American Legion Post 290 will holds its 137th annual Columbiana Street Fair beginning Thursday. Special needs youth can enjoy a day of free rides and food from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, according to event manager Jacob Sevek. (File photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

COLUMBIANA — Kissel Amusements of Canton once again will provide the rides when the American Legion Post 290 holds its 137th annual Columbiana Street Fair Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 5-7.

Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, explained Jacob Sevek, fair manager.

In addition to mechanical rides and games, the event includes fair food, bingo, courtesy of the Sons of the American Legion; a photo contest and a two-day BBQ chicken dinner, courtesy of Grace Church.

Entry forms for the photo contest can be either downloaded at columbianastreetfair.com or retrieved in person from the Columbiana Public Library (332 North Middle St.) or Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce, (11 North Main St.) by noon Wednesday, Sept. 4. The contest is open to all amateur photographers. Cost is $5 entry fee per photo and submissions must be mounted as directed on the contest form.

A typical dinner includes half of a BBQ chicken, baked potato, homemade sides of applesauce and coleslaw plus a roller with butter in addition to a beverage. The cost is $14 for an adult and $9 for a child. Pie is available at an extra cost.

All the dinners are prepared for carryout; however, there is seating available both inside and outside.

Meals will be served from 4 to 11p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday (or until sold out).

The Fireman’s Parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday down East Park through the roundabout and back down North Main.

Line up for participating units is at 5 p.m. by Firestone Park.

The three-day event routinely draws 30,000 fairgoers from approximately an 100-mile radius of the city.

Additional business sponsors are the Shaker Woods Festival, Inc.; Columbiana Area Tourism Bureau; #1 Cochran family of dealerships; the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission; Sitler the Printer Inc.; Columbiana Barber Shop; L&M Greenhouse LLC; Straight From The Tap; Yarian Brothers Construction; Clark Carney Realty Group and Stop Traffic Graphics.

Shuttle pickup and drop-off from available parking is available on the northeast quadrant of the city and near the roundabout, as shown on the event website’s parking map.

More information can be viewed at columbianastreetfair.com

The first Columbiana Street Fair was held on Saturday, Sept. 19, 1885, where items of produce, livestock and handmade items are judged and won prizes. In 1920 , the Benjamin Firestone Post 290 of the American Legion had taken over the Street Fair from the Columbiana merchants, who had been operating it as single day event on Saturdays.

The fair took on the shape of what it is today with a quarter-mile midway made up of rides, games, music, food, prizes, arts and crafts.

The Legion took a break from the fair in 1943 to concentrate on the war effort, but brought it back the next year.

Almost a decade ago, current fair manager Jacob Sevek took over the Columbiana Street Fair, which is considered the second largest in the state of Ohio.

Fair manager Jacob Sevek explained that the fair is one of the biggest fundraisers for the American Legion, its Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion.

No information was available about the cost of the daily ride wristbands as of Wednesday.