Avon’s community events, unique restaurants, and proximity to Lake Erie make it a great location to consider when planning an Ohio vacation. Outdoor enthusiasts will love attractions such as the Miller Nature Preserve, which features 78 wooded acres and a 5,000 square foot nature center. Families should stop by Sprenger Stadium for a Lake Erie Crushers baseball game to partake in the theme nights, kids zone, and more.
The Avon Heritage Duck Tape® Festival is ramping up for another family-friendly spectacular, and it will take place June 16-18, at Veterans Memorial Park. It’s the largest celebration of duct tape in America and organizers expect more than 60,000 attendees from around the planet. The theme this year is “Circus Spectacular” and participants will encounter a variety of fun carnival style games and activities. A Duck Tape® Makers Area will offer attendees of all ages the chance to create arts and crafts with duct tape, and patrons will find life-sized statues made of duct tape throughout the event grounds. Attendees will also get to see a parade with floats and costumes made of duct tape, and a fashion show with outfits made of duct tape. Patrons will love the large selection of festival fare, and the variety of music acts performing on two stages. We got the chance to interview Ashley Luke, Category Manager for ShurTech Brands, to learn more about this great family event.
RAL: How long has the event been running?
AL: The event was created in 2004, so this year will be our 14th Avon Heritage Duck Tape® Festival, and our theme is “Circus Spectacular.” Past festival themes include Americana, Tropical Vacation, Out of This World, Peace, Love and Duck Tape, Mardi Gras, Pirates, Real Fans Stick Together™, Duck Tape® on Safari and Decades of Duck Tape®.
RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?
AL: You can find more than 60,000 Duck Tape® enthusiasts from all over the world at our event. Since the debut, the festival has attracted more than half a million people!
RAL: What demographic does your event attract? Children? Families? Couples?
AL: The festival draws a little bit of every demographic! We pride ourselves on being a family-friendly and free event.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
AL: The Avon Heritage Duck Tape® Festival showcases and celebrates Dad’s favorite fix-all – Duck Tape®. There are life-sized Duck Tape® art and sculptures, an art and craft Duck Tape® Maker tent, and even a parade with floats made with Duck Tape®. The event was created in 2004 when long-time residents of Avon, Ohio, approached ShurTech Brands, LLC (the company that markets the Duck® brand) to help resurrect the city’s dormant Festival of Flowers. The company agreed to be the title sponsor, but suggested adding a sticky twist to pay homage to the company’s flagship product: Duck Tape®, also an integral part of the business community in Avon.
RAL: Take me through the activities of a day at the event.
AL: Saturday is the biggest day of the festival. The day kicks off with the Annual Duck Tape® Parade at 10:00 am. From there, the Duck Tape® Festival Fashion Show Extravaganza starts at 1:30 pm on the Main Stage. Here, attendees can watch Duck Tape® enthusiasts strut their stuff in their best Duck Tape® outfits and win awesome prizes. Festival attendees can also shop for Duck Tape® souvenirs at the Big Top Gift Shop, located on Festival grounds.
RAL: Will there be any guest appearances?
AL: Throughout the weekend, you'll find all kinds of music – we have an acapella doo-wop group, singer-songwriters, Nashville recording artists, and even a tribute to The Cars.
RAL: What dining options will attendees encounter?
AL: Traditional festival fare will be featured all weekend including funnel cakes, corn dogs, cotton candy, and more.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
AL: Avon is near the shores of Lake Erie, which boasts a variety of unique vacation property rentals, and is less than 30 minutes for downtown Cleveland.
RAL: Are there any lodging specials that are set up specifically for the event?
AL: Mention the Duck Tape® Festival when you call the Fairfield Inn (39050 Colorado Ave, Avon, OH 44011) for a discounted rate!
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
AL: The Avon Heritage Duck Tape® Festival is fun for everyone in the family! It’s not every day that you celebrate a household, fix-all product. Duct tape has morphed from a military invention into a medium for expression in the fields of fashion, arts and crafts. It's now a staple product in the “maker” community as a means for parents, educators, creators, and self-starters to express new ideas.
For more information about the The Avon Heritage Duck Tape® Festival, please visit the event website.