Last weekend was Ada's Harvest and Herb Fest. This is Bluffton's turn for weekend events. Activities are planned in many locations in the 10th annual Bluffton Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The community-wide festival offers lots of family-oriented events, free and open to the public, according to Daren Lee of Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio, who coordinates the festival.
Maple Crest Senior Living Village, 700 Maple Crest Court
Antique tractor show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; musical entertainment, Full Sound Chamber Group, 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1-1:45 p.m.; corn shredder and wheat thresher demonstrations, TBA; kiddie tractor pull, registration 1-1:30 p.m., pull starts 1:30 p.m.; fishing derby, 2-3:30 p.m. Food available during the day.
Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 W. Elm St.
Events earlier in the week include a silent auction from Sept. 23 to noon Sept. 28; bake sale Friday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-noon.
Sept. 28 events: Lunch and kid’s face painting, 10 a.m-1 p.m.; fun photo booth, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; horse-drawn carriage rides from MMH and downtown, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Bingo (no cash prizes), 1-3 p.m. kid’s hay dig, kiddie train, kettle corn for sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sept. 28 entertainment: Rainbow Dulcimers, 10:30-11 a.m.; Don Hurless Trio, noon-1:30 p.m.
Downtown Bluffton – Main Street retail district
Many businesses will have special sales during the day. Bluffton Senior Citizens Center will have lunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides from Mennonite Home stop at the Center.
Swiss Community Historical Society homestead, 8350 Bixel Road
Farm animal exhibits, straw bale maze and other kid’s games, blacksmithing, corn shelling, bread-baking, needle crafts, open-fire meat roasting, popcorn popping, soup cooking, woodworking and other old-time rural crafts, wagon rides, horse plowing, Swiss-German music, historical exhibits and food available.
Bluffton Elementary School, 116 S. Jackson St.
Bluffton Scrap Artists quilt show, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. elementary gym. Several sewing projects on display, including quilts made by the club for The Wounded Warrior Project.
BFR Sports and Fitness, 215 Snider Road
First-ever Craft and Home Business Expo, booths of hand-made craft items, a variety of products from national companies representing beauty and skincare, candles, scrapbooking, books, jewelry, purses, home décor, storage and cooking products. Demonstrations provided throughout the day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $1 admission.
Center for Autism and Dyslexia 5K run-walk
A 5K run and walk sponsored by The Center for Autism and Dyslexia of Findlay and Lima will use Bluffton University’s Sommer Center as its starting and ending point. Registration at 8 a.m. Race at 9 a.m. Award ceremony follows with trophies awarded. To register [email protected].
Farmers’ Market, Citizens National Bank parking lot, 102 Main St.
First Mennonite Church, 101 S. Jackson St.
“Sowing and Reaping: Celebrating Good Food from the Earth.” Joint effort of several community organizational includes free community brunch, food samples and demonstrations. Mad River Theater Works present “The Pasture and the Process: A Parable of Just Food,” at 10 a.m. in First Mennonite sanctuary.
Farmers’ market, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Free community brunch, 9-10 a.m. Food samples and demonstrations 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Pie baking contest 11 a.m.
Bluffton Hospital, 139 Garau St.
Pony rides, face paining, inflatables for kids including a bounce house and 30-foot shark slide, pumpkin decorating and light refreshments. Transportation provided between downtown and the hospital during the day.
Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main St.
Friends of the Library book sale, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Book sale also open to public Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27.
Facebook updates
For updates and complete information on the Bluffton Fall Festival visit its Facebook at facebook.com/BlufftonFallFest.
