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Columbiana council approves series of downtown events, street closures and fee waivers
Summary
The Columbiana City Council approved multiple downtown events, including banner and fee waivers, DORA requests and street closures for summer and fall activities.
Columbiana City Council on March 4 approved a slate of downtown events that will close portions of Main Street for vendor markets, a three‑day Music and Chalk on Main weekend and the city’s annual Christmas parade.
The actions followed presentations from event organizers and a request from the American Legion auxiliary for permission to hold its annual Poppy Project. Council approved the American Legion dates, a banner‑fee waiver for Project Playground’s Family Fun Day, a three‑day closure and DORA requests for several festival weekends and a three‑date Market on Main schedule.
Council vote counts were recorded by roll call on each motion and were unanimous on the items considered that evening.
Organizers said the events are intended to support downtown businesses and provide family activities. Michaela Good, who requested a fee waiver for a Project Playground banner, said the group’s family fun night last year “brought in about $8,000 in a matter of a couple hours.” Joyce Alcorn, representing American Legion Post 290, asked for approval to hold the post’s poppy fundraising May 23–24; council approved that request.
The council approved a Music and Chalk on Main event proposed by the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce and the Columbiana Area Tourism Bureau. Organizers told council they plan professional chalk artists, local musical performances, food trucks, vendors and children’s activities and asked for a street closure from South Main Street to the PNC Bank and use of the Columbiana Plaza. The presenters requested closures Friday, June 13 (setup) and a full weekend June 14–15, with the main musical acts concentrated Saturday midday into evening. Council approved the closure and the related waivers.
Council members and organizers discussed logistics including where the musical stage would be sited to keep chalk artists spread out and a recommendation from a council member to require vendors not to use city trash receptacles, directing them instead to private vendor waste provisions and the city recycling center a block away.
The Chamber also sought approval for a fall festival (first Saturday in October), a DORA designation and food‑truck waivers; council approved those requests. Council approved the 25th annual Columbiana Christmas parade for Friday, Nov. 21, with a street closure from West Salem to Pittsburgh running roughly 5:45 a.m. until about 7:30 p.m., and no rain date was set.
Market on Main organizers presented three dates — May 17, July 26 and Sept. 20 — asking for Main Street closures from the circle to the bank and a DORA designation for the events. Organizers said they expect roughly 40 vendors across the dates, mostly from Mahoning County and neighboring communities; they also said vendor proceeds will be administered through the American Legion for event costs and local nonprofit distribution. Council voted to approve the three dates, associated closures and waiver requests.
Council made the approvals as consent actions after presentations and questions about trash, vendor placement and security barriers. Organizers said they will supply additional logistics details such as specific vendor layouts and whether food trucks could be counted as physical barriers at street entries.
Planning staff and council members said they will continue to coordinate permits and logistics as the event organizers finalize vendor lists and layouts.
