44th edition of Lambert Days opens

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

OHIO CITY – The village of Ohio City will again celebrate the achievements of native son John Lambert, an automotive pioneer who, in 1891, invented the first American-made gasoline powered automobile. Lambert, who died in 1952 at the age of 92, designed and built the Buckeye “horseless carriage” and tested it inside an 80-foot farm implement showroom he owned in Ohio City.

This year’s Lambert Days festival, the 44th edition of the annual gala, features lots of activities and events, with the highlight being the Lambert Days Parade, which typically features members of the Lambert family. This year’s parade will be held starting at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The 2012 edition of the festival begins today at 6:30 p.m. with registration for the Warrior 4-mile race. The race itself will begin at 7:30 this evening.

On Friday, events begin with a steak supper at 4 p.m., while registration for a cruise-in also starts at that time. A flag-raising ceremony will be held at 5 that evening, while Friday’s activities also include a Wiffleball Home Run Derby at 5:30, the Miss Lambert Days pageant (also at 5:30), a Texas hold ‘em poker event at 7 p.m., cruise-in judging at 8 and a Monte Carlo Night also starting then, and an ATV show featuring Henry “Pitbull” Rife starting at 9 p.m. There will also be a Seventies Roller Disco event with disc jockey Jim Delgado at 9 that evening and a kids’ movie under the stars shown at dusk.

Events begin early on Saturday, with a men’s slow-pitch softball tournament starting at 8 a.m. A Farmette League all-star tournament and a coed volleyball tournament will each begin at 9 Saturday morning, while a Wiffleball tournament will start at 10 a.m. Saturday.

In the afternoon, a cornhole tournament begins at 1 p.m., while a hog roast dinner will begin at 4 that afternoon. Bingo will start at 5 that evening and run until 8 p.m., while a dance featuring Boomswang will start at 9 p.m.

Sunday’s events include gift baskets and a raffle, along with a community garage sale. Softball continues on Sunday, while a chicken barbecue dinner will be served, starting at 11 a.m. Easy listening music will also be performed by Triad, starting at 11.

At noon, kids games open up again, with parade registration and line-up beginning at 1:45 p.m.

All in all, it will be another great festival honoring a famous native son for the “small town with the big heart.”