Summer kicks off with 29th annual Dover Canal Festival and salute to veterans
by Jennifer Kneuss
May 16, 2011
305
Summary:
The first Tuscarawas County festival of the season starts on May 27, with a time honored tradition of kicking off the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer for local residents and spirited bidding at its successful yearly plate auction.
Who will be the top bidder for the 2011 Canal Dover Festival plate on May 27th? The answer will rest in the results of a popular rivalry between at least three local businessmen, as each vies to add this years 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 #1 plate for about the last 15 years. In fact, several years ago Bill was in Washington DC 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 #1 plate. He got, it, too! Bob Smith of Smith Ambulance is always bidding against Bill, and usually ends up with the #2 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 our others who come every year. They like what we do for our community, so thats a great donation for them. Border anticipates the rivalry will intensify at this years 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 years 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 Soapbox 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 be reinstating a tradition at this years festival by bringing back a chicken barbeque on Saturday and Sunday for festival goers. A new event will be a youth three on three basketball tournament for boys and girls in grades 5-8. The tournament is scheduled to be held in the Dover First Moravian Church parking lot just off of Walnut Street, and will be moved to Memorial Hall in case of inclement weather. More information for potential teams who wish to participate on Saturday May 28 from 9 am until 3 pm can be obtained by calling the church at 330-364-8831, or online at www.firstmoravianchurch.org.
All of the tournaments proceeds will go toward the churchs 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.
The festival chairman, who has served in that role for over a quarter of a century, says that the annual festival is always a much welcomed event. It is the signature event that kicks off summer for the community. Its kind of the official beginning of summer for this part of the county. You see people that you havent 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 www.doverexchangeclub.com.
2011 Canal Dover Festival Schedule – May 27 – 30
Friday May 27
Main Stage:
12:00 Midway Opens
5:30 Festival Opens
6:00-Jr King and Queen Contest
6:30-Plate Auction
8-11- Sparkling Lion Champagne (80s music)
Walnut St. Stage
4-7 –Good Guys
8-11 – Retrovox
Saturday May 28
9:00 Canal Dover 5K Run, Dover Park
12:00 – Parade
Main Street Stage:
1:00 – Dover High Marching Tornadoes
2:00 –Backstage Dance Studio
3:30 Tuscarawas Dance Studio
6:30 – Dominic Greco Band
8:15 -11:15 – Half Fast (Classic Rock)
Walnut St. Stage:
1:00 – Registration for Corn Hole Tournament
3:00 – Corn Hole Tournament
4-7- Proof (Classic Rock)
8-11 – Gus Lambros
Sunday, May 29
Main Stage:
10:30 – Grace Lutheran Church Service
12:30 – Big Wheel Race sign up starts
1:00 – Big Wheel Race
1:30 – 3:00 – Boot Scootin Singles (line dancing)
7-10- Vaughn Brothers
Walnut Street Stage:
4-7-Daniels & Rinehart (electric-acoustic)
8-11 – New Wave Nation (80s)
