11 Expanding Community Reach Through CedarFest As one of Cedarville’s long-standing traditions, CedarFest celebrates the village’s unique distinction as the birthplace of Labor Day. In 2025, Andrea Kannedy took the lead on coordinating the event, bringing fresh energy and structure to the celebration. We also brought CedarFest under the umbrella of Revitalize Cedarville and our Sidewalk Saturday initiative. CedarFest moved onto downtown Main Street, transforming the heart of the village into a lively festival corridor. A dedicated website provided residents and guests with clear, accessible event details. Attendance was strong, and regional visibility increased significantly, thanks to Gabrielle Enright from WHIO-TV, who served as the parade emcee. These enhancements reinforced CedarFest as a signature, community-building weekend in the village calendar. Little Town of Lights: A Community Highlight A cherished tradition that marks the beginning of the Christmas season and the final Sidewalk Saturday of the year, Little Town of Lights also benefited from Andrea Kannedy’s leadership in 2025. Her thoughtful planning and strong community connections resulted in meaningful improvements and broader participation. Key enhancements included: • Santa’s station relocated to Village Hall, maximizing space and improving visitor flow. • The annual Bake Auction moved to the former pharmacy, helping distribute foot traffic and activity. • Grace Baptist Church expanded its involvement by hosting a Winter Wonderland in the old Huntington Bank, serving chili, and presenting a live nativity. • Both Grace Baptist and Restoration Church participated in the parade, adding energy and community representation. These additions created a warm, festive, and well attended celebration that brought the community together in remarkable ways. Thanks to effective social media promotion by Sasha Whitaker, CedarFest and Little Town of Lights saw increased reach and engagement throughout the region. Promoting the Great Things Happening in Our Village The Promotions Committee coordinated with Sasha Whitaker and the University’s marketing and communications division to design a “Cedarville Awaits” billboard visible as you enter Xenia on the north side of Rt. 42. Revitalize Cedarville paid the cost to print the billboard, but the billboard exposure — thanks to the outdoor billboard company’s representative Ben Ormsbee (who is also a long-time Village resident) — is being provided at no charge. The goal of the billboard is to draw visitors to enjoy the outdoor activities in Cedarville and shop and dine at our businesses. Sasha Whitacre managed a very active Revitalize Cedarville social media presence that continues to build awareness of the Board’s efforts and build positive momentum for activities within the Village.
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