North Canton Jaycees rebrands as Stark County group. Annual fair, other events in doubt

NORTH CANTON − The 78-year-old North Canton Jaycees are rebranding to be the Stark Community Jaycees.

That means no Jaycees Easter egg hunt in North Canton on the ballfield on Seventh Street NE this year.

Instead, it'll be an adult Easter egg hunt in Massillon on March 24 as part of a bar crawl with a comedy show.

Related: More than 230 children hunt for Easter eggs in North Canton despite rain

The transition also means the Jaycees' annual July 4 fireworks event and Jaycee Fair are in doubt due to the impending construction of the new middle school by Hoover High.

Related: Here's your guide to Easter egg hunts and Easter Bunny visits in Stark County

Why is North Canton Jaycees changing?

Jaycees chapter President Eric Smer recently gave North Canton City Council an update on his group's status.

"With losing our signature events and support after 78 years, we respectfully felt an identity crisis similar to what this community experienced when losing the Hoover Co.," Smer said. "We look forward to reinvigorating the Jaycee Fair at a new location to be announced soon."

Smer indicated the organization did not have funding yet to put on this year's July 4 fireworks show or its annual fair in June in the Dogwood Park area. The Jaycees had originally scheduled the fair for June 10-15. The organization says its inaugural Jaycee Fair was in 1951.

Related: North Canton's Jaycee Fair celebrates 70th year

"We may be forced to continue some of our events elsewhere in the greater Stark community," Smer told council. "But community is in our new name, and that will continue to include North Canton for us."

North Canton events overhaul

When council member John Orr, Ward 4, asked about the Jaycees holding the Easter egg hunt at Price Park, Smer indicated that losing the Seventh Street NE site isn't the only factor. The group decided to change to an adult Easter egg hunt in Massillon "since we're having to relocate anyway, why not change it all?"

According to a Facebook event, the "Adult Egg Pursuit" the Jaycees are organizing with The Junior League of Stark County and Krackpots Comedy Club Massillon will begin with check-in at 1:30 p.m. March 24 at Duncan Plaza in downtown Massillon. The cost of an advance ticket is $25.

Orr said, "I hate to see certain things leave, sort of a tradition here in town. But OK."

"We do, too," Smer said.

Smer said that his organization's board has approved promoting itself as a Stark County organization. And the Jaycees have new members who live in Perry Township, Massillon and Jackson Township. The closest Jaycees chapter is in Hudson in Summit County.

The city of North Canton is opting to host its own Easter egg event on March 30 at Walsh University with Meijer providing supplies, according to acting Administrator Catherine Farina. She said the city will release further details.

North Canton Jaycees long history

The Jaycees chapter says it got its start in 1946 when it was also known as the North Canton Junior Chamber of Commerce. It's a chapter of the United Junior Chamber, also known as the JC's or Jaycees, a leadership development and community service-oriented organization for people ages 18 to 40 that dates back to 1920.

The Canton Jaycee chapter, started in 1934, disbanded in 2011 after its membership averaging 350 to 400 in the 1970s and 1980s declined to 12. The defunct chapter once hosted Summerfest events in Canton's Central Plaza. The Canton Regional Chamber-backed ystark! organization took the mantle as one of Stark County's leadership development organization for young professionals.

Smer indicated the Jaycees would organize this year's Fourth of July parade in downtown North Canton and help put on the Safety Town event for kids. He invited the public to check out his group's website for updates.

The group has been promoting its events on its Stark Community Jaycees Facebook page.

"North Canton City Council members and our chapter will continue to partner - whether Safety Town, the 4th of July Parade, or finding a solution to replace our location and our lack of fair funding for the fireworks. We invite community members under 40 to join the Jaycees and be part of the partnership," Smer wrote in an email. "As other updates become available, I'll be sure you are in the know."

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: North Canton Jaycees' transition puts annual events in limbo