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.