Festival plate honors area veterans

The Dover Exchange Club celebrated its 65th anniversary this month, but for the group that has donated more than $1.2 million in the past 15 years, it is still business as usual for its annual Canal Dover Festival fundraiser.

The group was founded on May 15, 1959, with a mission to give back and make its community a better place to live. Some of its beneficiaries include Kent State Tuscarawas, Noah’s Hope Child Advocacy Center, Rainbow Connection, City of Dover, Dover City Schools, Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry, Project Lead the Way, Starlight Enterprises, Sole Purpose, Tuff Bags, Dover Tornado Club, youth baseball, soccer, bowling, football and many more nonprofit organizations in the community.

The Canal Dover Festival will kick off Friday, May 24 in downtown Dover and run through Sunday, May 26.

“We will have our rides, a street full of vendors, various foods, games and crafts. We will have two stages of entertainment. Our main stage on Wooster Avenue will have entertainment all weekend, and then we have a stage in the beer garden with entertainment,” Kevin Korns of the Dover Exchange Club said.

For the main stage, there will be some picnic tables available, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs if they wish to enjoy the entertainment.

Kissel Amusement Company will provide rides for the festival.

In addition to providing funding for the Exchange Club to continue its work, the festival is a place for other nonprofit organizations to distribute information. The Ohio National Guard, the Dover American Legion, the Tuscarawas County Health Department, New Beginnings Church and the Dover Firefighters will have a fundraising booth.

The parade will be held Saturday, May 25 at noon. The Dover Exchange Club will make sure the children watching will be able to participate fully.

“A lot of programs with the national Exchange will give a kid a flag to wave, so our Exchange Club members will be going out before the parade on Saturday and passing out small flags to the crowd,” Korns said.

Immediately after the parade will be a performance by the Dover High School band at the Wooster Avenue stage. The plate auction will be held at about 1 p.m. The Dover Veterans Monument is featured on the plate.

“We’re paying tribute to all the men and women who served our country,” Korns said.

The first 10 plates will be auctioned with the remaining plates available for $25 each.

Food is always a big draw at any festival, and Korns had some news about this year’s event.

“One favorite stand is going to be back — the Tuscarawas Central Catholic sausage trailer will be back this year,” Korns said. “They missed last year, and they were very missed by the crowds that came. People will be excited to see them.

“And then we have the old standards. We have pasta trailers. We have gyro trailers. We have bourbon chicken, Dirusso’s Sausage, waffles, lemonade, French fries — all the good stuff.”

The schedule of activities is as follows:

—Friday, May 24: Midway will open at noon, Tequila Mary will perform from 4-7 p.m. at the Walnut Street stage, Joshua “Smooth” McCray will perform at the main stage from 5-7 p.m., New Towne Cloggers will be at the main stage from 7-8 p.m., Badstone will be at the Walnut Street stage from 8-11 p.m. and W.M.D. The Initials will be at the main stage from 8-11 p.m.

—Saturday, May 25: The route will go around town on Wooster Avenue and Second and Tuscarawas streets at noon, immediately following the parade the Dover High Marching Tornadoes will perform on Wooster Avenue, the plate auction will be on the main stage at 1 p.m. after the band performance, Moxie Dance Studio will be on the main stage at 2 p.m., Wil Rockwell Band will be on the Walnut Street stage from 4-7 p.m., Jericho Big Band will be on the main stage from 6-8 p.m., and Alternation will be on the Walnut Street stage from 8-11 p.m.

—Sunday, May 26: Powerslam Wrestling will be on the main stage from noon to 4 p.m., Angela & Adam will be on the Walnut Street stage from 4-7 p.m., Dominic Greco Band will be on the main stage from 6:30-8 p.m., Moonlyters will be on the Walnut Street stage from 8-11 p.m. and Kami Huff will be on the main stage from 8:30-10:30 p.m.

More information is available on the Facebook page at Dover Exchange Club. For anyone interested in joining the group, there will be an information table at the festival.

Anyone interested in donating to the Dover Exchange Club may send donations to P.O. Box 267, Dover, OH 44622, or contact them at the doverexchangeclub@roadrunner.com or by Facebook message.