Findlay, OH Bicentennial 2012

FAMILIES INVITED TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER AT BICENTENNIAL FESTIVAL

Celebrate Findlay’s Bicentennial “family style” at the Bicentennial Festival presented by The Hancock Leadership Class of 2012. The two-day festival, to be held at the Hancock County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, will offer activities for all ages, including the Bicentennial Battle of the Bands and Little Miss/Little Mister Bicentennial Contests.

Admission to the Festival is $5.00 per carload. Admissions and parking are located at the Sandusky Street entrance to the Fairgrounds. Handicap parking is available. Walk-in admission prices are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children.

On both days, local businesses and non-profit organizations with displays in the Merchants Building will offer activities for children. The Hancock Historical Museum will display information about Findlay’s history and attendees can don “old-fashioned” attire and have their photo taken for purchase. Information on upcoming Bicentennial events will be presented and Bicentennial attire and souvenirs will be available for purchase.

Visitors are encouraged to bring an item to include in the Bicentennial Time Capsule to be buried later this year and opened in 2062. The cost to include items in the time capsule are: $1.00 for children and $5.00 for adults; companies and organizations can place items for $25.00.

Attendees will be treated to a variety of food options including hickory smoked pork and beef, wings, ribs, gyros, tenderloin sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, pizza, Mexican and Asian fare, fries, funnel cakes, elephant ears, cinnamon roasted nuts, kettle corn, popcorn, shaved ice, cotton candy, candy apples, mini melts, root beer, lemonade, and soft drinks.

The Festival will “officially” begin at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 9 with an Opening Ceremony in front of the Merchants Building.

Festival hours on Saturday, June 9 are from noon to midnight. Following the Opening Ceremony, area Girl Scouts will commemorate the organization’s 100th Anniversary with Girl Scouts Rock Findlay!, a celebration of song, at the Gospel Pavilion. Other activities include:

Noon to 8 p.m. – Inflatables for children ($1.00 per ride), Hickle’s Pony Rides ($3.00 per ride) and other activities for kids

Noon – Bicentennial Battle of the Bands. Performances by local bands (members are age 25 and younger) in the North Grandstand. Following the performances, one band will be chosen to play later in the evening.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – 4-H Junior Leadership Petting Zoo

2 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Dunk Tank

4:00 p.m. to midnight – Beer Garden behind the North Grandstand

5 p.m. – Enjoy music by local favorite, “Reunion Band,” in the North Grandstand

7 p.m. – Performance by the winner of the Battle of the Bands in the North Grandstand

8 p.m. – Dance to the sounds of “Blood Sweat and Beers,” performing in the North Grandstand

Sunday, June 10, activities

All day – Inflatables for children ($1.00 per ride) and other activities for kids; Dunk Tank

Noon to 1 p.m. – Findlay High School Pantasia Steelband in the North Grandstand

1 p.m. – Bicentennial Little Miss/Little Mister Contests in the North Grandstand. Come and watch young members of our community compete for the titles and the opportunity to ride in the Bicentennial Parade on June 14. Two age categories: 3-4 and 5-6.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Visit with Muddy and Muddonna from the Toledo Mudhens

3 p.m. – Performances by dancers from Becky’s School of Dance

About Hancock Leadership:

The Hancock Leadership program is designed to develop and cultivate all people with a passion to serve our community through a dynamic learning experience that encourages self-discovery, fosters relationships and inspires stewardship. The HL program is a nationally recognized nine month seminar program sponsored by the Findlay•Hancock County Chamber of Commerce and is designed to foster and promote volunteer leadership resources within the community on a planned, continuing basis. Visit www.hancockleadershipalumni.com to learn more about how Hancock Leadership alums are helping our community.

Teams are being sought for the upcoming Bicentennial Community Challenge which will take place during Findlay’s Bicentennial celebration. Events will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the week of June 11-15, 2012. Friday's event will occur from noon to 4 p.m. Each team will need 5-7 team members, aged 16 and above. The events will take place at Dorney Plaza, Emory Adams Park and the Hancock County Fairgrounds. Events are as follows:

Monday, June 11:
•Bicentennial Community Challenge: Ice Cream Sunday Making Contest, 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dorney Plaza, sponsored by Macklin Intergenerational Institute/Marilyn’s Lifelong Learning Center

Tuesday, June 12:
•Bicentennial Community Challenge Super Soaker Duel, 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dorney Plaza, sponsored by Blanchard Valley Industries

Wednesday, June 13:
•Bicentennial Community Challenge Scavenger Hunt, 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. register at Dorney Plaza, sponsored by Smart Sites Imaging

Thursday, June 14:
•Bicentennial Community Challenge Stickball Tournament, 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m., Emory Adams Park, sponsored by The Heritage

Friday, June 15: Noon to 4 p.m.:
•Bicentennial Community Challenge Tri-fecta at Fairgrounds
Tug of War, sponsored by Country Inn & Suites, Sack Races, sponsored by Lehtomaa Funeral Home, Donkey Races, sponsored by Town Money Saver

All sponsors are providing the equipment and the people power for the events. Registration is free. Registration deadline for team sign up is May 25, 2012. Teams can register by visiting the Community Challenge page on the Bicentennial website at http://findlay200.com. Awards will be given for the teams that come in first, second, third and to the team with the best team name.

Wow! The past two days have been fast and productive. Details are complete for the Brothers of the Brush competition! Ann Buis and her committee have come up with a great way for men to join the Brotherhood. Gentlemen, here is your official notice that Sheriff Michael Helman has outlawed shaving in Hancock County. Beard growers from outside of Hancock County can also participate!

We are in it! We have entered our Bicentennial year, Findlay! Last night we had a meeting with the steering committee and there is a lot going on! Here's a bullet list:

The Bicentennial Community Challenge committee has secured sponsors for the following events: 

Ice cream Sundae Building Competition sponsored by Country Inn & Suites and Dietsch Brother!
Super Soaker Dual sponsored by Blanchard Valley Center
Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Smart Sites Imaging
Donkey Races sponsored by O'Connell, Robison and Murphy Law Firm

We are still seeking sponsors for the Stickball tournament, tug of war and sack races. If interested in learning more, connect with Anne Cole at [email protected]

The registration form is online, so get your teams together and register at http://findlay200.webs.com/challengeregistration.htm

Other exciting updates!

This year's Gliding Stars of Findlay, an adaptive ice skating program, will be present "Gliding Stars Salute Findlay's Bicentennial" on March 18th at 2:30 p.m. at The Cube. This is Findlay's own adaptive skating program for people of different abilities. For more, visit http://glidingstars.org

We had our first open meeting about Findlay's Bicentennial on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Many community members came out to share their memories and their desire to volunteer. After this public meeting, Christie and I began meeting with individuals and organizations in the community to toss around ideas for the Bicentennial. Before we knew it, we had a full year of ideas!

One of the suggestions was a big New Year's Eve gala. Since we knew that the Findlay Inn & Conference Center already had an established event, we asked to partner with them. They immediately agreed. Findlay Ohio's Bicentennial celebration begins on New Year's Eve in 2012. The Findlay Inn & Conference Center will be hosting a New Year's Eve party that will kickoff the Bicentennial year.

This is just one example of the collaboration and excitement we have seen so far with the planning of our celebrations. 

We have the event on our calendar and the details are being finalized. But, in the meantime, keep December 31, 2011 open for a great night of music, food and dance!