Large scale summer events starting to make a comeback in the Miami Valley – WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio

MIAMI VALLEY — Large-scale festivities and fairs are making a comeback this year.

With minimal COVID-19 restrictions and the weather getting warmer people have been waiting to get back to some form of normalcy.

Early Saturday afternoon Downtown Dayton’s Courthouse Square was packed with people celebrating Pride Month.

In Troy, a popular festival is welcoming visitors again.

“It’s been crazy, we’ve been busy, I heard this was record crowd numbers this year,” Katie Clevenger, a vendor at Troy’s Strawberry Festival.

It is estimated more than 100,000 people will be attending the festival this year.

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“Finally get to get out of the house,” Gracie Dietrick of Archanum said.

The event was canceled in 2020 and scaled back last year, but this year it’s in full swing.

Dayton’s Pride saw some of the largest crowds in its history as well.

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“To see people collecting as a community and having fun and have a great turnout, it really warms our hearts,” Greater Dayton LGBT Center President R.J. McKay said.

One attendee said it was nice to see people smile again.

“Just to see people smile, interact, be friendly, just happy to be out, happy to be alive, celebrating life,” Leslie Schuh of Lima said.

Both Pride and the Strawberry festival will continue on Sunday.

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