ThisWeek CW 08/25/2011
The 91st annual Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival Sept. 3-5 will feature family-friendly fun all weekend long, according to event committee president Phil Hanlon.
“This festival is almost 100 years old, and it’s great free, family entertainment that just can’t be beat,” Hanlon said. “During the three-day weekend, we’ve got several stages with bands, lots of rides for the kids, all kinds of food vendors and an expanded arts and crafts market this year that people will really like.”
The Labor Day Festival is the longest-running and largest event the city hosts each year, with an anticipated 30,000 visitors over the weekend, according to city community affairs director Carrie Hoover.
The entertainment kicks off on the main stage at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, with the Peggy Wood Scholarship Pageant, and continues through Monday evening, with The Usual Suspects & The Repeat Offenders wrapping up the weekend.
“Every year I enjoy the entertainment and we’ve got some great entertainment again this year,” Mayor Michael Ebert said. “We had a lot of requests for the British Invasion to return again this year and I’m glad they’re back on Saturday night. One of my favorites is the cruise-in.”
Registration for Sunday’s “cruise-in” car show begins at 9 a.m. with the show taking place from noon to 4 p.m. Last year, 300 entrants turned out for the event, making it one of the largest in central Ohio.
Other events during the weekend include a 5K fun run to benefit the Canal Winchester Alumni Scholarship Association beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, and an Alumni Get-Together at 5 p.m. Sunday, both at the high school. The Quilters on Canal will host a quilting show at the community center and the Canal Winchester Area Chamber of Commerce will host a business expo at the chamber each day from noon to 6 p.m.
“The Labor Day Festival is like a homecoming because a lot of people that have moved away come back to enjoy the weekend and see friends and family,” Ebert said.
The festival is funded through donations and sponsorship opportunities, with volunteers performing much of the labor throughout the three-day event.
“We have a lot of volunteers but we’re always looking for more,” Hanlon said. “Each committee tries to recruit as many volunteers as they can, and as president, I can say it’s a great opportunity to serve the community and meet new people.
“We still have plenty of work to get done during the event, though, so anyone that wants to help can come to the information tent and volunteer,” he said.
The Labor Day Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Monday. This year’s parade grand marshal is Bob Mcdorman.
“Bob’s done a lot for this community and schools, so I’m glad to see that he’s been rewarded with grand marshal,” Ebert said.
More information about the festival, including the event schedule and a list of vendors, is available online at www.cwlaborday.org.