There may be 200 ways to celebrate this 200-year milestone. In northwest Portage County, the Freedom Community Park Boosters and the Freedom Township Historical Society are joining forces to host an old-fashioned Freedom Township Fall Festival including a pumpkin sale, a car show and craft/vendor show for all. The festivities will take place at Freedom Center at the intersection of State Routes 700 and 303 on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Soak in the golden autumn sunshine, meet up with familiar faces, select harvest decor sourced by Freedom Township growers, stroll through a car show along with a variety of crafters and vendors, and enjoy live entertainment, music and dancing, fun food, a K-9 presentation, Cow Chip Bingo, a 50/50 raffle, raffle baskets and more. Everyone is welcome.
This is the eighth annual Freedom Township Pumpkin Sale organized by the historical society as both a community outreach and a fundraising effort, says the organization’s president, Judy Thornton. She is grateful to Pochedly Farms (Jeff Pochedly) along Limeridge Road and Pochedly Greenhouses (Mike Pochedly) along Vaughn Road, which annually donate fresh-picked pumpkins and gourds of many colors, shapes and sizes for the public to purchase on a donation basis.
Proceeds from the sale of big pumpkins, little pumpkins, white pumpkins, and gourds of all stripes will benefit of the Freedom Township Historical Society so it can continue to host its monthly programs, historical exhibits and future renovation projects.
Bundled corn stalks will also be available this year for $5 apiece, supplied by Evans Farm along Asbury Road. All of these fall decorative items are available during the festival at the Freedom Township Pavilion.
The historical society will also have bicentennial T-shirts, baseball caps and calendars for sale at the Freedom Town Hall.
Additionally, visitors can tour the renovated 150-year-old Drakesburg School #2 nearby, along Route 303. Originally, Freedom Township children were educated in eight one-room schoolhouses dotted throughout the township; most fell into disrepair over time after the school system was consolidated. The Drakesburg frame structure also nearly met the wrecking ball before the historical society restored the dilapidated schoolhouse to new glory as a museum and meeting house, along with the donated time, talent, funds and hard work of community volunteers. Judy estimates that the annual pumpkin sale generated about $5,000 toward the renovation project in recent years.
Originally included in Hiram Township, Freedom Township was established 200 years ago. It is bordered by the townships of Shalersville, Hiram, Windham, Charlestown and part of the village of Garrettsville. Freedom Township is served by the James A Garfield School District, three different telephone exchanges and the Post Offices of Hiram, Garrettsville, Mantua, Ravenna and Windham. The township was named by the abolitionists who settled this small corner of the Western Reserve in 1825.
The Freedom Township Historical Society keeps local history alive with ongoing programs open to the public. See freedomtwp-pc.org/history/ for upcoming program details, including a 7 p.m. presentation on Oct. 11 at the schoolhouse museum titled, “What’s Under Your Feet? Geology of Ohio & Freedom.”
A Veterans Day program will spotlight local servicemen at 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the museum with a Freedom Veterans display.
But first, join in on Freedom Township’s bicentennial Fall Festival for 200 ways to enjoy this coming Saturday.
Any questions? Call Judy at 330-527-7669 or email freedomparkboosters@gmail.com or visit the Freedom Community Park Boosters Facebook page for more information.
