Buttercream Festival grows with more attractions, space


IF YOU GO

WHAT: West Carrollton Buttercream Festival.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: 5655 Marina Drive.

ENTERTAINMENT: 5K walk/run; arts and crafts, food and beer; children’s activities; live music beginning at 11:30 a.m.

ADMISSION: Free.

West Carrollton’s Buttercream Festival will be held at a larger site this year that can accommodate nearly 50 vendors and three live bands.

The festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, is being sponsored by the West Carrollton Merchants Association at 5655 Marina Drive, a 3-acre site near the Great Miami River.

A 5K walk/run and a veterans recognition ceremony will be part of the morning activities at the event, which will feature outdoor beer sales for the first time.

This year will also be the first time the festival – which began in 2009 at ele’ Cake Co. on East Dixie Drive – will be held at the Marina Drive site, offering more room and exposure from Interstate 75, said event Chairwoman Melody Richey, co-owner of ele’.

“I think this year it’s going to be bigger and better than we’ve had in the past,” she said.

The event will kick off with the 5K walk/run beginning at 9 a.m. The 5K will be along the Great Miami River recreation trail with about 100 participants having pre-registered as of earlier in the week, organizers said. A veterans recognition ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Vendors will open for business at 11 a.m. They will include businesses from Butler, Clermont, Greene, Montgomery and Warren counties offering a variety of arts, crafts, food, desserts and beer, said Karri Marshall of the merchants association.

This year’s fest will feature three musical acts, with Jim Merrick at 11:30 a.m., Ann & Phil Case at 3:30 p.m. and the Eric Jeradi Band at 6:30 p.m.

The festival will also feature kids’ activities, including bouncy houses.

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