Annual Ohio Swiss Festival seeking event sponsors
The Ohio Swiss Festival queen and princess contests are one of many events that are sponsored during the annual event. The Swiss Festival Committee is currently seeking sponsors for some key events for its 2024 festival.
The annual Ohio Swiss Festival brings with it plenty of festivities, food and fun including yodeling, grand parades, rides, the Steinstossen, apple fritters and all things cheese, creating an exciting three days in Sugarcreek.
While all the events throughout the Sept. 26-28 festival bring thousands of people to the area, it doesn’t happen without a lot of effort from the host of chairpeople and volunteers and the various sponsors who help make it all happen.
Bev Keller, director of corporate sponsorship, advertising and marketing for the Ohio Swiss Festival, has begun the process of reaching out to potential sponsors in an effort to nail down the funding necessary to ensure the Ohio Swiss Festival continues to offer everything that has made it such a unique spectacle over the last three quarters of a century.
“The Ohio Swiss Festival is a hometown Sugarcreek tradition that welcomes in thousands of guests and welcomes home friends and families alike,” Keller said. “This year, the 71st edition, is no different as the Swiss cheese carpet will be laid out and friends old and new will be embraced.
“To make the event possible, the Ohio Swiss Festival relies on the financial support of local and regional businesses to offset costs. The price of entertainment from polka bands to mainstream music hasn’t decreased nor has the cost of just keeping the lights on. There are costs in having sound for each event and police and EMS coverage from start to finish. There are also costs to keep the pavilion up to date and bleachers repaired for events like Steinstossen.”
Keller said there are various sponsorship levels available from Bronze to Platinum and most everything in between. She said the funds are used wisely and can be directed for specific purposes such as sponsoring the Main Street stage entertainment lineup or the pavilion.
“We invite local businesses who want to get their name in front of current and potential customers to consider getting involved,” Keller said.
Keller said bringing a stage sponsor on board remains the most important challenge for the event because it is an integral part of the weekend, and bringing in quality groups is something they believe is important.
“When we as a community help offset the expenses and help create a memorable atmosphere surrounding the festival, then everybody wins,” Keller said. “We need those local dollars to make all of these unique and wonderful events possible.”
All volunteers who assist in the effort are unpaid, ensuring every penny donated goes directly into benefiting the festival.
“We all give of our time and talent to showcase The Little Switzerland of Ohio for all it has to offer,” Keller said. “We believe in our community and want to showcase our rich heritage while also drawing visitors far and wide.”
She said it all boils down to community, businesses large and small, dedicated volunteers, and a host of people behind the scenes who make the Ohio Swiss Festival an event not to miss.
“I can tell you that this event has grown in the past several years,” Keller said. “That is, in part, to the support of our local business community. We are grateful for those who have stepped up, acted and want to ensure the Ohio Swiss Festival continues for another 70 years.”
She said this event provides great family entertainment from start to finish, especially for the kids.
“Giving children the opportunity to make memories and to create an environment for families to be together or reunite is the Swiss cheese to our sandwich,” Keller said.
Anyone interested in learning more about how to become a sponsor may call Keller at 330-556-0238.