By Dave Mast
On Saturday night, Sept. 1, the sirens blared surrounding Killbuck, meaning that high water was a real possibility. With heavy rains dumping water, that could have meant very bad things for the annual Early American Days Festival in Killbuck which took place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2 in downtown Killbuck.
But thankfully, the rain came at just the right time the middle of the night and the sirens eventually subsided, the rains let up, and by Sunday, come festival time, the streets were packed with plenty of people taking in the sights and sounds of this popular Holmes County festival.
According to parade emcee Terry Logsdon, Early American Days (EAD) began after the flood of 1969, as a way to thank the community for pitching in and helping those in need. It was a time created for communing and enjoying the company of neighbors and loved ones. In addition, it was a way of celebrating community and all of the wonderful things the many families had provided for Killbuck.
That eventually branched out and brought in more people from outside the community.
Its a big homecoming as well as a fun festival, said Logsdon. Its a great time to socialize with folks you havent seen in years and a way to say thanks to a small community. We have people coming back to the community to reconnect every year and to talk about old memories.
For two days, the EAD committee packs a whole bunch of activities into a small window of opportunity.
Included in the festivities for the two days were stage entertainment, kids games, a cutest baby contest, a petting zoo, and food and flea market vendors. For the first time there was an antique car show held at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The grand parade began at 2 p.m. Sunday, and with it came plenty of queens and princesses, the West Holmes Knights marching band, old cars, groups and clubs, and most were armed with plenty of candy for the kids.
Saturday featured softball at the Killbuck Park, and the festivities Sept. 1 also included a Killbuck reunion, a kiddie tractor pull and a pooch parade.
There was a hot dog eating contest, a money hunt, a water balloon toss, a hula hoop contest and a horse race, all designed with the kids in mind, making this a wonderful family time.
There was also plenty of music at the main stage throughout the two days, including performances by Valley Voice Quartet, the Walhonding Rube Band, High Water, the Knights marching band and St. Jimmies.
Of course, what would Early American Days be without a Hawkins Lumber Show, which took place Sunday evening, and featured some razor sharp, incredibly fast cutting events from a crew of lumberjacks.
It all added up to a fantastic time of fun, despite the muggy weather. But with no flooding to speak of, the committee members were more than willing to take that trade-off.
Its a great time for families and friends to get together, said EAD committee member Rebbie Baker Chaney. We had a great turnout, and fortunately the weather held off until late Saturday evening. The sirens even went off, but all in all it turned out great.
