Peony Festival/ArtRageous start today

VW independent/submitted information

The 39th edition of the Peony Festival begins this Friday at 10 a.m. in Van Wert’s Fountain Park, and, once again, there’s plenty to look forward to this weekend (click here for a full schedule of events).

A craft show, the Optimist Youth Art Show, ArtRageous on Main artists exhibits, car show, food vendors, including the Peony Festival food booth in Fountain Park, all lead up to the Fountain Park Music Series concert at 7 p.m. featuring Papa Doo Run Run. This concert is sponsored by the Van Wert County Foundation and always draws an extra large crowd on the first day of the Peony Festival weekend.

On Saturday, June 7, the annual free kids’ fishing derby will be held at Camp Clay. Kids ages 3-13 years have the chance for free fishing, no fishing license required, from 9-11 a.m. Prizes are given for the longest fish in four age groups and one overall winner. Bait is furnished for all kids. Show up with a fishing rod ready to go! An information sheet is available at http://vanwertpeony.com.

The YMCA is hosting its annual Peony Pace 5K Run & Walk plus a 1-mile Fun Run for kids in conjunction with the free fishing derby. Visit the YMCA website for registration forms.

Fountain Park has activities all day and evening on Saturday, with the Girl Scouts of America offering children’s games and Main Street Van Wert sponsoring fun activities Chalk the Walk, ArtRageous On Main, and the popular Architectural Hunt downtown. The Optimist Youth Art Show is again part of the festival and the annual pet show is now a free entry show scheduled for 10-11 a.m. in Fountain Park. Bring that special pet early, register, and then show the pet off!

Food vendors are open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and the craft show continues until the annual Peony Parade begins at 5 p.m. Saturday. A new free event this year in Fountain Park is the Medieval Re-enactors performing from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  Young dancers from Stars by Erin dance studio hit the band shell stage from 12:30-1 p.m.

This year, there is a Saturday night free concert sponsored by the Peony Festival Committee. Blair Carmen, playing authentic 1950s style Honky Tonk, takes the stage at 7 p.m. The Peony Parade again follows the south-to-north Washington Street route beginning at the County Fairgrounds at 5 p.m. Gather up a group of parade watchers for an after-parade visit back to Fountain Park. The food vendors can provide munchies, then get a good seat before the concert starts.

A new event this year is the Punt, Pass & Kick competition on Saturday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m. at Eggerss Stadium in downtown Van Wert. The Van Wert High School football team is sponsoring the event for youths ages 6-17 years and an adult division. This is a fundraiser for the football program with a registration cost of $5. The registration form is also available at the Peony Festival website above.

A “retro” event comes back to the National Guard Armory this year! Remember when the Jubilee Flower Show was held at the armory many years ago? It’s now back there, hosted by Wassenberg Art Center in its newly remodeled armory building. It’s an amazing building and a must-see this year. This 53rd Flower Show will run from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Wassenberg also has a charity silent auction on the festival weekend.

The Peony Festival Garden Tours are Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday noon-3 p.m. The Wassenberg Art Center is included on the tour this year. Stop by the Peony Festival information booth at the corner of Fountain Park to pick up a tour schedule. The booth opens at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Queen Jubilee XXXIX, Crestview senior Chelsea Hancock, and her court have an 11 a.m.-1 p.m. luncheon at DeShia Country Gift Shoppe on Friday, while the Queen’s Reception is combined with the Flowers In Full Bloom Reception on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Willow Bend Country Club.