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Event’s name, attractions to change for West Chester’s ‘signature event’

PAT AUCKERMAN/MBR The crowd makes its way through the streets of the Union Centre Boulevard Bash in West Chester Twp. Friday Aug. 14, 2009.

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer 10:55 PM Sunday, February 28, 2010

WEST CHESTER TWP. — New attractions and amenities could draw even more spectators to an already successful local music and food festival this summer.

Organizers of the former Union Centre Boulevard Bash — now named the Union Centre Boulevard Blast — have been busy recreating the event to become more of a regional draw, employing some best practices from similar showcases across the country.

The Blast will be Aug. 13-15.

Plans began to change for the festival early this year when the Union Centre Boulevard Merchants Association decided against having the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber — which produces the annual Taste of Cincinnati and Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, among other events — run the festival as they have for the past six years.

Instead, the Merchants Association inked a deal with West Chester-based By Design, which will spearhead The Blast for the next three years.

“We told them (UCB merchants) if we were doing it, we would approach it differently,” said Festival Manager Hague Atkinson. “They liked the ideas that we had, so we now have it for the next three years.”

Among the first steps is establishing better communication with local businesses to participate in the event, Atkinson said.

“We are in constant communication with the merchants association,” he said. “For the first time in several years, they’re much more involved than in year’s past.”

While the festival’s footprint will remain largely the same — such as its location at The Square @ Union Centre, carnival rides, music, food and drink — the direction of The Blast will be directed at families, adults, teens and children with multiple activities happening at the same time, “sort of like what you’d see at a state fair,” Atkinson said.

“We have envisioned this event to be a regional destination festival where people will plan a trip to West Chester just to attend because it will have features that aren’t available anywhere else,” Atkinson said. “We’re trying to be different.”

Township Trustee Lee Wong said he appreciates the buy-in and the improved communication among planners and the local merchants association.

“The foundation has been set by the previous group,” he said. “This current group, they’re grabbing the torch and moving on. I’m optimistic it will do well. It’s something that will be community-oriented and run by the people of West Chester. It’s West Chester’s signature event.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

What’s new

A laser light show planned for Aug. 14 will replace the fireworks show that has been nixed in recent years because of building density near The Square @ Union Centre

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Ohio Proud project — which showcases locally grown and manufactured products — will host a pavilion much like a farmer’s market, and a mobile cooking stage for cooking seminars

More food than in year’s past, including between 20 and 30 vendors, who will complete in a “Best of” tasting in June

Local and national distributors for beer and wine tasting “tours” all under a special pavilion to complement traditional wine and beer booths

Local and national-name music acts and bands all three days

On-land demonstrations by the Fairfield-based Wake Nation

A traveling collection of feathered predators on display by The Raptor Project

A 5K and 10K run set for Saturday with a “significant” purse, festival organizer Hague Atkinson said, with “elite runners from about a 100-mile radius”

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