By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Ada Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its eighth annual Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival on Saturday, August 24. The listing of events and activities below show the festival’s growth and how each year organizers find a new way to celebrate football and footballs.

Festival Director Lindsay W. Hollar and the following 2024 festival committee has crafted this year’s event: Dylan Wood, Ohio Northern University; Heather Altstaetter, Middlefield Bank; Martha Nau, United Way of Hardin County Ohio; Becky Neville, Century 21 Sunway Realty LLC; Meghan Violet, The Inn at Ohio Northern University; Wynn Hauenstein, Punt, Pass, and Kick competition director. Not pictured: Andy Fries, Ohio Northern University Men’s Football Coach; Kasey Patton, Wilson Football; Adriana Hughes, Four Seasons Drive Thru; Jamie Hall, Village of Ada.

The Festival is 5:00-10:00 p.m. at Depot Park in downtown Ada.

NEW Shop at the Wilson Football Factory Before the festival the Wilson gift shop will be open special hours: 2:00-5:00 p.m.

NEW Kids Endzone from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Games and activities including Twist & Shout Balloons sponsored by Ada Technologies, face painting by the ONU Cheerleading team

Main Stage - Sponsored by OhioHealth

Live Music - Headlined by Shifferly Road Band, sponsored by Middlefield Banking Company

NEW Helmet Hold Challenge. At 10:00 p.m. guests 18+ can participate in a new game which will test their strength and endurance in front of the crowd ! Who will be the last person standing? Limited to the first 11 participants to sign-up the night of. Prizes will be awarded!

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

NEW Celebrity SuperFan: Bengals fan base Captain

NEW Wilson Football photo booth: Grab your besties or family and snap a photo by the custom Wilson Airstream trailer near the Kid’s Endzone.

Food trucks: Shafer’s Smoked Meats, Leggo My Eggroll, Fork in the Road, Taste of Paradise, Jonny Burritos, Kevin’s Kajunette, Deutsch Essen, Buerger’s Fries and More, Circle U Waffle Co.

Beer Tent FAQ: 

• Everyone 21 y/o and older must have an ID check wristband.
• Purchase your beer tickets, then redeem them at the beer tent.
• 16 oz draft pours. Nütrl Lemonades in cans. All drinks cost 1 ticket at the beer tent.
• Absolutely no outside liquor, beer, or alcohol. (This has not been a problem yet and we greatly appreciate that! )
• Alcoholic beverages 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.
• CASH only - ATM will be available right next to the cashier table at Middlefield bank.
• Please clean up after yourself and use the trash cans provided.