Living history at the Heritage Festival

TIFFIN – Visitors can take a walk through history at the Heritage Festival's Living History Village. Event organizer Debby Roszman said guests will experience several new attractions this year and fan favorites from years past will return. "We're working on a little bit of everything," she said. This is Roszman's second year overseeing the Living Village. She and her team are "thinking outside the box." Since fewer reenactors and groups are available compared to earlier years of the festival, unique ideas and brainstorming sessions have helped planners "be creative and give people what they want to see." One example, according to Roszman and Heritage Festival Vice President Chad Kaiser, is the expanded involvement of the cowboys who have played a part in previous events. Beginning this year, the cowboys not only will be present around festival grounds, but two Cowboy Shows will take place in the village. "They are living, breathing the role," Kaiser said. Roszman added that the actors get "gruff and dirty" and even have their own campsites at the village. The roles of Annie Oakley, George Washington, General Ulysses S. Grant and Teddy Roosevelt will also be reenacted this year. The festival's character actors come from all over Ohio. Scouting America will make its first visit to the festival this year, which Kaiser called fitting since "scouting had its start in the early 1900s." Troop members will camp out at the village for the weekend and strive to complete merit badges during their visit. Festival board member Nikki Distel was instrumental in bringing the scouts to the Heritage Festival. "She's a double God-send," Kaiser said. Kettle corn and root beer will be available in the village from Kernal Dave's, and OTR Smokehouse and Chuckwagon Cooking will serve meats, soups, stews and other "good tasting food." Offering popular food options in the village, Kaiser said, helps draw "more foot traffic" through the Living Village. Thanks to the generous support of the National Machinery Foundation, School Days again will be part of the village. Fourth graders from around the county are invited to spend the day visiting exhibits, interacting with reenactors, playing games and testing their skills. Lunch will be coordinated by Parkhurst Dining. The fan favorite mining sluice, which Roszman said has been part of "such great memories" for families during past events, will again be part of the Heritage experience. Her own childhood memories of the festival prompted her to get involved in the planning and coordination of the annual attraction. "I loved the Unusual Craft Race on the river," she said. Roszman and Kaiser said they are seeing multi-generation visitors, with parents and grandparents bringing children to experience activities they fondly recall from their own childhoods. They expressed gratitude to the many donors and supporters who make the festival a continuing success. "It takes a village to run a village," Kaiser said. Organizers also thanked volunteers who have committed to set-up, running and clean-up of the village. Greg Smith from the sheriff's office arranged inmate labor. Smyle, the Rotary Club, Kiwanis, Steel Solutions and members of the Tiffin University athletic department will assist with the weekend's activities. "We're a team working to make a great thing happen," Kaiser said. Since the Heritage Festival is a "full volunteer organization," Roszman added, additional help is always needed and welcome. To get involved, contact vicepresident@tiffinfestival.com or visit the festival's Facebook page at facebook.com/TiffinSenecaHeritageFestival. A full list of Living Village activities can be found at tiffinfestival.com.