ASHLAND — The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program has moved from June at Mansfield’s Renaissance Theatre to August at Ashland High School, the organization stated on its Facebook page.
The on-stage competition will be held primarily at the high school’s Archer Auditorium the week of Aug. 8 through 15, but Mansfield-area events will continue, too, including the traditional Richland Mall Welcome Ceremony and Fashion Show.
Candidates were expected to arrive in Mansfield on June 13 and compete for the Miss Ohio crown the following week. But with the state’s stay-at-home orders in place due to COVID-19, the organization’s board of directors decided early last week to delay the program. There wasn’t enough time for the local contest winners and organizers to prepare for the event.
Over the weekend, the board announced the venue change. The Renaissance Theatre, which has hosted the Miss Ohio show for years, was unavailable for the program’s new dates.
“The whole driving factor right now is the COVID-19 issue and the safety of everyone involved in our program,” said Miss Ohio president and executive director Steven Oliveri.
The board had two time constraints in mind when selecting a new date — the possible COVID-19 related restrictions leading into summer and the start of the 2020-2021 school year in late August.
The week of Aug. 8 to the 15 seemed to be the best fit, but the Renaissance Theatre was not available.
“We love the Renaissance Theatre, and we’re heartbroken they aren’t available that week. That’s the only reason we started looking at other options,” Oliveri said.
He said the organization will closely monitor the pandemic and the government’s response to determine if the event needs postponed further. Venue would again be reconsidered if that were the case.
“We want our candidates to have the full Miss Ohio week experience. We like for the candidates to experience the area, and that’s why we like to do the welcome ceremony and the parade, but we will watch things closely to keep candidates safe,” Oliveri said.
As of now, the week-long event is expected to kick off Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Richland Mall and continue Sunday, Aug. 9 with the contestants participating in the Lexington Blueberry Festival’s parade.
The weekend then wraps up at the Richland Carrousel Park in Mansfield, where contestants typically have their photos taken.
The competition makes its Ashland County debut Monday, Aug. 10 with the Miss Ohio’s Outstanding Teen Program.
Preliminary rounds of the Miss Ohio competition are set for Thursday, Aug. 13 and Friday, Aug. 14. The final night and crowning will be Saturday, Aug. 15.
The contest takes place at the Ashland High School Auditorium, and the coronation party follows at the Holiday Inn in downtown Mansfield.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said he and his wife, Melanie were “thrilled to hear the news” Saturday evening. Melanie had served as Miss Ohio in 2006, and as she surrendered her crown the following summer, Miller proposed to her on the Renaissance Theatre’s stage.
He and his wife will join leaders of the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program on a conference call this week to discuss how the city can collaborate with nearby Richland County and “make it extra special this year.”
“This will be a great way for us to showcase the great city of Ashland,” Miller said. “There’s so many new things happening in Ashland like the Boomerang Championship, and now through unforeseen circumstances, the Miss Ohio Program. 2020 promises to be a big year for the city of Ashland, despite the coronavirus challenge.”
Richland Source reporter Noah Jones contributed to this story.