LEXINGTON, Ohio — The 13th annual Lexington Blueberry Festival returns Aug. 13-16 at Lexington Community Park, with numerous activities ripe for the picking.
The event will feature live entertainment, rides, games, vendors, a petting zoo, among other attractions.
Thursday night, a one-mile glow run will be held at 8:30 p.m., followed by the Blue Lights and Bubbles Parade on Walnut Street at 9 p.m.
The Baby Miss Blueberry, Little Miss Blueberry, Jr. Miss Blueberry, Miss Blueberry and Miss Teen Blueberry pageants will be held Friday at 4 p.m. A car/bike show will follow from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on North Plymouth Street.
Saturday, there will be a pancake breakfast at the Lexington Senior Civic Center at 7 a.m.
Later that morning, a 5K run/walk will be held at 9 a.m., starting near the Signature Homes building at 10 N. Mill St., and a volleyball bash will be held at 11:30 a.m.
Then, at 7 p.m., winners of the Chinese auction will be announced. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 for 1 ticket, $5 for 6 tickets or $10 for 15 tickets. The participants place their ticket(s) in the bucket or bowl of the item they would like to try and win. Some of the items include “A Day of Winter Fun at Snow Trails,” a six-month membership to MedCentral Health and Fitness Center and a Blueberry Patch basket.
Saturday will culminate with a fireworks show at 10:10 p.m. “We have some of the best fireworks in North Central Ohio,” said Lisa Beilstein, chairwoman of the festival.
Another volleyball bash will be held Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Later that afternoon, a parade will step off at 2 p.m. at Lexington High School.
Other activities that day include a big wheel race, treasure hunt and the “Blueberry Bash.”
Live entertainment will be provided by Jeff Ritz (Thursday at 4:30 p.m.), Electric Circus (Thursday at 6 p.m.), Guitar Stars (Thursday at 8:30 p.m.), OH70 (Friday at 1:30 p.m.), Bad Remedy (Friday at 6 p.m.), Rock Brigade (Friday at 8:30 p.m.), Syvelt (Saturday at 2 p.m.), The Stovers (Saturday at 4:30 p.m.), Stan Shot Molly (Saturday at 6 p.m.), Midnight Special, The Classic Rock Experience (Saturday at 8 p.m.), The Back Porch Swing Band (Sunday at 12 p.m.) and Paul McCartney Through the Years (Sunday at 4:30 p.m.).
Beilstein said, “We should have close to 20 food vendors, and they all are required to offer something blueberry.”
She said items that have been offered in the past include blueberry muffins, sundaes, sausage and “whatever they can come up with.”
“It’s fun to see how the food vendors get creative with the blueberry theme,” she said.
There is no admission or parking fee to enter the event.
Beilstein noted, “The Lexington Blueberry Festival just became a 501(c)3 this year, so we’re hoping this year to be able to generate enough revenue to be able to put money back into the parks–that’s our goal.
“I know the skate park needs repaving, and they need new equipment. I don’t think they’ve had any new playground equipment down there at Lexington Community Park for a while,” she added.
For a full schedule of activities, visit http://www.lexblueberryfest.com/.
Festival Chair Lisa Beilstein said, “We should have close to 20 food vendors, and they all are required to offer something blueberry.”
