Get Ready for SPLASH WEEKEND!!

 June 29 – July 8 is Splash Weekend! This is a great fun-filled weekend in Northwest Ohio! Be sure to visit our “Events” page to get a full listing of all the festivities! It all starts with Mouth-watering Bar-B-Q Ribs and a full dose of great music in the streets of Downtown Napoleon at the Rib-Fest. Then Scary Movies in Defiance, Triathlons and 5K Run-Walks around the area. On the Fourth, catch all the fun and events at Glenwood Park in Napoleon, and Kingsbury Park in Defiance, topped off by the fabulous Fireworks Shows at both places! Then on Friday, why not hang-out in Downtown Defiance for “First Fridays”! Finally, “Motorama” on Sunday at Auglaize Village

Summer Fun in the River Region

Spring and summer is a great time to be in the Northwest Ohio River Region. There are so many activities and events from which to choose! Visit our Calendar of Events page to see a listing of all there is to see and do! Of particular interest are four major events coming up soon!

May 18- 20  Hamler Country Fest.  Be sure to check this one out.  This event is a full weekend of Country and Bluegrass bands.  Camping, Mechanical bull, Autographed Guitar Auction, Cornhole tournament are all fun activities.  It’s all under roof!  Bring your lawn chairs.  For a complete schedule of events and a discount coupon, Click Here.   For additional information, visit their Web-Site at  www.hamlersummerfest.com

For Driving Directions, Click on Map Marker, then Get Directions

View Hamler Country Fest in a larger map

May 18-20-  Buckeye Heritage Festival – The three day event will feature pioneer exhibitors and demonstrators , historical presentations, crafters, a flea market, music food and more.  Located at the Defiance County Fair Grounds, Hicksville.  Call Carol Weidenhamer for more information at 419-542-5690 or go online at www.buckeyeheritagefestival.com. 

Authentic Wigwam at Buckeye Heritage Festival

June 7- 9  John Paulding Days. Paulding comes alive with this annual event that is     held on the Courthouse square. This is a great hometown celebration with entertainment and street carnival. The Grand Parade is 7 p.m. June 7. For more information and a complete schedule,  Click Here  or contact the Paulding Chamber of Commerce, 419-399-5215, or visit the Paulding Chamber Web-Site...at  www.pauldingchamber.com/

June 6-8  Napoleon Area Strawberry Festival Weekend. Weekend events include Community Garage Sales, & Public Library Book Sales. "Tony Rio" & "Unpaved" performing at the Henry County Fairgrounds.(Friday), Saturday brings Sidewalk Sales and Open Merchant Sales in Downtown Napoleon, and a Truck Pull Saturday as well.  See the Antique Car show and River City Rodders on Sunday. Catch a concert from Henry County Corale, and while you're enjoying the Henry County Historical Society's Strawberry Festival on Sunday, also enjoy the Henry County Arts Council Strawberry Show on the Lawn. Many more festivities planned. Call Katie Meyers at MKats 419-592-0293, or E-mail mkatherinemeyers@hotmail.com. Or call Mary Wesche at 419-599-7903 or  E-Mail mk.wesche@gmail.com . To read the flier, and print the schedule of events Click Here. See you at the Strawberry Festival!

War of 1812, Impact on Native Americans Conference

Defiance College, Northwest State Community College, and Sauder Village with help from a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council proudly present a three day conference that focuses on the War of 1812 and the impact it had on Native American Peoples.  The war caused these tribes to be forcibly removed from Ohio. Join the conference Thursday through Saturday May 10-12, 2012.

According to the official Conference program, the War of 1812, sometimes called the “Second War for Independence”, or the “Forgotten War”, deserves an important place in our nation’s history. It assured our country’s western expansion, defined our country’s northern border, protected the greatest fresh water route of travel, and secured the Old Northwest Territory. This set into motion the rise of the US as the world’s greatest industrial giant in the 20^th century. But all of this was not without a cost.

 According to Randy Buchman, Emeritus Professor of History, Defiance College, “The forced removal of the Native American Population has been neglected in Ohio’s history of more than 170 years. The story of events after their removal has received very little attention in literature and textbooks. To help understand our common heritage in a diverse culture, we need to review and reflect on this chapter of our past. There are contradictory views on the subject, and they point out the need to be examined to give a more complete historical context.”

Also according to Buchman, “These issues still linger today in our culture- displacement of people, culture conflict, government’s role, and the role of minorities- not only in our country, but in the world.”

Come and hear many leading academic scholars from all around the region present their accounts about the impact this historic War had on the Indigenous peoples of this area.  If that’s not enough, hear directly from descendants of the Tribes themselves. Part of the conference will include a panel discussion of descendants from the Tribes including the Ottawa, Shawnee, Seneca-Cayuga, Miami and Delaware.

Click here to Print the Schedule and Registration Form.

For a complete information, visit   http://www.defiance.edu/NACOR.html  Registration fee is $70 if paid by May 4.  Also visit the following web-sites for additional War of 1812 insights:

http://www.societyofthewarof1812.org/   for the General Society of the War of 1812 and,

http://www.warof1812.ohio.gov/Default.aspx  for the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

2012 Lilac Festival, May 12, Defiance

Be Sure to check out this event while in Northwest Ohio's River Region! What a fun-filled day this will be!

For those not aware of why we do the Lilac Festival, here's a bit of history. In the 1920’s Mayor Ed Bronson, also president of the Defiance Garden Club, declared the Lilac as the city flower. He encouraged the Defiance community to plant lilacs as a celebration. On April 21st, 1937, Mayor Joe C. Krutsch made a City resolution declaring the Lilac as the official flower of the City of Defiance.

With the rich history that Defiance holds, we want to continue to celebrate the city flower on the second Saturday in May each year. On May 12th, 2012 we will celebrate our seventh annual Lilac Festival. We will be passing out our traditional lilac seedlings to the first 500 on a first come-first serve basis to continue the passion of Mayor Bronson.

The Festival will be kicked off at 10:00am with the power of purple parade sponsored by the American Cancer Society. After the parade, enjoy a great day of events with over 60 fine arts, crafts and food vendors.

Live Entertainment will begin at 11am featuring Garcia and Scott from Tennessee. Garcia and Scott draw from a deep well of American music traditions. Think of this original, energetic and eclectically influenced duo this way: Dig a hole in the coal-black earth. Toss in a bucket-full of Blues, a shovel-full of Rock and Roll and fertilize with a trowel-full of Jazz and R& B. Mix it all together and sprinkle on some Latin-infused H-2-O. What bursts forth is a brilliant, bold and bountiful bush filled with the fruit of fresh, flavorful Americana music. Pulsating. Melodic. Intensely original. Their sound is uniquely, Garcia and Scott.

As in years past, children will also have activities throughout the day. Local nurseries will also have plants for sale just in time for Mother’s Day. Anyone interested in setting up a Fine Art or Craft booth, or for additional information, contact the Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau at visitdefianceohio.com or call 419-782-0739. Join us in Downtown Defiance, where Friends, Families and the Rivers meet.

2012 Lilac Festival Sponsored by The State Bank and Trust Company

The British Kept A-Comin' !

Since 2012 marks the Bicentennial year of the War of 1812, be sure to visit this event:

April 13th - "The British Kept A-Comin'!" Northwest State Community College's Center for Lifelong Learning will host a Presentation from the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. The presentation will focus on the importance of that war to the Northwest Ohio area. Speakers will include Peter Wilhelm, NSCC, and Richard Rozevink of Defiance.The presentation will sum up both the issues and actions of those critical days in the infancy of the raw new country. The day will include music and multi-media presentations. Both historians have supported State Senator Steve Buehrer's Senate Bill 93 establishing the Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. Now they will give a preview which will give depth to later various commemorative events.

The event will be held in Room 106 in the Allied Health and Public Services Building at Northwest State. It begins at 8:30 am. and the registration fee is $5. A "Frontiersman-Style" lunch is available. Walk in's accepted, or pre-register at 419-533-2361 or 419-267-5502. Or register by E-Mail to: louisastrock@embarqmail.com or cecily@rtech.net. See You There!

Be sure to visit the Official Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission  Web-Site to keep up to date on the most current events regarding the Bicentennial!

Visit Paulding... Just a Stones Throw Away!

While traveling in Northwest Ohio's River Region, Be sure to visit Historic Paulding, Ohio. Just minutes off of US Route 24, south down State Route 127. Here you will find a quaint town with small home-town appeal. Be sure to visit our "Featured Destinations" page to view all the awesome places to go around town! Here are a few photos of some fun places in Paulding!

mural painted on the Marshall Foundation's Building
in downtown Paulding, a project done by the
Paulding Chamber of Commerce's
 "Leadership in Action Class"

Historic Paulding County Courthouse
Courthouse Square, Downtown Paulding

Settled in the middle of Paulding is the wonderful
Lafountain Park. Also, right next door and
in walkable distance is the Paulding Water Park.

While in Paulding, I also found some really cool places. To name just a few, follow the links below to find an interesting Hunt Club, and a Pottery Artisan:

Thornbottom Hunting

Emerald Forest Pottery

Have a Great time in Paulding, and drop us a line to share your fun experience!

See you in Paulding!