Garrettsville – Opening Ceremonies will begin at 6:15pm on Friday, June 26th. Come out and listen to a great variety of music, take a stroll down Main Street, ride a few rides and, of course, eat some great festival food. Get your family and friends together and stop by the Information Tent to grab your list for the 2015 Photo Scavenger Hunt that will run through 2 pm on Sunday. All you need is a camera (digital or on your phone) and some imagination. Find at least 25 of the 30 items and you will be entered into a drawing for festival bucks good at any food vendor.
The kids will be demonstrating their football skills at the Lions’ Club Punt Pass and Kick Contest early Saturday morning. Don’t forget to get your pies ready; the pie baking contest judging starts at noon; all entries need to be at Slim ‘n Jumbo’s by 11 am.
Grab a snack or lunch from the many food vendors and stake a claim at Ohio’s Largest Tractor Parade. They expect over 200 tractors of all sizes and ages rumbling down the street at noon. After the parade, you may want to cool off with an ice cream cone at the Ice Cream Eating Contest sponsored by Dairy Queen.
Kids of all ages will want to see Aaron Bonk juggle knives, swords and other crazy things. For a relaxing view of the festival, consider taking a ride on the train. For those that may want a sit-down meal, head over to St. Ambrose Church and enjoy a wonderful chicken dinner complete with homemade desserts. Try your hand at cornhole, as there will be both amateur and professional Cornhole Contests on Saturday.
For those with a huge appetite, consider entering the Hamburger-Eating Contest and see if you can dethrone current champ!
Late in the day, be sure to take a leisurely stroll down to Dairy Queen and check out all the classic cars at the Car Cruise. At 10 pm the area’s largest fireworks display will begin; the fireworks are viewed best by the Main Stage or at the Sky Plaza Parking Lot.
Sunday morning the fun starts early, so grab some coffee, lace up your running shoes and help us kick cancer in the 5K/1 mile run/walk. Meanwhile the fiercest of the fierce will battle Silver Creek in a Steeplechase Canoe Race. The grueling race will have folks mastering the elements of the creek, including beaver dams, downed trees and brush. This race is for the more seasoned canoeist. A $100 grand prize is up for grabs to the team who completes the race with the fastest time!
Afterwards you will want to grab a bite to eat, and stake find a spot to watch the Grand Parade which steps off at noon.
If canoeing isn’t your thing, how about competing in our all new Lawnmower Drag Races? You can sign-up at S&K Sales & Service before the event.
Area dancers will also be showing their dance moves in the So You Think You Can Dance Competition hosted by James A. Garfield High School, while the cloggers from the 8th Count Dance Studio in Garrettsville will be performing on stage. Kids, young and old, can test their leg strength in the Ohio Buckeye Pedal Tractor Pulls on the Main Street Bridge. Registration begins at 2 pm for this event so be sure to sign up!
As the festival begins to wind down for another year, you will want to be sure to bring your lawn chairs and stake a claim for the Garrettsville Idol. Watch as talented contestants compete for the title of Garrettsville Idol. Be sure to arrive early to get a good seat. The youth and teens divisions each compete for $500 and while the adults will compete for $1,000.
The festival comes to a close on Sunday with the winner of the Car or Cash Raffle being drawn. This year, one lucky person may drive home in a 2015 Chevy Trax or $20,000 cash. Tickets are on sale now.
