Shreve celebrates June 17-19 with annual Swampfest
When more than 5,000 acres of marshland sit in your backyard, it becomes your theme for a three-day festival of fun, food, games, entertainment and fireworks. At least that’s what the Shreve Business and Community Association has done in organizing Swampfest June 17-19 in the village’s downtown.
When more than 5,000 acres of marshland sit in your backyard, it becomes your theme for a three-day festival of fun, food, games, entertainment and fireworks.
At least that’s what the Shreve Business and Community Association has done in organizing Swampfest June 17-19 in the village’s downtown.
“We’re embracing our natural resources and celebrating our marshland,” Swampfest committee member Amy Redmond said.
The Killbuck Marsh, a 5,671-acre wildlife area, lies between Ohio routes 83 and 226 and is the state’s largest remaining marshland outside of the Lake Erie region, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Killbuck Creek flows through the area, supporting populations of waterfowl, fish and furbearer species and a large variety of nesting and migrant birds.
A mascot for the festival, looking as if it just crawled out of the swamp, will walk the streets as part of the activities. A large wooden Sasquatch cut-out will be on display for photo opportunities.
Back by popular demand is the frog jumping contest that this year includes an adult category. When it debuted in 2019 along with Swampfest (the festival was canceled last year due to COVID-19), the contest was for children only.
“It was absolutely hilarious,” said Jeannie Wachtel, a Swampfest committee member who watched her two granddaughters participate. “One (granddaughter) just sat there because her frog would not jump. She was blowing on it and everything else (without touching it). The other granddaughter was having more success in getting her frog to jump to the finish line.”
“The contest was enthusiastically received,” Redmond said. “People enjoyed watching it. We had more watchers than participants.”
Frog rental and entry is $5 for the Saturday event at 3 p.m. Adults must supply their own frogs, gently harvested and humanely transported with the expectation they will be returned to their original habitat promptly after the event, according to the contest rules. The entry fee is $5 for adults, and winners will receive cash prizes.
Frogs for the children’s contest will be supplied by Triway FFA members who will fulfill their community-service obligation by providing a petting zoo and games for children. Members are building a giant Jenga game, FFA adviser Kelsey Bowers said. They also will provide a duck pond game, cornhole, ring toss, face painting and coloring sheets.
Also beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday and running until 5 p.m. is a scavenger hunt for children. “We hide things like ceramic frogs around the festival,” Wachtel said.
The children find them and turn them in as part of the hunt.
Jeannie and her husband, Joe Wachtel, will operate several food trailers at the festival under the name JW Concessions. They call one of them Wetland Wonderland because it displays information about the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area.
The Wachtels will use the proceeds from another of their trailers that sells desserts to raise money for hospital bills for Everly Mowry, a young girl who nearly drowned in a pool in May.
Maria James, a Triway High School sophomore, created the winning design for the official 2021 Swampfest T-shirt. The T-shirts can be purchased at Swampfest at $15 each or two for $20.
The Clinton Township Fire Department will serve a $10 ham dinner starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday and lasting until it sells out.
A Shreve Supports Our Troops parade involving the American Legion color guard and first responders will kick off at 6 p.m.
Saturday evening entertainment at 7 p.m. is by the blues band, Memphis Cradle. The Pick-Up Band from HeBrews coffee shop will perform earlier at 2 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the County Line Historical Society of Wayne and Holmes County will host a presentation by living historian/storyteller Chris Hart, who will portray Neil Armstrong. During the 1 p.m. program called First Step, Hart will tell Armstrong’s story of being the first man to walk on the moon through a press conference format. The program will take place at the Shreve Presbyterian Church, 343 N. Market St. Admission is free.
Returning after a long absence to the Shreve downtown festival, originally called Shreve Homecoming, are rides for children and carnival games and food concessions.
Other daily entertainment on the festival’s main stage includes Adam Calvert, a country music/singer/songwriter, on Thursday at 7 p.m. and SOBOS (Some of the Best Old Songs), a classic rock band from Wooster, on Friday at 7 p.m.
The night concerts will be followed by the drawing for the Shreve Swampfest Gun, Bow and Kayak Raffle. Prizes include a Centerpoint Crossbow to be given away on Thursday, a Hydros 101 Kayak to be raffled on Friday and a Mossberg 500 Combo Shotgun to be raffled on Saturday. Tickets are $20 a piece or seven for $100.
There also will be a cash raffle each evening. Tickets are $1 a piece or seven tickets for $5 and can be purchased at various Shreve businesses. The winner of the Saturday evening cash raffle will win $1,000 if the person is present to claim the prize.
Wayne County Boots, Paws and Troops, volunteers helping veterans in need, will host bingo each day. Bingo will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Tate Farms will operate a pedal pull for children on Friday. Registration will be at 6 p.m. with the pull starting at 7 p.m.
Swampfest will wrap up Saturday at 10:30 p.m. with fireworks.
Festival chair Joe Wachtel said putting the festival together is a lot of work. “But it’s a lot of fun too,” he said.