PERRYSVILLE, Ohio – After a 12-year hiatus, the Perrysville Free Street Fair will once again mark the start of summer on June 10-13 for parents and children alike in downtown Perrysville.
With a theme of “Welcome Home,” this year’s fair is dedicated in honor and in memory of all past and present members of the Perrysville-Green Township Fire Department for their dedication and commitment to the Perrysville community and surrounding area.
Starting Wednesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. with a dedication ceremony, the four-day fair will feature a variety of activities to appeal to all ages.
Kissel Amusements will offer rides daily at 5 p.m. for children and adults alike at $1.25 per ticket, ten for $12, 20 for $22, or an all-day wrist band for $14. Rides will open on Saturday after the parade with a special matinee price until 4 p.m. of only $9 for the wrist band.
Nightly musical acts will perform on the Free Act Platform set up behind Farmers & Savings Bank on N. Bridge St. with performances covering a variety of musical tastes including blues, southern country rock, alternative rock, Top 40 country, and Christian. Musical groups include Joyful Noise, Blue Angels, Callunaw Rednecks, Loudonville native Matt Young, Jimi Vincent Band, Keepsake, Livestone, Steady Fire, Lead By Faith and DeVault Ridge.
Other acts include Russo the Magician & Entertainer, Ashland County Sheriffs, and the Rik Roberts Comedy Show. A Barney Fife lookalike will patrol the midway on Saturday evening.
On Friday, June 12, a Garden Tractor Pull competition will be held on S. Bridge St. at 7 p.m. Six classes will compete with awards for first, second, third and fourth place in each class.
Food vendors will serve a variety of popular fair treats, and a merchant tent will host informational displays by more than 25 local and regional businesses and organizations. Local arts, crafts, ceramics, collectibles and needlecraft will be on display in the Perrysville Community Center throughout the fair.
In addition, nightly drawings will be held at 9 p.m. for a bicycle giveaway for boys and girls, and a 50/50 drawing will occur on Saturday.
On Saturday, June 13, a community parade will start at 12 p.m., sponsored by the Perrysville Economic Development, Inc., with trophies awarded for marching units, antique and muscle cars, antique farm machinery and tractors, horse-drawn vehicles, groups on horses, sports or any fun vehicles and floats, and best of show.
Following the parade, a Kiddy Pedal Pull competition will also be held in the parking lot behind Farmers Bank. Winners will receive trophies; all entries will receive a participation ribbon. The Kiddy Pedal Pull is sponsored by Ohio Connections Academy.
Closing out the festivities will be a special Vintage Base Ball Exhibition Game on Sunday, June 14 at 2 p.m. on the Perrysville Village Youth League ball field adjacent to the old Perrysville School. The game will feature the Loudonville Buzzards versus the newly-formed Perrysville Admirals.
Vintage Base Ball is baseball played by the rules and customs of the 19 century, specifically recreating America’s favorite pastime as played between 1860 and 1865. Unlike today’s modern baseball team, vintage clubs play with their bare hands. Fair or foul balls caught on one bounce are considered outs. And player conduct, both on and off the field, seeks to honor the highest standards of sportsmanship, gentlemanly behavior, courtesy, and respect for others.
The public is encouraged to bring lawn or sack chairs. Refreshments, including old-fashioned lemonade, salt-water taffy, popcorn and other snacks popular in the second half of the 19th century will be available for sale from vendors.
The 2015 Perrysville Free Street Fair is organized by the Perrysville Fair Entertainment Committee and operated under the auspices of Perrysville Economic Development, Inc., a nonprofit corporation. All proceeds will benefit community revitalization projects.
For more information regarding the 2015 Perrysville Free Street Fair, contact Joe Eggerton at 419-606-4183, or Shelley Sulser at 419-496-5228.
