ANOTHER FALL, ANOTHER FESTIVAL — The Festival of the Arts will return to Toronto once again, celebrating its 47th-annual fall event. This year’s festival is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 30 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Gazebo Commons area. Booths and tents will be set up for area crafters and vendors. A variety of foods will be for sale by local organizations. -- Contributed

TORONTO — It is a Gem City tradition, an event which unites an entire town.

It is a pastime that has been around for almost five decades.

And next weekend, it will make its return to Toronto once again.

The two-day, outdoor Festival of the Arts will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 30 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 31. The event occurs on the grounds around the city’s Gazebo Commons, located next to the First Presbyterian and Riverview Methodist churches, as well as the areas of North Third and Main streets.

Members of the nonprofit Focus in Toronto organization are making final preparations for this longstanding tradition, which brings out residents from throughout the Tri-State Area.

HONEY, HONEY, HONEY — Suzan and Joe Kovaleski, owners of Buena Vista Honey Farms in Steubenville, have been selling their locally-produced “honey from the heart,” for years during the annual Festival of the Arts event in Toronto. The long-time vendors sell a mix of honey products to visitors, ranging from bottles of honey to candles to honeystix. -- Contributed

According to officials with Focus in Toronto, its members work diligently to ensure the festival happens each year in order to keep that tradition alive.

This particular end-of-the-summer weekend is something for which Toronto is known, and is an event that has left its mark on the hearts of those who run it.

As in years past, the event will offer a variety of handmade arts and crafts, as well as live entertainment and a vast selection of food, prepared by local clubs and organizations selling their items as fundraisers.

Focus in Toronto members begin preparing months in advance. This helps to ensure there will be enough vendor participation, as the festival tries to provide a wide selection of arts and crafts to the public.

“The possibilities are endless when you step into the world of imagination and creativity,” members said, noting some of the available items.

PREPARING FOR AUTUMN — Booths and tents, such as this one displaying a variety of autumn decorations, can be found at this year’s 47th-annual Festival of the Arts, taking place in mid-town Toronto next weekend. -- Contributed

There will be various styles of wooden yard decorations through which households can proudly display their support for their favorite sports team, particularly crafts pertaining to Ohio State, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Toronto Red Knights.

“Whether you’re here to find your favorite vendors, or just enjoy looking around, you are sure to find something that you like,” organizers said.

Focus in Toronto Vice President Julie Ault, a board of education member for the city, explained that although there is no way to know precisely just how many visitors attend the festival each year, as tickets are not taken for admittance, she approximates the weekend prior to Labor Day usually garners approximately 500 people or more each day.

“Every year, quite a few people from the Toronto area and outlining areas come to the art festival,” Ault said. “It is a longtime tradition for our town.”

“We have steadily increased our craft vendors each year, and this year we will have a total of 80 vendors,” Ault stated. “We also have variety of newcomers to the festival this year. Our vendors offer a wide variety of items for people to purchase, including candles, baked goods, stained glass, crochet items, yard ornaments and jewelry, among other things.”

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS — This aerial view, taken from a drone, shows just how large the Festival of the Arts in Toronto can grow. Held at the Gazebo commons and surrounding areas, the festival lines North Third and Main streets and surrounds the First Presbyterian and Riverview Methodist churches. -- Contributed

The festival will once again be offering several food vendors to patronize.

For example, in the rear of the churches, Toronto Band Parents set up a tent and offer several homemade items for patrons to purchase, including hot dogs, tacos in a bag, meatball sandwiches, sloppy joes, haluski and other sandwiches and sides.

Organizers said they value the opportunity to keep the arts thriving. Patronizing the Toronto High School band and its booth during the festival is another way the community can show its support.

There are some years when the weather can be extremely hot while at the festival. Those searching for an opportunity to cool off are able to visit one of the lemonade stands that will be available or perhaps purchase a flavored shaved ice from a vending truck.

Another way those attending the festival can take a break from the heat is to visit the Riverview Methodist Church, which will be selling a selection of homemade foods and desserts inside the church basement. Customers are able to sit and dine inside the air-conditioned downstairs dining area or take their items with them. Access can be granted through the rear door in the alleyway.

“There will be everything from cheeseburgers to meatball sandwiches to french fries,” organizers announced.

Ault stated she looks forward to the festival every year.

“A lot of people come home on Labor Day and families with their children that live far away come down and enjoy the festival, listening to live music, eating some great food and getting some Christmas shopping done,” Ault said. “I most enjoy seeing the different types of vendors and what they have to offer.”

She noted there are different vendors who participate every year.

“I enjoy reconnecting and conversing with our longtime vendors,” Ault continued. “We have vendors who have been with us since the very beginning. We try our best to promote and get the word out so that they have a good turnout and sell their goods.”

Ault mentioned that some of the festival’s vendors have been attending for several years, including the owners of Buena Vista Honey Farms, Joe and Suzan Kovaleski.

The locally-produced honey business based in Steubenville lies within the heart of Jefferson County, according to its signage — which is prominently displayed across the front of the Kovaleski’s booth.

The couple does more than just sell honey in various flavors of the season, however; their bee business affords them the opportunity to make honey candy and beeswax candles. These items, along with honey sticks and more, will be available at the Kovaleski’s booth during the festival.

The Toronto Lions Club is another participant that sets up at the festival every year.

The club continues to sell its popular chicken dinners, serving the meals in Styrofoam to-go containers, which allows for patrons to either take their meal home or dine at one of the food court tables.

The Lions dinners sold at the Festival of the Arts is the group’s largest fundraiser of the year, club officials announced. Members who volunteer to work the event say they sell hundreds of dinners during the two-day festival.

Proceeds raised through the sales always go back into the community, helping residents through the multiple projects of the club.

Lions officials previously noted they have been doing their chicken dinner fundraiser since the festival’s inception — and even before then, as sales were conducted during the city’s annual Labor Day celebration.

“I also look forward to our new vendors and seeing what they can bring to the table,” Ault stated.

There are usually a few new vendors which participate every year, she said.

The festival will be selling tickets to win a holiday package for a two-night stay at the Dutch Host Inn in Amish country. For a $5 donation, one ticket will be given for a chance at winning the trip, which includes a full breakfast and full-course dinner for two, along with other Amish freebies. Venmo, PayPal or cash will be accepted for the donation, organizers noted.

A selection of items that have been donated from each participating vendor will be awarded during several drawings to take place, including a 50-50 and special drawing.

This year’s entertainment will include performances by live bands and a selection of various performers.

Opening ceremonies will kick off the festival at 11 a.m. Aug. 30, when Mayor John Parker welcomes those to the city. Little Miss Lions and the Toronto High School band will be among those taking part in the start of the event.

Additional entertainment for Aug. 30 will include the Toronto cheerleaders at noon, Owl Eyes at 12:30 p.m., Toronto High School poetry contest at 2 p.m., JAR at 2:30 p.m. and the Denizens at 4 p.m.

The entertainment for Aug. 31 will include Shawn Villamagna at 11:30 a.m., Bucket List at 12:45 p.m., Brasset Hounds at 2:15 p.m. and the Ron Retzer Trio at 3:30 p.m.

“We aim to offer a diverse selection of performances to meet everyone’s entertainment needs,” Ault noted.

Organizers say the goal is to be able to create an event in which families and friends can get together and enjoy what the Gem City has to offer.

“Focus in Toronto keeps the focus in Toronto,” the group said. “Proceeds from the festival help us to help many people each year.”

During the festival weekend, the Main Street Museum will be open to guests from noon to 3 p.m. on Aug. 30 and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 31.

Previously located right in the heart of the festival, the museum is now located inside the Karaffa Recreation Center on Dennis Way.

Museum visitors will have their final opportunity to view the vintage quilt and linen display, along with terra cotta artifacts from the Francy/Cooper building that is being demolished.

“We are hoping for great weather and to have record-breaking attendance this year,” Ault stated.

“Focus in Toronto loves doing this event for the people of Toronto because it is a long-standing tradition that we don’t want to see end,” Ault continued. “We are also the coordinators of the Christmas Art Festival, the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event and parade and the Christmas parade.”

“We have a house decorating contest for Christmas and do sleigh ride events throughout the month of December,” Ault concluded. “We are a nonprofit organization that gives back to others through the money we raise during these events. We offer a scholarship to a deserving Toronto High School student who commits to giving back to their community by volunteering, just as our group does.”

Everyone involved with Focus in Toronto wants those throughout the Ohio Valley to know that whether it is browsing the many styles of crafts on site, specifically coming for a certain type of food, or simply wanting to enjoy the area’s live entertainment that will be offered, the 47th-annual Festival of the Arts is exactly the place they will want to be next weekend.

For updates and the latest information on the festival, visit the festival’s Facebook page.