One Wonderful Weekend 2011 kicks off

Van Wert independent/contributor content

If local residents can’t find something they want to do this weekend, they are pretty darn hard to please. That’s because this is the One Wonderful Weekend when the Peony Festival and ArtRageous on Main meet the Fountain Park Summer Music Series in a veritable cornucopia of events and activities.

The weekend unofficially opened Thursday with a craft show and garage sales at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. There was also a Kids Corner with several children’s activities at the fairgrounds.

Today, the weekend really heats up, with a continuation of the craft show and garage sales and Kids Corner at the fairgrounds, coupled with the Peony Festival Craft Show in Fountain Park, the beginning of the ArtRageous on Main celebration in the park, a Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest and a Downtown Architectural Hunt, all based in the downtown area. Food vendors will also open for business today, beginning at 3 p.m., while a number of activities are also scheduled for this evening, including the first concert of the Fountain Park Summer Music Series, featuring the Van-Dells, beginning at 7 this evening (click here for a full schedule of events).

There will also be the 12th annual Quilt Show at the fairgrounds, entertainment by dancers from Pam’s School of Dance in Fountain Park and the Peony Festival Cruise-In on Main Street.

The Tuff Trucks event, as well as the Blow Up Contest, will be held at the fairgrounds, while the group Double Kik will also perform at the fairgrounds today, starting at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s events are highlighted by the Peony Festival Grand Parade, which begins at 5 p.m. on Washington Street. Other events on Saturday include a pancake & sausage breakfast at the fairgrounds from 7-11 a.m., the Van Wert City 5K Run and City 2K Family Fun Run/Walk, both held at Smiley Park; a fishing derby at Camp Clay; a return of the Optimists Children’s Art Display and Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest and Downtown Architectural Hunt; the Peony Festival Landscape & Garden Tours, amusement rides and food vendors, the 50th annual Jubilee Flower Show at the fairgrounds, as well as the National Mud Drags, Show and Shine Car Show, Blow Up Contest, a concert by Section Ate, entertainment by dancers from Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks, and a concert by Cincinnati-based Ground Floor.

Sunday’s activities include a continuation of the Jubilee Flower Show, Quilt Show, Landscape & Garden Tours, as well as a Michindoh-sanctioned Truck & Tractor Pull and the 55th annual June Art Show, which will be held at Wassenberg Art Center.