Gnadenhutten Fireworks Festival goes big in 2025

The 2025 Gnadenhutten Fireworks Festival July 3-5 will have a bigger fireworks show than in the past, thanks to an anonymous donor.

“We were blessed with a very large anonymous donation. We’re very thankful for it,” said Chris Lewis, a member of the festival committee.

There are a few other changes to the festival this year. The three-on-three basketball tournament won’t be held, but the committee plans to bring it back next year. Bingo, which ran all day last year, is now scheduled to begin Saturday at 6 p.m.

“We’re really excited about our talent show, and we hope we get lots of people signed up,” Lewis said.

The committee has changed its age groups for the talent show so it is fairer for children and teenagers. The groups will be 13 and under, 14-18, and age 18 and up. First and second place will be awarded in each category.

Entertainer Wes Shryock will host the talent show and provide entertainment for the festival Friday from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Due to the difficulty in finding a ride company on the Fourth of July, the festival will offer bouncy houses again this year for the children until 8:30 p.m. There will be a fee for tickets.

“Our festival committee has put in a lot of work. We want our people who have been working to make this happen to have the opportunity to grab a bite to eat at our food trucks and to get home to see the fireworks,” Lewis said.

Committee members in addition to Lewis are Kim Stull, Cheryl Foote, Debbie Rehard, Corey Rehard, Trudy Lewis, Michala Sprowl, Don Hockenberry and Jean Stull.

A food truck will be open July 3 for the Queen Contest held on Village Square this year.

A breakfast will be held Saturday morning on the square to support local resident Chrystal Fouts. Fouts has been unable to work due to health issues.

The festival will appeal to people of all ages.

“We’ve put some time and energy into trying to make sure that we’ve got something for everybody, so I hope that people really love it,” Lewis said.

—July 3: Queen’s Pageant at Village Square at 7 p.m.

—July 4: Festival/midway opens at 5 p.m. with the national anthem by IVHS student Lilly Milburn, free caricatures by Sam Sutton on the square from 5-9 p.m., pet parade and announcements of queens from 5-6 p.m., junior marshals and baby contest winners from 5-6 p.m., talent show at 6 p.m., 16th annual Tomahawk Trot Race at 7 p.m., Music by Wes from 7:30-10:30 p.m., and midway closes at 10:30 p.m.

—July 5: Benefit breakfast for Chrystal Fouts from 9-11 a.m.; Kustom Kemps Car Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; midway opens at noon; Little Miss and Little Mr. Red, White & Blue contest from noon to 1 p.m.; cornhole tournament at 1 p.m.; Melody & Motion School of Performing Arts dance performance from 2-3 p.m.; music by local artists Emmy Rae from 3:15-4:15 p.m.; parade lineup begins at IVHS at 3:30 p.m.; parade begins at 4:30 p.m.; mug auction and raffle drawings at 6 p.m.; bingo at the firehouse from 6-10 p.m.; music by The Changes Band of Massillon from 7-10 p.m.; Fireworks-Country Fantasy in the Sky at 10 p.m.; and midway closes at 10 p.m.

A community church service will be held Sunday. Check the festival website for updates at www.gnadencelebrations.org.