By Susan Edmonston, Editor Emeritus
Funfest is making its way back to Protection this year.
After several misses for several years, a committee has planned a full slate of activities for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-30.
The first event starts Friday, Aug. 28 in the Protection City Park with an ice cream social. It starts at 5:30 p.m. Bring a chair to sit and visit.
From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., is the cornhole tournament with cash prizes for the winners. Leland Olkjer is in charge of the event. You can be a seasoned player or just toss for fun.
While that is going on, Chelsea Bean will have “Kidzone Stations” at the park.
Bingo games start at 6 p.m. in the legion hall with Betty Jo Maris and her helpers Patty Gean and Chelsie Monroe. Participants will get one free card and lots of prizes will be given. No one can have more than one card.
At 8 p.m., in the city park, a movie will be shown on a blow-up video screen.
Saturday, Aug. 29
If you want to be in the 5K run or the one-mile walk, register from 6:30 to 7 a.m., at the school’s parking lot.
The 5K run begins at 7:30 a.m., with the one-mile walk a little later. Courtney Peterson and Hayden Martin are in charge of the two events. Participants will wear a Funfest t-shirt. Medals and trophies will be given.
A parade will start, at 10 a.m., at the north end of the city park and will travel to Protection Valley Manor then turns around and heads back on Broadway to the park. Entry setup will start at 9 a.m. Jonathan Webster, Monroe and Gean are in charge of the parade.
A farmers and artisen market in the legion hall building.
One of the C2B “houses” will be on display between the Gean Storage Units and the bank. This is your opportunity to see the inside and ask questions.
There will be a walk down Broadway starting at noon. Meet at Round One (formerly Don’s Place). People will be placed in small groups for this historical walk. Gage Bean is in charge of the walk. At 3 p.m., people will be asked trivia questions. This will take place inside Round One with prizes given.
Raymond and Debra Affeldt, of Coldwater, will have their horse carriage rides in the downtown area starting at noon. There will also be a car and bike show with police cars and fire trucks on display at the north end of the library where children/adults can touch and even look inside. CMS Electric is bringing their vehicle, too. Some of the cars and bikes will be in the parade.
In the fire truck cool down, the hose will be turned on so children can run in the water. Giant board games and kid’s activities will be set up near the Silly Goose Daycare building, including chalk, bubbles, face painting, etc.
Announcements and awards will take place in front of the bank from 4 to 5 p.m. You must be present if your name is called to receive giveaways
Special guest Earl Webster III will introduce Nathan Leeper at 5:15 p.m. and the former Olympic athlete will share his testimony.
Live entertainers and karaoke downtown will commence downtown from 5 to 8 p.m.:
6:05-6:30 Jalee Nnruh
6:35-7:00 Jaylen Delaney
7:05-7:30 Patrick Herd
7:35-8:00 Ransom Gardiner
8:05-8:30 Ken Rice
8:35-9:00 Lane Haas
A glow street dance will round out the night’s activites from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Sunday, Aug. 30
Breakfast, of donuts, coffee, water, juice and community church, begins the day at 10 a.m. in the city park with new South Central High School Principal Tyler Bates as speaker, while Delaney provides the music and Luke Baker offers a prayer. There will be a container(s) where checks written can be left made out to Funfest, track fund, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Grace Bible Church or Protection Methodist Church. A drink vendor will also be at the park.
A slosh ball tournament will begin at 11 a.m. at the ballfield west of the park and swimming pool. This is softball with a twist. Team players must be 18 years or older and must sign a consent form for liability reasons. Three food vendors will be present.
Extra Happenings
A huge canvas will be available all three days – likely in front of the bank – for everyone to sign their name to the guestbook. After Funfest a photo of the canvas will be taken and shrunk to become the cover for a memory book that will hold photos submitted of events during the three days.
Silly Goose Daycare will hold an open house from 1 to 3 p.m., on Saturday, There will be punch and cookies for those who come in and view the new facilities.
The Silly Goose will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight, on Saturday, if you need a babysitter that evening. Isabella Cervantes, along with other helpers, will supervise the children that night.
Giveaways will take place every hour on Saturday. You must be present to win.
A photo booth will be featured from noon to 3 p.m. in the foyer of Bank of Protection, with photographer Nicole Brown, of Ashland, on hand.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ashley Petty will have a table inside Legion Hall for track fund donations so Protection’s school track can receive a big upgrade.
Free water at the city park and Legion Hall building all day.
Limited port-a-potties will be available downtown.
