FORT LORAMIE — Thousands of people will descend on Lake Loramie State Park soon for the Lake Loramie Fall Festival.
In 40-some years since its founding, the festival has become a staple of the season in west central Ohio. This year’s event opens at 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 15 and closes at 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 17.
In between, there will be entertainment, food, demonstations, arts and crafts, exhibits, performances and contests.
The festival is open to campers and the public. According to Park Manager Jason Whitman, most of the electrified campsites have already been reserved; however, sites without electricity are still available on the beach. This year, he noted, no ground fires will be permitted.
Noncampers can park in visitor lots off state Route 362 and on the beach. There will be shuttle wagons to transport people to and from festival sites within the park. Shuttles will run Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’ve got a lot of new things this year,” Whitman said. “Bud’s Marina will display pontoons. There will be a puppet show and inflatables for children.” Home Depot and Cabellas will have exhibits. The Fort Loramie, Minster and Russia high school bands will perform.
Returning will be an antique power show that annually attracts more than 200 tractor owners, who show their farm equipment.
What draws many people to the autumn celebration is the opportunity to purchase mums. This year, sales will take place in Site 87, Friday and Saturday.
“They sell about 20,000 of them,” Whitman said. No cars will be permitted behind the camp office, he said. So mum-buyers will have to carry their purchases to their vehicles or take them in nonmotorized wagons.
A farmer’s market and appearances by Tuffy the Turtle on Saturday, an archery trailer, a mountain man encampment and a kayak demonstration are a few of what will be available to enthrall festival-goers.
“We’ve got a lot of neat things in store this year,” Whitman said. “If we have good weather, it will be a phenomenal festival.”
Festival schedule
The full schedule of the festival is as follows:
Friday
4 p.m.: Arts and crafts, antique tractor show, sawmill operations, food stands, mountain man encampment, beer garden opens.
4 to 6 p.m.: DARE officer with mascot.
4 to 7 p.m.: Nature tent open with games, wildlife displays and crafts at playfield area; hospitality tent near power show area
4:30 p.m.: Rum River Blend performs folk music on stage.
5:30 p.m.: Tractor activity races in the power show area.
6 p.m.: Tim Kuening and Nichols chainsaw carving in the power show area; kayak demo in nature tent.
6 to 8 p.m.: DARE officer fingerprinting.
7:30 p.m. Karmas Pawn performs on stage.
Dusk: Arts and crafts vendors close. Food vendors remain open through concert.
Saturday
8 a.m.: Breakfast: sausage and gravy and biscuits, coffee and donuts by the Lake Loramie Improvement Association.
8:15 a.m.: Pam Moorman sings the National Anthem.
8:30 a.m.: Party Princess performs on stage.
9 a.m.: Arts and crafts open; nature tent opens.
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Antique power show, sawmill operation, farmer’s market at playfield area, wild craft in nature tent.
9 a.m. to noon: DARE mascot at nature tent.
10 a.m.: Tractor parade (main camp road closed).
11 a.m.: Puppet Show by the Seedsowers at playfield area; shingle mill operation, threshing and baling at power show area; stamp art in
nature tent.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Fire safety trailer and Rage & Rocco Dalmation Duo at playfield area.
11:30 a.m.: Live birds of prey program by the Ohio state park naturalist at the playfield area.
Noon: Tim Kuening & Nichols chainsaw carving, archery trailer, sawmill operation in the power show area; beer garden open.
Noon to 5 p.m.: Inflatables.
Noon to 3 p.m.: Tommy Renfro Band performs; archery trailer at playfield area.
12:30 p.m.: Treasure in the straw activity in the power show area.
1 p.m.: Open Road Band performs classic country music in the power show area; Ron & Remy Friends perform ventriloquism in the playfield area.
1 to 3 p.m.: Craft kit and paint, a take-home activity for kids.
2 p.m.: Tim Kuening & Nichols chainsaw carving, threshing and baling in the power show area, Ron & Remy Friends strolling ventriloquism through festival until 4 p.m.
3 p.m.: Tractor activity races in the power show area; animal exhibits in the nature tent; The Amazing Alto performs a magic show at the playfield area.
4 p.m.: Wild Mustaings perform on stage; life jacket relays in the nature tent; shingle mill operation in the power show area; The Amazing Alto will be strolling through festival until 5 p.m.
5 p.m.: Open Road Band performs classic country music and threshing and baling demonstrations in the power show area; puppet show by the Seedsowers at playfield area.
5 to 7 p.m.: Nature tent open at playfield area
5:15 to 7:15 p.m.: Funny Bones the Clown at playfield area
6 p.m.: Nichols Chainsaw carving in the power show area; festival frames in the nature tent.
6:30 p.m.: Fort Loramie Alumni Band performs onstage.
7:30 p.m.: Renegade performs onstage.
Dusk: Arts and crafts vendors close. Food vendors remain open through concert.
Sunday
8 a.m.: Breakfast: sausage and gravy and biscuits, coffee and donuts by the Lake Loramie Improvement Association.
8:15 a.m.: Pam Moorman sings the National Anthem.
9 a.m.: Alley Family Music performs bluegrass gospel music onstage; arts and crafts, food stands, antique power show and nature tent open.
9 a.m. to noon: DARE mascot in nature tent.
10 a.m.: Puppet show by the Seedsowers and archery trailer at playfield area.
10:30 a.m.: Barbecued chicken dinner by the Fort Loramie Community Service Club.
11 a.m.: Tim Kuening & Nichols chainsaw carving, shingle mill operation and tractor activity races in the power show area; Rage and Rocco Dalmation Duo at playfield area; bird houses in the nature tent.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Inflatables.
11:30 a.m.: Fort Loramie High School Marching Band performs onstage; sawmill operation demonstration in the power show area.
Noon: Minster High School Marching Band performs onstage; treasure in the straw activity in the power show area; beer garden opens; The Amazing Alto performs a magic show at the playfield area.
12:30 p.m.: Russia High School Marching Band performs onstage.
1 p.m.: Life jacket relay in the nature tent
1:30 p.m.: Kevin and the Others performs onstage; The Amazing Alto will be strolling through festival until 2 p.m.
2 p.m.: Tim Kuening & Nichols chainsaw carving, threshing and baling in the power show area; K9 agility at playfield area.
3:30 p.m.: Nichols Chainsaw carvings in the power show area.
4 p.m.: Festival closes.
Food
The following vendors will have food for sale during the festival:
Lake Loramie Improvement Association: Brats, hamburgers, shredded chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, coney dogs, pies, brownies, cookies, cheesy bread sticks, chips, pop, water, Gatorade; and breakfast: coffee, milk, orange juice, cocoa, sausage gravy and biscuit, breakfast sandwich.
Future Farmers of America: Pork loin sandwiches, chili, corn, nachos, bottled water, assorted pop.
Fort Loramie Community Service Club: Chicken dinners Sunday only until gone.
Cumberland Kettle Corn: Regular and flavored kettle corn, bottled water.
Houston Community Association: Soups, sandwiches, pies, drinks.
Lugibihl’s Ice Cream: Homemade ice cream, root beer floats, big red floats, bottled water.
Grandma Moses Ice Cream: Homemade ice cream.
Lockington United Methodist Church: French fries, loaded fries, nachos, loaded nachos, lemonade, ice tea.
Hilly Billy Lemonade: Flavored Lemonade in quart jars, bottled water.
Winks Treats: Warm chocolate cookies, cotton candy, freezer cups, carmel apple bowls, nachos, popcorn, hotdogs, water, coffee.
Ranger Concessions:turkey ribs, ribbon fries, tornado fries, waffle dogs, tornado dogs, loaded nachos, cheese nachos, pop, water, lemonade, ice tea.
Egbert Concessions: Funnel cakes, elephant ears, deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried Snickers.
Three Flame BBQ: Barbecue.
