Tusky Days Festival planned for June 23-25
TUSCARAWAS — The Tusky Days Festival, set for June 23 through 25, will dedicate its fifth year to Stemple’s Service Station and Blacksmith Shop. The businesses will be featured on 12 paddles to be auctioned off during the event.
They were created by the Indian Valley High School wood shop and etched by the Indian Valley robotics class.
The buildings were located where the Tusky Deli now sits on Main Avenue and near where the festival is held in the heart of the community on School Street.
The owner of the buildings was Sherman Stemple, great-grandfather of current village Mayor Dana Moore.
“The businesses were in operation from approximately the 1890’s until 1946, when my great-grandfather died,” Moore said. “After his death, the gas station was run by his daughter and son-in-law, Pete and Ruth Schnieder, until 1967 or '68. The former blacksmith shop was not sold after my grandfather’s death and they sold feed out of that building.”
Festival food vendors will include Kona Ice, Michael’s Confections, Rafter C Chuck Wagon, Macarons, Goggy’s Cheese on a stick and hotdogs, DiRusso’s Sausage, Pizza and Stromboli, Ross Mountain Barbecue, lemonade, Don Polo Mexican, elephant ears, funnel cakes, cotton candy and candy apples.
EGO Amusements will provide smaller rides and inflatables as well as food and game trailers. A wristband this year will cost $15 for a full day of rides. Individual tickets will also be available.
Entertainment offerings are intended to provide something for everyone. Moore said two of his children are having Indian Valley reunions during the week of the festival: one at Bombs Away, and the other at the Old Towne Tavern. “Then there will be free entertainment near by,” he said.
The festival schedule is:
Thursday, June 23: 4 p.m, midway opens; 5 p.m., Moore makes presentation; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, New Philadelphia Steel Drum Band; 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Moonlyterz sponsored by the Indian Valley Sports Boosters; 11 p.m., midway closes.
Friday, June 24: 4 p.m., midway opens; 5 p.m., registration for Vision of Hope 4-H Club 5k run; 6 p.m., one-mile walk/run; 6:30 p.m., 5k run/walk; 5 p.m., Ohio Buckeye State sanctioned pedal tractor pullers, sponsored by Durbin Farms, Tusky Deli and Tusky Days Festival; 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tequila Mary; 7:30 p.m., memorabilia Auction by Bob Hall with Cronebaugh Auctions; 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuscarawas River Band, sponsored by Reichman Plumbing; 11 p.m., midway closes.
Saturday, June 25: noon, midway opens; registration for talent show begins; 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., talent show with first place prize of $75, second place prize of $50, third place prize of $25; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Jeff Shamel, Old Time Country and Rock Music; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tusky Days Car/Bike/Truck Show with entertainment by SPIKEMAN; 3 p.m., registration begins at $10 per vehicle; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., public judging; 6:30 p.m., awards presentation; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m, Kodachrome Babies; 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Dirty Deeds, sponsored by Dover-Phila Credit Union.
The committee, comprising Matt Ritenour, Matt Hunter, Jennifer Mann, Wanda Krocker, Bobby Hepburn, Marc Davis, Darrin Castello, Dorsey Davisson, Joe Krocker and Jim Reichman are looking for volunteers to help with planning and during the festival. Anyone wanting to help can go to the festival office during the event.
“Everyone is looking forward to this,” said Moore. “We started the festival originally to celebrate the 200th year of the village’s incorporation and it went over so well we thought, why don’t we try it again.”
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tusky Days Festival returns June 23-25 with music, food, rides, games
