Funnel cakes, elephant ears, cotton candy and taffy were available to those with a sweet tooth and hunger pangs could be squashed by any number of offerings including corn on the cob, barbecued pork, taco salads or burgers.
Leroy and Melinda Hostetler of Rentown sold hand-cranked ice cream to the delight of many who commented on the texture and the taste and Hog Wild BBQ had many festival-goers wishing they had asked for more napkins.
Saturday began with drizzling skies and foot races followed by a wet parade featuring local entries as well as those from as far as Pierceton, Ind. As the day brightened and heated up, shoppers could choose from embroidered, crocheted and ceramic items sold by crafter Doyle Young or (12 different) homemade soaps made by Jennifer Yoder or fresh Amish foods baked by Bertha Miller.
Also on Saturday, Lynette Yoder sold Beauty Control products for the skin; Anna Slabaugh sold Pampered Chef items and LeAnn Hostetler sold the timeless creations of Tupperware. The Good News Caboose, a ministry of the Lakeland Child Evangelical Ministries, with support from The Country Church, invited area youth to experience the “Good News” while the First United Methodist Church enticed many to take a pitch to dunk someone in the tank, a fundraiser for the church.
Contests for children and adults alike began with the Cutie Kids pageant and then things got messy with the Twinkie-eating contest.
Competitors tried to eat and swallow their Twinkie the fastest while keeping their hands behind their backs. Winners were as follows: eight and nine-year-old group — first place, Jesse Corder; second place, Sam Shively; 10 and 12-year-old group — first place, Ben Perkins; second place, Nate Spangle; and 13 through adult group — first place, Jesse Reichert; second place, Cain Thorn.
The Bubble Gum Blow-off came next with many young competitors doing their best to produce an impressive pink orb. Winners of the seven to nine-year-old group included Jenna Swihart, first; Sam Shively, second; and Jesse Corder, third. Winners of the 10 to 13-year-old group were Skyler Reichert, first; Justin Hefner, second; and Logan Earl, third.
Winners of the 14-year-old through adult group were Brett Swihart, first place and Deb Hefner second. The winners of each category competed against one another, thus the Swihart family went head-to-head in the final, but Reichert alleviated any family tensions by blowing the biggest bubble.
The three-legged or “sack race” had contestants of all ages hopping about the park grounds and then the pet parade invited pets, normally a “no-no” at the town’s parks, to take the stage for judging.
Afterward the annual Kiddie Tractor Pull took place followed by the contemporary Christian rock musicians “More Than A Show,” who offered entertainment for a small crowd after the baseball tournament games let out.
Saturday concluded with a fireworks show put on by the Bourbon Fire Department and Sunday held more events with a baby beauty contest and gospel sing, a car show and more baseball. Though only a small handful of people were involved in creating the weekend’s events, very many came to enjoy what was offered — some family fun in their hometown.