Annual Carnation Festival Celebrates State Flower

Each August, members of the Alliance community and
former community members converge on the Carnation
city to celebrate the Carnation Festival, which has been
held for almost 50 years.
The 10-day festival features parades, gatherings and numerous
events held throughout the city.
Alliance became known as the "Carnation City" for Alliance
doctor and politician Levi Lamborn's cultivation of the red carnation
in his greenhouse located at the corner of Main Street and Union
Avenue. Lamborn purchased six potted carnation plants in 1866
and began raising them thereafter.
Lamborn ran against William McKinley for the congressional
seat for the district and often presented McKinley, who admired the
red carnation, with a flower for his lapel before political debates.
As McKinley continued his political career as Governor of Ohio
and President of the United States, he continued to wear the red
carnation during his political debates.
In 1904, 20 years after Lamborn suggested the flower be made
a state emblem, the Ohio General Assembly voted to make the
carnation the official state flower in reverence of McKinley. In
1959, Alliance was named the "Carnation City" by the General Assembly
and the first Carnation Festival was held in 1960.
Each year, the festival begins with a Rib Fest which is held in
the Carnation Mall parking lot. Rib and food vendors offer various
treats and entertainment is provided by local bands.
A kick-off parade, held the first Sunday of the festival, winds
from Park and Main Street to Glamorgan Castle. The Carnation
Queen is crowned and her court is chosen on Sunday evening
following the annual queen's pageant held at Alliance High School.
The queen and her court make appearances at many of the events
throughout the festival.
During festival week, numerous events are held in locations
throughout the community. Events include ice cream socials at
local nursing homes, men and women's golf scrambles, a flower
show, car shows, tours of the historic Haines and Mabel Hartzell
homes, a used book sale, a vintage baseball game and a style
show.
A Carnation photo contest is held each year at Carnation Mall,
where photos are on display throughout the festival. All babies
born at Alliance Community Hospital during the festival are recognized
with special gift bags and the first baby born during the
festival is featured as the Carnation Baby in The Alliance Review.
The final days of the festival take place at Silver Park, where
Days in the Park features food and craft vendors, a hot air balloon
liftoff, a pet show and various forms of entertainment including
an annual performance by the Alliance Symphony Orchestra. On
Saturday, the last day of the festival, a fireworks show is held as a
celebration of the week's events.
The festival is often spoken of by members of the Alliance
community as an opportunity for old friends to catch up and many
former Alliance residents make the trip back to their hometown to
enjoy festival events each year.
Yearly festivities are planned by the Festival Board, which
consists of community members serving in various positions.
Each year the festival president, who was vice-president the year
before, oversees and helps to organize events. The president for
the 2008 festival is Nicole Edwards, who can be contacted at (330)
823-1563.
For more information, see www. carnationfestival.com or call
the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce at (330) 823-6260.