Summer begins with 29th annual Dover Canal Festival and salute to veterans

  • By Jennifer Kneuss
  • May 16, 2011
  • 320
                        
Who will be the top bidder for the 2011 Canal Dover Festival plate May 27? The answer will rest in the results of a popular rivalry between at least three local businessmen, as each vies to add this year’s top plates, designed once again by local artist Mark VanSickle, to their collection. “We have several people who are great supporters of the plate auction, with a big rivalry going,” commented Jeff Border, festival chairman of the event, which is sponsored each year by the Dover Exchange Club. “Bill Zeigler from Midvale has bought the number one plate for about the last 15 years. In fact, several years ago Bill was in Washington, D.C. on a motorcycle road trip. He was sitting under the overpass on his motorcycle, stuck because it was pouring down rain, and he called in and was bidding by telephone on the number one plate. He got it, too! Bob Smith, of Smith Ambulance, is always bidding against Bill, and usually ends up with the number two plate. Both have been great supporters for us. Dave Beans, from Beans Electric, is also always hot on the trail for a top plate, as are others who come every year. They like what we do for our community, so that’s a great donation for them.” Border anticipates the rivalry will intensify at this year’s auction, which begins on Friday night at 6:30 with auctioneer Don Wallick. The 2011 plate for the 29th annual festival features a tribute to honor veterans of the five branches of the military and local service clubs. Featured groups include the Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, and several others. “I think this year’s design is going to be big,” said Border, noting that the competition among bidders keeps things interesting. “The club gets together to choose the design. We felt it was a timely theme to honor all of our veterans.” “The Canal Dover Festival started in 1982. We have auctioned off plates ever since the beginning. For whatever reason, we have had one of the most successful plate auctions around, with lots of local support. We keep all the money local; it all goes for local charities. Our big thing for us is service to youth, including our support of the Soap Box Derby. Recently we bought a bunch of SMART Boards for Dover schools and for Tuscarawas Catholic Central Elementary in Dover.” The Dover Tornado Club will reinstate a tradition at this year’s festival by bringing back a chicken barbecue on Saturday and Sunday for festivalgoers. A new event will be a youth three on three basketball tournament for boys and girls in grades five through eight. The tournament is scheduled to be held in the Dover First Moravian Church parking lot, just off Walnut Street, and will be moved to Memorial Hall in case of inclement weather. More information for teams who wish to participate on Saturday, May 28, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., can be obtained by calling the church at 330-364-8831, or online at http://www.firstmoravianchurch.org. “All of the tournament’s proceeds will go toward the church’s missions work. We always encourage anyone who wants to do these outside events during the festival to do so. We are all for that.” According to Border, the proceeds that the Exchange Club receives vary from between $15,000 to $25,000, depending on the weather conditions over the three-day festival. Border, who has served in that role for more than a quarter of a century, said that the annual festival is always a much welcomed event. “It is the signature event that kicks off summer for the community. It’s kind of the official beginning of summer for this part of the county. You see people that you haven’t seen all winter. I think a lot of people get together downtown for a reunion of sorts,” he said. Highlights of the festival include live music throughout the weekend, a 5K Run, and a parade on Saturday at noon. More information can be found at http://www.doverexchangeclub.com. 2011 Canal Dover Festival schedule – May 27-30 Friday, May 27 Main Stage: Noon: Midway opens 5:30 p.m.: Festival opens 6 p.m.: Junior King and Queen Contest 6:30 p.m.: Plate auction 8-11 p.m.: Sparkling Lion Champagne (80s music) Walnut Street Stage 4-7 p.m.: Good Guys 8-11 p.m.: Retrovox Saturday, May 28 9 a.m.: Canal Dover 5K Run, Dover Park Noon: Parade Main Street Stage: 1 p.m.: Dover High Marching Tornadoes 2 p.m.: Backstage Dance Studio 3:30 p.m.: Tuscarawas Dance Studio 6:30 p.m.: Dominic Greco Band 8:15-11:15 p.m. - Half Fast (Classic rock) Walnut Street Stage: 1 p.m.: Registration for cornhole tournament 3 p.m.: Cornhole tournament 4-7 p.m.: Proof (Classic rock) 8-11 p.m.: Gus Lambros Sunday, May 29 Main Stage: 10:30 a.m.: Grace Lutheran church service 12:30 p.m.: Big Wheel Race sign up starts 1 p.m.: Big Wheel Race 1:30-3 p.m.: Boot Scootin’ Singles (line dancing) 7-10 p.m.: Vaughn Brothers Walnut Street Stage: 4-7 p.m.: Daniels & Rinehart (electric-acoustic) 8-11 p.m.: New Wave Nation (80s)


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load