2013 Willshire Days activities announced

Willshire Days news

WILLSHIRE — Plans are nearly complete for the 48th annual Willshire Days festival sponsored by the Willshire Lions Club. The festivities will be held June 28-30 (click here for a full schedule of events).

The event will kick off that Friday evening with a flag raising ceremony, while the entertainment stage will be filled with talent after the ceremony.

The annual princess pageants will begin at 6 p.m. Following the pageant, the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band, under the director of former Parkway band director Richard Sherrick, will perform a variety of selections.

Following the musical entertainment, Willshire native Aaron Roehm will perform a magic act and will also create balloon sculptures prior to his stage performance. DJ Hammer will close out the evening by spinning tunes for everyone to enjoy.

Activities on Saturday begin bright and early. The Willshire Fire Department will host a pancake, sausage, biscuit and gravy breakfast, while activities in the park begin in the afternoon. The annual Willshire Days parade will begin at 4 p.m. Following the parade, the park will again be filled with many activities, including the famous chicken barbeque sponsored by the Willshire Sportsman’s Club.

Ghost Train Outlaws, featuring local musician John Brodbeck, will be performing on the music stage beginning at 5 p.m. Brodbeck has been singing and playing country music for the past few years and has become a local favorite.

The evening will be topped off by the musical entertainment of Shade and Shannon. The duo will perform Johnny Cash tunes, mixed with songs of his friends, including Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Roger Miller, and Waylon and Willie, as well as more recent artists like Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Heidi Newfield (“Johnny and June”) and Gretchen Wilson.

Free pony rides, sponsored by Willshire American Legion Post 207 and the Sons of the American Legion, will be available on Saturday evening.  A kids’ tractor pull will also be held, thanks to the Willshire Fire Department.

The park will have many other activities during the late afternoon and evening on Friday and Saturday.  Activities include inflatables (sponsored in part by the Willshire Sportsman’s Club and Countryside Church of the Nazarene), carnival games, miniature golf, Bingo, a cakewalk and other activities.  Homemade soups, sandwiches, pies, and cakes will once again be featured in the food stand.  Cotton candy, elephant ears, funnel cakes, and many other delicious treats will also be available.

Sunday will be the day to gather in the park for a community picnic and fellowship sponsored by area churches. The meal will begin at 12:30 p.m., with a time of music and worship to follow.

Other events planned for the weekend include communitywide garage sales and a craft and flea market. Willshire Youth Activities will sponsor a wooden bat Little League tournament to run throughout the weekend.  Plan now to visit Willshire and enjoy a family friendly weekend.

Contact numbers for various activities are as follows: Parade – Karen Hunziker (419.495.2802); Garage Sales – Town Office (419.495.2704); Flea Market/Craft Booths – Sharon Krall (419.495.2474); Princess/Prince Pageants – Katie Schnitz (260.301.6232); General Information – Kendra Miller (419.495.2655).