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AMAZING PERKS FOR THIS YEAR!

From popular local area bands to national and hall-of-fame music acts, the USA Days has music for everyone! Every single day of the festival has a performance that will fill the night with music and laughter.

This year the Association is giving the community a great gift!  All rides are FREE all day, every day! Open to all ages! This is to thank you for supporting us in these 20+ years!  Albanese Amusements will provide the rides along with three food trailers and four midway games!  As the Beatles say, “You’ve Got a Ticket to Ride!” But you actually won’t even need a ticket!

Come be entertained for free while you fill up on awesome eats, drinks and the sounds of the midway. Look  for the full schedule of bands and entertainment! The Annual Heart of Ohio USA Days has a “new and improved” festival planned this year that truly has something for everyone!  Remember that admission is free as well as  shuttled parking at the high school!

HEART OF OHIO USA DAYS FESTIVAL
WILL CONTINUE PARKING SHUTTLE
 
After much consideration the committee for the USA Days festival has decided it cannot make use of the parking area the Oldtime Farming Festival has implemented. There were many factors involved in this. First of all, they would have to pay to have field mowed as well as pay a fee for use of the field. Secondly shuttles would need to be rented or secured as well as tractors to pull them. Then they would need to find drivers for them. Also the new safety regulations would require parking customers to not walk on the roadside but they also are not wanted to walk in the yard of the home that sits there. Finally, the parking area is in a low spot at the bottom of the hill and if it should rain it would be unusable. And the biggest factor is that the committee simply does not have the manpower to handle all of this.
 
Therefore, as last year, we will continue to have lots of free parking at the Centerburg High School just west of town. Free school bus shuttles will be offered on Friday evening and all day Saturday from after the parade till after the fireworks. The roadside turnaround on 314 will not allow any parking as that will be the pick-up/drop-off point for the buses. This system worked very well last year with no problems, therefore it seemed to be the better option for us to continue for the foreseeable future. Of course, handicapped parking will be available in the park as well as for vendors and entertainers. Anyone who wishes may find alternate parking in town and use the sidewalk or trail to walk to the park from there.
 
There is motorcycle parking available in the lot near the water tower, right across from the park entrance. Only motorcycles are allowed to use this lot! The opening will not be large enough for cars to use!
 
Also, FYI,  the big tree in the park blocked fireworks from their new location. At the bottom of the hill they can be viewed fine. Therefore, the grassy area along 314 on the outer side of the driveway will not allow any parking this year. It will be roped off as will the lower hill as the prime seating area for the fireworks display. Make note of that when choosing your spot!

 

Thursday, June 22 is Kid’s Night!  At 7 the committee is bringing back the Baby Crawl for crawlers up to age 2 and Toddler Track meet for runners 2 and 3. At 7:30 the Annual Little Miss Liberty and Little Uncle Sammy pageant is back! Also back this year is the great Remy and Friends!  He does ventriloquism, magic, juggling, balloon sculpting and more!  Kids of ALL ages will enjoy his fun show!  Kids will also be chosen to assist him with some tricks!

 

 

Six Miles to Nellie

Friday, June 23  will kick off  at  6 pm with Six Miles to Nellie featuring Courtney DeKosky.

Bringing the sound of generations of storytelling through music, Six Miles to Nellie features lead vocalist Courtney DeCosky; songwriter/guitarist Jeffrey Williams; bassist Michael Wolfe; drummer and vocalist Les Harmeyer; singer/songwriter John Schnabel; and Robert Shipley on keyboards.

 

 

At 8 pm Friday will be At It Again!

At It Again is central Ohio’s premier country band playing today’s country mixed with some hits from the past.  This boot-kickin’ group consists of Shane Langley on lead vocals, Mike Allen on lead guitar, Bruce MacLaughlin on bass guitar and Austin Thorpe on drums. The guys enjoy putting on a good show as well as watching the Hardwicks dance during their performances. They look forward to seeing you Friday, June 23rd at 8 pm for a yee-haw of a night!

 

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. The theme and Grand Marshall will be announced soon.

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 wil 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 pm Spend an hour with Sinatra and enjoy the singing talents of Josh Williams who has that Sinatra crooner voice! You are sure to hear many of your favorite Sinatra songs and wait till you hear his finale of “My Way”!

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

The Sensational Soul Brothers

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!

PLEASE NOTE!!! In case of heavy rain or other inclement weather, we will be taking our bands to an alternative location at the Centerburg High School. The show must go on! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more information!  Also if our parking field gets flooded just drive to the high school at the opposite end of town for school buses to shuttle you to and from the park!  We do everything we can to keep the festival operating! But meantime pray for good weather after 5 years of flooding problems! We are due for a dry festival!