By Paula Pyzik Scott

Here’s your 2024 Made In Ada Wilson Football Festival lineup for Saturday, August 24. This 8th annual event is coordinated by the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce and takes place from 5:00-10:00 p.m. at Ada Depot Park.

The following announcements were made to the chamber’s Facebook page:

WILSON FOOTBALL FACTORY GIFT SHOP
Special shopping hours: The Wilson Football Factory will have the new gift shop open from 2-5 P.M. on Saturday, August 24 before the festival. If you have not had a chance to see the new factory in person, this will be a great opportunity. We would like to thank Wilson's for opening on Saturday to join in the fun. *Please note factory floor tours will not be available, as no production happened on Saturdays. *

MADE IN ADA KIDS END ZONE
Festivals, bands, and food trucks are great, but some things are bigger than that. At the heart of this festival is football, and football means community. When tragedy strikes a local community, it's up to all of us to step up, help out, and do the right thing. ***All funds raised and donations made in the Endzone will be donated to the Coldwater HS football team in honor of their fallen teammate.***

HELMET HOLD CHALLENGE
At 10:00 P.M., guestS 18+ can participate in a new game, The Helmet Hold Challenge, to test their strength and endurance in front of the crowd ! Let’s see who will be the last person standing. Limited to the first 11 participants to sign-up the night of. Prizes will be awarded!

LIVE MUSIC
The 8th Annual Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival  is excited to announce and THANK OhioHealth for being our 2024 Stage Sponsor! OhioHealth plays a vital role in the health and wellness of our community. We are honored to have them a part of our event

We are thrilled to announce the headlining band for our 8th annual festival! Fan favorite Shifferly Road Band is back! Thanks to band sponsors, Quest Federal Credit Union and Middlefield Bank of Ada!

RAFFLE ITEMS
A sneak peak: Blackstone grill and pop-up tent! 

Every hour of the festival we will be raffling off a CUSTOM “Made In Ada Wilson Football Festival” Ball. There are only a few of these balls in existence! Don’t miss your chance to get one of these. Thank you, Wilson Football Factory!

WATER $1 BOTTLE
Donated by Hempy Water Conditioning.

FOOD TRUCKS

• Buerger's Fries and More
• Circle U Waffle Co.
• Deutch Essen
• Fork in the Road Food Truck
• Jonny Burritos
• Kevin’s Kajunette 
• Leggo My Eggroll
• Shafer's Smoked Meats 
• A Taste of Paradise shaved ice

PUMPKINHEAD
Pumpkinhead of Pumpkin Nation will be at the Made in Ada festival to meet and greet with Dawg Pound fans young and old! 

BENGALS CAPTAIN
Exciting news! For the first time ever, we'll have a celebrity SuperFan at our festival! Bengals Captain of the Cincinnati Bengals fan base is coming to the Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival! If you're a Bengals fan, you'll recognize Cap from games, the pregame welcome and safety video, and various charitable events he attends. We hope his wife, Who Bae, can join him too! 

BEER TENT

1. Everyone 21 y/o and older must have on ID check wristband.
2. You will purchase your beer tickets, then redeem them at the beer tent.
3. This year we will be doing 16 oz draft pours. Minus the Nütrl Lemonades those are cans. All drinks cost 1 ticket at the beer tent.
4. Absolutely no outside liquor, beer, or alcohol. (This has not been a problem yet and we greatly appreciate that! )
5. You must stay within the marked Depot parking lot parameters. We are not a DORA community, all drinks must stay within the confines of the festival. Signage will be posted.
6. CASH only - ATM will be available right next to the cashier table at Middlefield Bank.
7. Please clean up after yourself and use the trash cans provided. Again, this has not been an issue the past two year.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
The football festival is coordinated by the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce. The event committee includes Festival Director Lindsay W. Hollar; Heather Altstaetter, Middlefield Bank; Andy Fries, Ohio Northern University Men’s Football Coach; Wynn Hauenstein, Punt, Pass, and Kick Director; Jamie Hall, Village of Ada; Adriana Hughes, Four Seasons Drive Thru; Martha Nau, United Way of Hardin County; Becky Neville, Century 21 Sunway Realty LLC of Ada; Kasey Patton, Wilson Football; Meghan Violet, The Inn at Ohio Northern University; Dylan Wood, Ohio Northern University.