Living history area free at Heritage Festival this year

TIFFIN — The Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival Committee is working on finalizing plans for the 44th event to take place Sept. 15-17. This year, the entire festival is happening in downtown Tiffin. The living history portion, which was formerly at Hedges-Boyer Park, was moved to Frost Parkway earlier this year. In past years, there has been an entry fee to visit the historical area. But committee President Rudi Feasel said the area will be free to visitors this year thanks to a $5,000 donation from National Machinery Foundation. "We're trying to make it easy for people to enjoy it," he said. "Overall, we do have a really good variety of things going on down there." New this year to the historic area will be Ryan Poignon of the Poignon Project, conducting glass-blowing demonstrations at The Depot on North Monroe Street. The depot also will open for tours. Built in 1862, the building served as a passenger train depot for the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad line. The historic building now serves as a place for social events, hosting various community programs. Back this year, children can pan for gems at the Mining Sluice for a fee. "We have numerous reenactors that are coming back," Feasel said. In addition, there will be food vendors and music in the new area. "The former organizers did a fantastic job putting the living history part together for many years," Feasel said. "This year, we're pushing the limits to try to get the best showing that we can." Fourth graders will be visiting Frost Parkway Friday for Ohio Heritage School Days. Feasel said plans for the traditional downtown portion of the festival are in the final stages. "Essentially the downtown portion of the festival in the amphitheater area, JAM'S Market and all that is coming together nicely," he said. "It looks like we're going to have a lot more food vendors this year, which is great." He said a new activity in that section of the festival is a visit from Imagination Station at the church on Madison Street. "With all the kids' activities in front of Calvert and the Imagination Station, there will be plenty of things for families to do," he said. In the Frost Kalnow Amphitheater at the East Green, Feasel said some new bands will be on stage and the festival will be welcoming back some from last year. On Friday night of the festival, Bigfoot's Brother will be on stage at 6 p.m., followed by the Tim & Liz Trio at 8 p.m. and the Big Red Deluxe Big Band at 10 p.m. New this year, Feasel said the big band with a full brass section will be playing a variety of music. "They're a great headliner to kick off the festival on Friday," he said. Saturday's lineup includes Whiskey Over Water; D&R Acoustic Jam, comprised of two Columbian graduates Dave Harms and Rafael Delgado; and Yesterday's Hero. On Saturday evening, Soul Pilot and Electrik Circus perform. In between, the T-Town DJ will be spinning tunes and making announcements, Feasel said. Details on other festival features will be completed in the next few weeks. Visit www.tiffinfestival.com.