Heart of Ohio USA Mini-Fest

FUN and FIREWORKS!! Attention!! We are the little committee that could! We are going to try to pull off a Heart of Ohio USA Mini-Fest! We want to give the little ones a chance to have some fun that they have been unable to do for so long!

Due to the Corona Virus and the effect on many businesses and such means we will be doing a scaled down version of our normal events. Starting times are as yet undecided but there will be ample preparation time when announced.

On Saturday, September 12th we will have our Little Miss Liberty/Little Uncle Sammy Pageant at the site of the parade staging area. This will allow the winners and all contestants to ride in the parade which will begin an hour later. Details will be forthcoming as to entering your child.

We do not yet know if the CHS High School Band will be allowed to play and march. We will welcome any floats, businesses, cars, trucks, classic cars, horses, kids on bikes (decorate them!), kids with pets (dress them up!), basically, anything goes. Due to being unable to have any sponsorships and fundraising with so many businesses closed and people out of work, we will not be having any theme, any judging nor any ribbons. This is meant to be fun so dream up anything you like! Staging area will be announced once confirmed. The parade will begin in the early afternoon with exact time to be announced once schedule is confirmed.

The park will open right after the parade. Food vendors will be there to serve all of that yummy fair food we have been missing so much! All food vendors will have sanitizer on hand. There is no self serve allowed so any condiments must be ordered so that the server can apply what you like.

Registration for the State of Ohio Sanctioned Kid’s Tractor Pull will begin registration and pulls at time to be announced. This will be located on the blacktop area behind the stage near the food vendors.

Available all day for the first time is “Build a Bear! We are hoping she will be able to do a special shirt for the bear with our logo and date on it!

Also, there will be the third annual Princess Party with the stars of Frozen 2, Elsa and Anna! Girls are encouraged to put on their favorite princess dress for the occasion! They will do a singalong and dancing with the kids and meet personally afterward for pictures. This has been a huge hit each year! Due to the virus some parts of their appearance that may require masks. We will continue working on the schedule and time will be announced.

We are trying to get other kid-friendly attractions if already booked workers have their bookings cancelled. These could include a petting zoo and pony rides. If any of these are confirmed, we will get the news out to you immediately.

The evening will begin at 6 pm with our area’s own Ohio Express! They will do all of their bubblegum music hit songs including their gold-record winning “Yummy Yummy Yummy”! They will be throwing some good old rock and roll in their show as well! There will be no bleachers. Bring your own chairs or blankets. Families may sit together but practice social distancing from your spot.

You asked for it and you get it! Yes, we will have our fireworks extravaganza at 8:15 to 8:30 pm depending on darkness! We thank Hamberg Fireworks for helping lower their cost so that we can bring this popular event to you! Not only that, but 200 shells will be added this year! Wow! Our biggest show ever! We will keep the viewing hill prime viewing spot roped off so bring your blankets or chairs for the best seat in the house!

We hope everyone will get a smile or two from this day! It is not easy for such a small committee to take on the task of having two major events at the same time! We hope you will understand that due to financial reasons and the restrictions still in place we are doing our absolute best! There was no chance of getting the carnival rides. Most of them say it would cost them more than they can make at this time. That is out of our control, naturally, as much as we would have liked to do so.

Al our activities will be in compliance with the Knox County Health Department regulations. We will have multiple hand washing stations, sanitizer stations, on the grounds and at all vendors, registration areas, etc. We ask that everyone please practice social distancing and stay at six feet intervals when in line for food, registration, etc! Masks are encouraged as well.

We also ask that everyone of every age be diligent in cleaning up their trash. After the festival every year we spend Sunday cleaning. With the car show on Sunday, we cannot do that! The car show runs from 9 till 4 and we hope you will come back down to the park Sunday to see all the amazing cars! See you soon! Keep watching for updates!