One Wonderful Weekend fest kicks off

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The annual One Wonderful Weekend event – an amalgam of the Peony Festival and ArtRageous on Main celebrations – got off to a great start on Friday, with absolutely fantastic weather and a list of events that included the Van-Dells concert in Fountain Park, displays of artwork, kids’ rides, Tuff Trucks events and the Peony Festival Cruise-In on Main Street.

Today things heat up even more, although there is a chance of rain forecast that festival organizers hope holds off until evening so that the festival’s premier event – the Peony Festival Grand Parade – doesn’t get soggy.

In addition to the parade, there will be more Tuff Truck events at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds; a quilt show; two craft shows; ArtRageous on Main events in Fountain Park that include displays of artwork, the Van Wert Optimist Club’s Children’s Art Display, a Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest, and a Downtown Architectural Hunt; a Cushman Motor Scooter Show on Central Avenue, kids rides in the city parking lot on Central Avenue, between Washington and Market streets; food vendors on Jefferson Street; a Show and Shine Car Show at the fairgrounds; the 50th annual Jubilee Flower Show at the fairgrounds; a concert by local group Section Ate, a demonstration by dancers from Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks; National Mud Drags; a 5K run and 2K Family Fun Run/Walk at Smiley Park; and a Fishing Derby at Camp Clay on Liberty Union Road.

The Grand Parade will feature more than 100 units and run nearly the length of Washington Street, from the fairgrounds to Gleason Avenue.

On Sunday, the Jubilee Flower Show continues, along with the Quilt Show, and Landscape & Garden Tours begun Saturday will also be conducted on Sunday, from 1-3 p.m.

At the fairgrounds on Sunday, a Michindoh-sanctioned Truck & Tractor Pull will be held, while the 55th annual June Art Show will begin Sunday at Wassenberg Art Center on South Washington Street.