Crestline Harvest Festival offers three days of events and entertainment

CRESTLINE — This year's Crestline Harvest Festival, which starts Thursday, will feature musical performances, contests and plenty of good things to eat.

The festival along Thoman Street, from Bucyrus to Main streets, kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday with an opening ceremony on the main stage next to the fire department. The event runs through Saturday.

Rides will be open 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. All-day wristband prices are $10 for Thursday, $14 for Friday and $17 for Saturday. Individual tickets are $2 each or 20 tickets for $30. Each ride will cost two or three tickets.

The Crestline Harvest Festival Little Miss Pageant starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the main stage, followed by the princess pageant at 6 p.m. and the queen’s pageant at 7 p.m.

Following the pageants, Pioneer Performing Arts will take the main stage at 9 p.m.

Friday’s main stage entertainment will feature Jess Kellie Adams on the main stage at 6 p.m. and Nashville Crush at 8:30 p.m.

Free senior citizen bingo will be offered 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the Crestline Community Center, presented by the Crawford County Council on Aging. It's open to seniors 55 and older. People who plan to attend should register by calling 419-562-3050.

Saturday’s events start early at 7 a.m. with the Crestline Fire Department’s pancake breakfast at the fire station.

The Back the Blue Car & Motorcycle Show starts at 9 a.m. at the village hall parking lot and down Seltzer Street. A craft show will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. under a tent on the Methodist Church Lawn.

Royal Princesses will be available for photos at noon at Spots Rolling Bean.

The Harvest Festival Parade begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, traveling from Kelly Park, down Bucyrus Street. Alumni Night and Bulldog Backers will take place at 6 p.m. at The Hub.

Saturday’s main stage entertainment will feature Direct Energy at 6 p.m. and McGuffey Lane at 8:30 p.m.

Full slate of contests offered

Many contests will be offered during the Harvest Festival this year. Registration forms for all contests, which take place on Saturday, are available at Crestline schools, the Crestline Public Library, village hall and online at crestlineharvestfestival.com.

Kids Stage contests will include:

• Crestline Cuties Contest, a new contest this year, starts at 9:30 a.m. There are two age groups: 0-2 and 3-4. A $5 application fee per child is due at the event.
• Updo/most creative hair contest starts at 10:15 a.m. for ages 1-8 and 9 and older.
• Hula Hoop starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by Limbo at 10:45 a.m., both for kids 5-10 and 11 and older.
• Cookie Face, another new addition, starts at 11 a.m. for kids 4-9 and 10-18.
• Water Balloon Tossing is at 11:15 a.m. and there must be two people on each team. This is for kids 5-10 and 11 and older.

Main stage contests include:

• Hay Bale Toss contest returns for a second year. Starting at 11:30 a.m., age groups are 8 and younger, 9-12, 13-17, and 18 and older.
• Pizza eating, presented by Checkers, starts at 12:30 p.m. Age categories are 8-12, 13-17 and 18 and older.
• Wing eating, presented by Just Jokin’ Bar and Grill, is limited to the first 10 registrations. Age groups are 13-17 and 18 and older.
• Beard contest is at 1:30 p.m., presented by Ed’s Barber Shop. For ages 18 and older, there are five categories, including goatee, full beard, partial beard, mustache and crowd favorite.
• At 7:30 p.m., a free throw contest will take place at the St. Joe’s Convocation Center.

Fof more information about the festival, visit its website, crestlineharvestfestival.com, or visit the Crestline Harvest Festival Facebook page.