The 34th annual Tiffin Seneca County Heritage Festival is to run Friday through Sunday. In addition to Heritage Village at Hedges-Boyer Park and the usual downtown attractions, the festival again is to extend onto Frost Parkway for craft vendors and other attractions.
Erin Snook, Heritage Festival president, emphasized the festival is run by volunteers, not by the city or county. She was pleased many new members have joined the festival board and various committees. She estimated more than 800 people are needed to stage the festival.
"I'm really excited. ... We have a lot of new organizations that are going to be involved," Snook said. "The community really wanted to do something new. That has been the approach the board of trustees and the downtown committee have really focused on, providing new community events involving the community in those events. ... 'New' is the word."
In addition to the entertainment stage in Lot 7, another stage has been added on Frost Parkway to showcase local and area community groups. The festival is to include many new features in the downtown area. Highlights include:
Tiffin Aire is sponsoring a lantern launch Friday to open the 2012 Heritage Festival. Lanterns can be purchased 6-9 p.m. for $2 each at a booth on the courthouse lawn. Lift-off is to take place at dark from the Washington Street Bridge over the Sandusky River.
Get a taste of Tiffin. The Tiffin Elks Lodge, 106 E. Perry St., is to have a food court serving signature dishes by Clover Club, Madison Street Tavern Pub & Grub, Sgt. Oink's, Reino's Pizza and Pasta and XCaret Mexican Restaurant. Enjoy live music and a full service bar. Hours are 6-9 p.m. Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Fact Box
What to see on Frost Parkway stage, in order of appearance
Saturday
The Gang Band (after parade).
Performance by All In Cheer
Columbian High School Marching Band, 12:30 p.m.
Hopewell Loudon Marching Band, 1 p.m.
Hi Society Baton Corp, 2 p.m.
A frog jumping contest for children 10 and younger is to take place at 2:30 p.m. The contest is to be divided into age groups 0-3 years, 4-5, 6-7 and 8-10 years.
Kids' open mic karaoke, 3 p.m.
Tiffin Little League Cheerleaders performance, 4 p.m.
Tiffin University Choir, 5 p.m.
Sunday
Pie-eating contest at noon Sunday on the Frost Parkway stage. Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz and businessman Fred Zoeller have signed up, and more contestants can register before the end of the week. Participants will be collecting donations for local charities. Awards will be given to the person who consumes the most - using only hands and mouth - and the person who raises the most money.
Local dogs may participate in Animal Care Center's Dog Parade at 1 p.m. Sunday. Owners and pets should come to the entertainment stage on Frost Parkway to register. Awards will be given for: cutest, best trick, ugliest dog and best-dressed. Owners under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and female dogs in season may not participate. The organizers reserve the right to remove any unruly person or animal. Dogs must be under control on a leash and have up-to-date immunizations and a valid dog license.
The Seneca Washboard Band is to play at 3 p.m.
Back again
The Living History Village at Hedges Boyer Park is to be open Friday for School Day. Friday evening, a lantern walk is to take place 8-9:30 p.m., and an old time music jam is to run 8:30-10 p.m. The village is to be open to the public 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. It is to feature a Civil War encampment. Miniature steam engine train rides are to be offered all day Saturday and Sunday.
The YMCA is to host the military ball 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Civil War Museum of Ohio is to be open extended hours for the Heritage Festival. The hours on Friday are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and 6-10:30 p.m.; Saturday's hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for students. Friday at 6:15 p.m., the museum will show the PG-version of the motion picture "Glory." Tours of the museum will be offered after the movie.
Baked goods and crafts are to be for sale 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at "Stone Church Bakery" in Trinity United Church of Christ during the Heritage Festival. Lunch is to be served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The address is 131 E. Perry St., Tiffin.
The festival parade is to step off at 10 a.m. Saturday from St. Joseph Church.
Seneca County Area Transportation is to operate a free shuttle service 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday between downtown and Heritage Village in Hedges Boyer Park.
The Kids' Corner again is to be set up Saturday next to the Health Department on Washington Street. Girl Scout Troop 51125 is to offer crafts for children. Tiffin Seneca Public Library will have reading activities, and the Sunshine Petting Zoo is to be open 11 a.m.-5 :30 p.m.
The Seneca Kruisers are to host their 12th annual auto and motorcycle show noon-3 p.m. Saturday in Hedges Boyer Park. Registration is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The fee is $10 the day of the show. The first 100 to register are to receive dash plaques. To learn more, call (419) 448-7634 or (419) 447-8790.
The Seneca County Museum is to be open 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, the Good Times String Band is to provide music. An antique auto show is to line up in front of the museum Sunday.
Community Hospice Care is to conduct its annual "Hospice Waddle" down the Sandusky River at 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (419) 447-4040 or (800) 834-8100.
The former Washington Street United Methodist Church is to be open 9 a.m.-noon Saturday for tours. Old books from the former church's library are to be for sale, as well.
Children's games are to be offered on the church lawn before and after the parade. At 11 a.m., local artist Bernadine Stetzel is to discuss her paintings of Tiffin, some of which will be on display in the church. Prints are to be for sale in Tiffin Tomorrow's shop, Signatures of Seneca County, 207 S. Washington St.
Win a hot air balloon ride over Tiffin. Tickets are to be for sale on the courthouse lawn from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The winner is to be chosen and notified shortly after 5 p.m. The balloon is to be inflated to take the winner for a one-hour flight in the Mid-Ohio Hot Air balloon before sunset. Upon its return to the courthouse lawn, the balloon is to be lighted for an evening glow.
Bridges Academy and the Heights program of Tiffin City Schools are to have a War of 1812 display on the courthouse lawn 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Basketball enthusiasts can compete in a 3-on-3 contest, starting at 11:30 a.m. on Madison Street.
Chalk art is to be created 12:30-5 p.m. on Madison Street.
"Red Raven will have local artists doing sidewalk chalk drawings, and then chalk will be available for the kids to come down and draw," Snook said.
An antique tractor show is to run Saturday and Sunday on Frost Parkway.
Volunteer disaster appreciation day, showcasing local volunteer fire departments, is set for noon-6 p.m. Saturday. All are to be in the parade and then put their trucks on display across from the 9/11 All Patriots Memorial.
Camp Glen is providing free canoe rides noon-5 p.m. Saturday, depending on an adequate water level in the Sandusky River. The canoes are to depart from Kiwanis Manor and float to the railroad bridge.
Level Up Gaming and Technical Fashionz are teaming up to have a video game contest on an inflatable screen.
A rib-off is to take place noon-6 p.m. Saturday along the Ritz Theatre block of South Washington Street. The public is invited to vote for their favorite ribs in the People's Choice Award.
Ohio Motorpool is to line up an array of antique military equipment Sunday on Frost Parkway.
A motorcycle show is planned noon-5 p.m. Sunday at East Perry and South Washington streets and extending down the Ritz Theatre block of South Washington. People can vote on the People's Choice Award.
Children can enjoy Jumpers Wild Inflatables 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday on the courthouse lawn.
"I couldn't be happier with what everybody has done this year. I think it's going to be great," Snook said. "I think if we have good weather, we're going to have an amazing festival."
