FREE ATTRACTIONS FOR 2023 HEART OF OHIO USA DAYS FESTIVAL!!!

We have exciting news for 2023!  We are giving the community a big gift this year to show our appreciation for your continued support as we work to keep this festival alive and well! We are giving everyone totally free attractions all day, every day for every person! We have a new “bigger and better” ride company, Albanese Amusements.  We have all the usual things. Princess Party, Kid’s State Sanctioned Tractor Pull, parade, craft show, and new this year, a Cruise-In! This year’s dates are June 22, 23, and 24, 2023 at the Memorial Park in Centerburg, Ohio. Thursday is a light attendance so you may park in the park that day.  For Friday and Saturday please park at the high school and a shuttle will be available to transport you safely to the park. You can also find alternate parking in town and walk down the sidewalk or the trail that runs in back of the park.   Lots of yummy “fair food” will be available. Also remember it is always FREE admission and FREE  shuttled parking! All info will be updated and possibly changed if things occur which create the needs to do changes.

Festival Staff & Committee Members

The officers of the 2023 Heart of Ohio USA Days are: President Ben Landis, Vice President Adam Mayberry, Secretary Candy McCracken, Treasurer Sonja Hendrickson.  Members are Kathy Blackstone, Laura Eagleston, Glen Goodwin, Daniel Hardwick, Heather Lannigan, Brandy Lepka, Pat and Betty Loudermilk, Tom and Sue Marshall, John Moore, Vonda Price, Rick Shultz, Anna Smith, and Amy Tatz.  We can definitely use more members!  Contact Candy at candylhendrickson@hotmail.com! (Be sure to put in an L after Candy, it’s easy to miss! Like Uncle Sammy says,  “We Want You!”

Don’t miss a minute! Saturday, June 24th is always the big day!

The Annual Parade kicks off at 10 am from the Church of Christ beside the high school and moving on Main Street to the park. This year’s Grand Marshalls are the Hilliar Township Trustees, Eric Cochran, Jason Rogers and Gary Ross.  The theme will be “Hilliar Township Trustees: Honorably Caring For Your Park, Roads and Cemeteries”. Classic cars are invited to join the parade and cruise-in to the park where you can stay all day and enjoy all the free perks!

The park will open at 11 after the parade and  the flag raising will be done on stage and  then recognition of the Grand Marshall . That will be followed by a short concert by the Centerburg High School Band.

The fourth annual kids’ State of Ohio Sanctioned Tractor Pull will be held on Saturday as well. Registration time will be at 1 pm and pull times will begin at 1 pm. This will take place on the drive in front of the stage so there will be bleacher seating to watch the pulls! Winners move on to the State of Ohio finals at the Hartford Fairgrounds and if they win there they can move on to the Nationals at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota! One of our first year’s contestants made it through the state finals and went to the Nationals! This is open to both girls and boys up to age 11.

Calling all Princesses! At 12 noon we will again  host our annual Princess Party with some beautiful Disney princesses on stage in the afternoon to sing their signature songs and have a short singalong and dancing with the children! This year we have Jasmine and Cinderella!  After the stage show they will head over into the shady area and happily talk to the aspiring princesses as well as pose for pictures at no cost. They will be there to greet you until 4 pm!

At 12:30 on stage will be a karate demonstration for all to enjoy.

At 4 pm you will be treated to the musical talents of Malcom Spence as Eclectic  Campfire.  Known as the “Man of 1000 Songs” he sings pop, rock and country from the 50’s through the 80’s! He sings a bit of everything from the past 40 years  so you are sure to hear some songs you like!

At 5:30 We welcome Centerburg’s own Melissa-Gerren Boggs who is in a Fleetwood Mac cover band and she does her tribute to Stevie Nicks.  She doesn’t just sing Stevie, she dresses, moves like and literally becomes Stevie!  Her voice sounds amazingly like Stevie!  Her husband Patrick, one of our former karaoke winners will mix in a bit of good old rock and roll with her songs!  Give these hometown residents your support and ENJOY!

At 6:30 we will have important announcements, recognition of sponsors and introductions of committee members!

Then at 7 pm you are in for a treat with  The Sensational Soul Brothers!  With their nine piece band, including horns, they will give you all the soul you could want as they borrow from Jake and Elwood, the Blues Brothers’ repertoire!

From the soles of their white socks to the tops of their famous fedoras, the Sensational Soul Brothers Show and Revue gives you a show you will remember for a long time to come! It’s just like the Blues Brothers are right there on stage!  You’ll hear “Jake” and “Elwood” do the famous hits like Soul man, Hold On, I’m Comin’, and Rubber Biscuit with some other great songs like Jailhouse Rock, Gimme Some Lovin’ and Respect!

 Performing the great R & B and soul classics from the 1980 original Blues Brothers film as well as several songs from the Blues Brothers 2000 movie, their 1978 concert tour and their appearances on  Saturday Night Live. They add their own original comedy bits while staying true to the great music of that era and they throw in a couple of surprises at every show including lots of audience participation! The group is from Dublin, Ohio featuring Malcolm Spence as Elwood and Lonnie Freeman as Jake and the bands are the Sound of Chicago Horns and the Memphis Stax Rhythm. This is a really big SHOW! Get there early to get your seat!

At 10 pm the annual fireworks extravaganza will take place.  The bottom  of the hill in the  park is roped off as is the grassy area between the drive and 314 to prevent  parking which allows everyone to bring their blankets or lawn chairs for the prime viewing area!  Patriotic music will accompany the show! Mark your calendars now!  You won’t want to miss a minute!