Weekend to feature three events in Van Wert County

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A busy weekend is in store in Van Wert County with an annual celebration in Ohio City, plus two events in Van Wert.

Lambert Days

The third full weekend of July brings Lambert Days to Ohio City and it will be a full weekend indeed.

A flea market and tractor show will kick things off from 7 a.m. to dark Thursday along E. Carmean St. Lambert Days will then continue Friday through Sunday.

Among the highlights: this year’s Ohio Has Talent runner-up Hayden Castleman will perform at 1 p.m. Friday and a steak dinner will be served, starting at 4 p.m. A Texas Hold’Em tournament will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and at 8 p.m. Ryklee & the Most Likey will perform. Fireworks are scheduled for 10:15 p.m.

Saturday’s highlights include a co-ed softball tournament at 8 a.m., co-ed volleyball at 9 a.m., a car show at noon, music by Jerry & the Originals at 2 p.m., music by Jeff Unterbrink at 3 p.m., a hog roast dinner at 4 p.m., bingo at 5 p.m., and music by Black Smoke Revival at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, a chicken dinner will be served starting at 11 a.m., the same time as live music is performed by Mike & Friends. The annual Lambert Days parade will step off at 3 p.m.

Community wide garage sales will be offered throughout Lambert Days.

For the full schedule of events and more information, go to lambertdays.com.

Lambert Days honors automotive pioneer John Lambert, whose Lambert gasoline buggy was the first practical gasoline-powered automobile available for sale in America. He designed and built the vehicle in 1890 and successfully tested it in January 1891 inside a farm implement showroom he owned in Ohio City.

Model Railroad Show

The 23rd annual Railroad Heritage Weekend Model Railroad Show & Swap will be held at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, but it’s a bit different than previous shows.

Instead of Saturday and Sunday, this year’s show will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Just like previous years though, the show will have over 250 vendor tables with all kinds of merchadise, including “O,” “N” and “HO” scale trains, accessories and memorbilia. Operating layouts will be featured as well, along with a food court.

Friday night is Kids Night. Adults will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a child under 12. Childen under 12 are free on Friday night and scouts in uniform will be admitted without charge, and there will be free stuff for the kids. Saturday’s admission is $7. 

The popular show is handicap accessible and is sponsored by the Van Wert County Historical Society.

Box City

After Van Wert Live’s Feel Good Friday free concert featuring country and Christian singer-songwriter Jesse LaBelle, Haven of Hope’s Box City will take over Fountain Park. It will run from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

The event is designed to raise awareness of homelessness in Van Wert.