Mahoning Valley -
With any luck at all, the beautiful weather we had for Memorial Day 2021 will only be a sign of things to come.
 
After losing so many of the events we love to COVID last year, the hunger for those summer staples is palpable.
 
"We are expecting a big, big season," says George Roman, director of entertainment for the Canfield Fair. The biggest issue for the fair board in planning this year's comeback edition has been securing talent for the grandstands.
 
"Everybody's just been a little cautious and a little leery about signing contracts, both us and the entertainers but we've had casual conversations with them going on, we're excited, they want to be back out on the road," Roman said, adding that everyone is planning for potential changes while pushing full steam ahead.
 
"Everybody that we have talked to or run into, they are just so excited for the fact that we are going to have a fair."
 
The same goes for folks in Columbiana County, who saw their fair canceled last year.
 
"Junior fair entries are up for the animals, we've got all our entertainment booked for the grandstand, we're moving forward with full capacity at this point," said fair board president John Wolf.
 
The midway is also filling up with vendors and the rides are ready to roll.
 
In Austintown, the fireworks displays - a favorite of so many - will rule the skies once again this year.
But there will be a few differences from years past.
 
"Inflatables, bounce houses, face painting, interacting with the clowns and so on, those are things we're not going to have," said Township Trustee Jim Davis. 
 
But as life slowly returns to normal, it's hard to imagine many people complaining.