Whether you’re looking to peruse a lively art market, enjoy live performances, savor delicious festival food or witness the spectacular parade, dance and the burning of the firefish, the 11th annual FireFish Festival, held on Sept. 19 from 4 to 10 p.m. is sure to reel you in for an evening of fun.
“It’s really an iconic celebration in Lorain County,” says Joan Perch, artistic director with FireFish Arts, a nonprofit community-based arts organization focused on building connections, igniting civic engagement, fostering economic growth and cultivating a shared sense of creativity and place. “It’s all about how everyone works together to create community, and we are doing that through the arts and showing that Lorain is a great place to live, work or play.”
The theme of this year’s festival is “Freedom Lifts Us,” commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States in tandem with a yearlong celebration of Toni Morrison, who grew up in Lorain County.
“One of the things that Toni Morrison has said is that if you’re free, your job is to free someone else. She also believed very strongly in the power of arts to change communities and lives,” Perch says.
Another special aspect of the festival, Perch says, is the SPARKS! Apprentice program, an internship opportunity that focuses on leadership, career skills and community art. The paid interns design festival artwork, create public installations and help build the festival’s giant fish.
“It’s a workforce development and creative arts program, where they’re learning work skills and how to empower themselves and the impact they can make on their community through the arts,” Perch says. “It’s been rewarding for us to see them lead the way and see that the next generation will keep doing all the things that need to be done.”
All in all, Perch says the festival is a way to gather the community through the power of art, showcasing Lorain’s many assets and vibrant community.
“The fish represents the nature, beautiful natural resources of the river and lake that Lorain is fortunate enough to have, and the fire is about the grit and industrial background of the city,” Perch says. “The other idea was that Lorain was once down and out but now is on the up and up, and so to burn the fish is almost like a phoenix: It’s our hopes, dreams and wishes for the future, and it’s a promise that we will build up the community together.”
Don’t Miss: The Finale
Jaclyn Bradley and Kiki Bildstein will perform the finale, returning to the FireFish Festival after their unforgettable 2025 performance, as well as Hayden Grove from NBC’s The Voice.
Their vocals will coincide with pyrotechnics by Schuyler White and the Ohio Burn Unit.
Highlights of the event include:
Art Alley, located in the alley west of Broadway, between Fifth and Sixth streets, will feature art-making activities, art installation and a small performance stage.
The Art Market, located on Sixth and Broadway, will include nearly 50 community art vendors and food vendors.
The Main Stage will hold performances beginning at 5 p.m.
The Parade, taking place at 7 p.m., will lead Festivalgoers to the James Levin FireFish Festival Finale Ceremony at Black River Landing. The alley connecting Fifth Street and Black River Lane will be filled with theme-based art and activities from end to end.
The Finale, featuring live music and dance, will culminate with the ceremonious burning of the paper mache firefish and a fireworks display. This year, representatives from various youth organizations, deemed torch bearers, will lend a hand in lighting the fish by passing the torch to the person who will light the fish.
