Fostoria Heritage Day returns

FOSTORIA — Food? Check.Music? Check.Fun and interesting opportunities for folks of all ages? Check.All systems are "go" for next Saturday's Heritage Day featuring the St. Wendelin Festival, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., in downtown Fostoria.The Fostoria Historical Society and the St. Wendelin Parish are co-hosting the event for the fifth consecutive year, and it's been a successful partnership, according to representatives of the two entities."We all get along, for one thing," Steve Cramer, president of the historical society, said of the arrangement's success. "We're constantly talking to St. Wendelin about, 'What should we do?' 'Where are we going with this?'"Said Melissa Kelbley, St. Wendelin media assistant: "We appreciate doing it with them and I think they appreciate doing it with us. Why not work together?"The event has had a consistent run of offerings over the years, though a few small changes are in store for this year."I can't think of anything new and fancy this year," Kelbley said. "But when you have a good thing going, you just keep it going."The car show, which last year brought in between 60 and 65 entries, Cramer said, this year will have the vehicles arranged on the roads surrounding Market Square Park, which borders Center Street to the north, Tiffin Street to the south and Main Street to the west. Disc jockey Matt Erman will be on the UrbanWoody Stage in the park, playing music between 11 a.m., and 7 p.m., before Electrik Circus, an area band specializing in 1980s pop/rock covers, plays until the end of the event."That way, we think people will be able to hear the announcements and stuff," Cramer said of the changes from having the cars and DJ on Main Street. "A lot of people, with the cars on Main Street, weren't hearing the announcements — door prize winners, the ticket numbers and stuff. Everyone will hear the music better and all that kind of stuff."The car show, scheduled to wrap up at 3 p.m., has a registration fee of $10 per entry, though the public may view the vehicles at no cost. Advance registration is available online at www.stwendelin.org/heritage.Children's games will be available from 11 a.m., to 7 p.m., at the parkette, located at the intersection of Main and North streets, with cotton candy being available for purchase. Bounce houses will be available at Market Square Park during the same hours. Also available during the course of the day will be eight food trucks along Main Street and free tours of the Fostoria Museum at 123 West North St., and Foster's Museum at 105 N. Main St."I'm always surprised at how many people who live in town have never been in the museum," Cramer said. "We have our fire engine (from 1941) and we have our Allen car (manufactured in Fostoria in 1918). We have a good selection of stuff from Governor (Charles) Foster in the one museum. I think it's all very interesting, myself. We have a military room that a lot of people would like, I think. We've had people from out of town stop in and say what a good museum we have. I'm pretty proud of it."The historical society will also host a 50/50 drawing this year, with signs directing people to where tickets may be bought.St. Wendelin will host a beer tent and sell its locally famous bratwurst from 11 a.m., until 11 p.m.And, to finish the night, people may sit at picnic tables, in lawn chairs, on blankets or the grass — and, of course, get up and dance as northwest Ohio's Electrik Circus plays on the UrbanWoody stage for the second consecutive year."They have a huge following, and they were so happy to do it last year that, as soon as they were done, they said, 'Can we do it next year? That was so much fun.'" Kelbley said. "So, we're happy to have them back. People love them and they bring a big crowd."