Bremenfest starts tonight

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NEW BREMEN — Teens will have rides and a dance to look forward to at this weekend’s Bremenfest in downtown New Bremen.

“It’s been at least 10 years since we had a teen dance,” said festival President John Parlett. Disc jockey Pac Man will provide the music. A different rides company will have not only kiddie rides but thrill rides attractive to junior high and high school students, Parlett added.

The 41st annual festival opens tonight at 8 p.m. with the screening of the movie, “Big Hero 6,” in the Crown Pavilion. A New Bremen fire truck will be there and two surprise visitors are expected to make an appearance.

The festival continues Friday at 3 p.m. and comprises rides, games of chance, food, beer tents, children’s activities, a 5K run, pageants, bingo, dodgeball and cornhole tournaments, cheerleading competitions, a fishing derby, a bike tour, a chili cook-off, mud volleyball, a parade and music.

Friday’s musicians will be the Brother Believe Me Band. Their performance begins at 8:30 p.m.

Leading up to a Nashville Crush concert at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, will be a student band showcase, which will run from 3 to 6 p.m.

Tommy Renfro has been booked to provide tunes Sunday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. And people can then dance to Haywired from 6 to 10 p.m.

The queen of the festival and Little Miss Bremenfest will be crowned Friday during ceremonies in the Crown Pavilion at 7 p.m.

Saturday will welcome sportsmen and athletes of all ages: cheerleaders will compete in the 25th annual cheerleading contest at 11 a.m. Bikers can choose a 10-, 25- or 50-mile tour, starting at 8 a.m. The fishing derby runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This year, the New Bremen Rod and Gun Club will stock part of the canal with fish. A punt, pass and kick contest takes place at 2 p.m. Volleyball players with good washing machines can wade into mudpits for games beginning at 10 a.m.

Those who prefer cleaner competitions can join the cornhole tournament at 3 p.m. They all can fuel their fire for the contests by sampling entries in the chili cook-off, which heats up at 8 a.m.

Runners don’t have to wait for Saturday. A 5K run/walk starts at 8 p.m., Friday, and a 1-mile fun run takes off at 7:30 p.m.

Auto enthusiasts will enjoy a cruise-in and car show Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A dodgeball tournament will begin at 3 p.m., Sunday, following the annual Bremenfest parade, which will step off at 1 p.m.

Pony rides have been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons. A drawing for cash and other prizes will take place at 8 p.m., Sunday. Tickets, at $5 each, will be for sale throughout the festival.

Advance-sale ride tickets are available through noon Friday at the following New Bremen locations: Western Ohio True Value Hardware, Sunoco Cardinal Express, Minster State Bank, First National Bank, Wagner’s IGA, Schwieterman Pharmacy and the New Bremen Public Library. They are sold in sheets of 20 for $13. Each ride will cost two to three tickets.

Ride wristbands will be sold Saturday for $15.

“With the wristband, they can ride as much as they want for four hours, from 1 to 4 p.m.,” Parlett said.

Chicken dinners will be sold beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday. But no one will go hungry at the festival. Vendors will have food available Friday through Sunday in the Food Tent.

“I hope it will be a good festival,” Parlett said. “The weather looks great.”

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By Patricia Ann Speelman

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4824. Follow her on Twitter @PASpeelmanSDN.

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