Melon Fest still on for now

MILAN — The COVID-19 pandemic has forced dozens of yearly events to be canceled. But organizers of the Milan Melon Festival, for the time being, plan to host the annual event this September. The Melon Festival is one of the area's most popular events drawing hundreds of people every Labor Day weekend to Milan's village square. After social distancing guidelines and restrictions on large groups forced the Huron River Festival, the Basket Festival in Berlin Heights, Ohio Bike Week and several other events to cancel, many people wondered if the Melon Fest would be the next event to go. But the Milan Melon festival's committee responded to speculation Wednesday in a social media post. "The Milan Melon Festival Committee would like everyone to know that we are continuing with plans for the 2020 festival," the post states. "If the festival were to be canceled, the community would be notified via our Facebook page." People responded positively to the news on social media, with many leaving comments on the post. "Glad to hear at least one of my planned vacations will be happening," Shelly Phillips Summerlin wrote. "That is great news. You just made one Milan resident so happy," Diane Hartman commented. "Thank God something to look forward to! Kudos to you all," Emily Swick posted.