvaccinated guests and remote access to the townships trustee meetings.”
Judy Hengstebeck, communications coordinator for Ghanna-Jefferson Public Schools, said the district hadn’t finalized anything for the next school year on programming or protocols started during the potentially ongoing pandemic.
@ThisWeekMarla
