By Monty Siekerman
The 104th Farmers and Merchants Picnic, one of the longest running festivals in Ohio, is set for Saturday, Aug. 12, at War Memorial Park.

The entertainment schedule follows: (Photos below)

1 to 4 p.m. - Mark Twain will stroll the grounds with living history
1 to 4 p.m. - Living statue from Cincinnati Circus
1 to 4 p.m. - Opening act Jeff Davis
                     followed by Richie Crouch, Elvis entertainer
2 to 4 p.m. - Art Me, including:
                     Beauty princess, Cinderella, Spider character and face painters
4 to 5 p.m. - Gary Edwards Sanning, singer, songwriter
5 to 5:15 p.m. - Ada cheerleaders

The all-day event will include:
• 8 a.m., Ohio Western Horse Association, contest, performance and halter classes. This will be the first year the OWHA runs the event in Ada.
• Parade at 9:30 a.m. from West Lincoln, to Main, to the Park.
• Pull at the park.  Two big classes: session one at 10 a.m. and session two at 6:30 p.m.
• Gates open at 8 a.m. These sessions usually draw several thousand attendees.
• Welcome and flag raising at the main stage and crowning of Little Prince and Princess at 10:30 a.m., main stage.
• Kiddie tractor pull, sponsored Ada Kiwanis Club, 11 a.m., main stage.
• Free swim, sponsored by Ada Lions Club, from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
• Entertainment throughout the day, including Elvis impersonator, Barney Fife impersonator, Spider-Man and Princess characters for the kids.

Other events:
• rides and games for the kids, chainsaw carving, casino wheel, bingo, 4H petting zoo, Bessie bingo, Plinko, ring toss, hourly door prizes.

If it's food you want, check out the hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, chicken noodle, pulled pork, walking tacos, caramel apples, and desserts.

There will not be a beer tent with entertainment this year since the number attending in recent years did not justify the expense.

Profits from the picnic benefit the park. For more information, call 419-204-4235.