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A Fall Festival at the Washington County Fairgrounds is being planned for Oct. 14 by a group of volunteers working in conjunction with the fair board in order to replace the current playground in Civitan Park, behind the roller skating rink.
Volunteer Jenny Bruce said the plans include an antique tractor and engine show being organized by Steve and Joyce Howard. The goal is to fill the infield of the fairground track with every type of antique equipment that can be shared for display. Tim and Brenda Mendenhall will be organizing a car show to fill the fairgrounds parking lot.
Bruce is working to find vendors and small businesses that would like to share their handmade, homemade, locally made, locally grown products in the large cattle barn. She is aiming for more than 100 vendors, she said.
Fair board members will be offering a wide variety of food and drinks. Two different stages will accommodate the music offerings. There will be live demonstrations of apple cider making, rug weaving, quilting and stencil demonstrations, among other skills. Children also will find a lot of activities and attractions just for them, including a pumpkin patch, horse-drawn hay ride and s'mores made at a fire pit.
Bruce said a few special surprises also will be revealed over the next few months on the Washington County Fair Board's Fall Festival FaceBook page.
"All the funds raised from admission and the sale of food will go directly to the playground fund," she said. "We are looking for volunteers for this day as well."
Those who are interested in helping in any way can contact the Washington County Fair office at 740-373-1347 or fallfest.washcofair@gmail.com. Bruce said people are also welcome to contact her personally at 740-336-6052 if they are unable to make contact through the office.
Bruce said she is not a lifelong resident of Marietta, "but I have over the course of more than 60 years spent time in what is called Civitan Park. The playground and park have held many fond memories for me and my family."
Most notable was the time she would visit the park with her niece and two daughters while her sister was receiving chemo treatments at Strecker Cancer Center. Or, as a child, when her parents would take their lawn chairs to the park during events like the Washington County Fair.
"I have learned much about the history recently and want to first and with much appreciation thank the Civitan members who brought that park and playground to this community for children like my own to enjoy over the years. And to this day children can be seen daily in the park. For some, that park is within safe walking distance. For others, it is a shaded location that offers a place to stop and have lunch.
"I'm asking the community to help support this event and the efforts to bring an update to the park that has held a long history in the Marietta area," Bruce said.