Holmes Co. Antique Festival turns back pages of time

The year was 1962, and amid the array of fall leaves that adorn Holmes County every fall, the first Holmes County Antique Festival Parade marched through Historic Downtown Millersburg. People in costumes strolled along the streets, and a festive, peaceful aura filled the air.

Sixty-one years later, things haven’t changed a whole lot. The 61st annual Holmes County Antique Festival will take place Oct. 6-8 in Historic Downtown Millersburg, and the streets will once again come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the past, with antique cars, marching bands, queens and princesses decked out in antique garb roaming the streets; classic and antique cars rolling through town; and plenty of food and entertainment.

The weekend will start with a bang as the Callunaw Rednecks will perform live on stage at the East Jackson Street Square from 6-8 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, the festivities will kick off with the Antique Market and Antique Arts & Crafts Show opening to the public at 10 a.m. and running throughout the day until 6 p.m. Visitors to the festival can find all kinds of old-timey items and memorabilia, and there are enough vendors and demonstrations going on to keep the most ardent of shoppers and collectors perusing for an entire day.

The Antique Market will take place on South Monroe Street and Court Street behind the courthouse while the arts and crafts will be located on the courthouse lawn. In addition, there will be several live demonstrations taking place on the courthouse lawn from noon to 3 p.m.

The annual Darb Snyder Memorial Classic Car Show will see many classic car collectors bringing their favorite automobiles to Millersburg from noon to 3:30 p.m., with the show taking place on North Clay Street and the CSB parking lot behind the Chamber of Commerce near the square.

After the awards are doled out, many of the owners will start their engines and participate in the Antique Classic Car and Fireman’s Parade, where old-time cars will join area firefighting crews, who will be in fire engines, EMS vehicles and more.

This event continues to be a favorite of youngsters and those young at heart and will start rolling through town on Jackson Street at 4:30 p.m.

For those dressed in antique garb, there will be a costume judging contest on stage at 12:30 p.m., and many of the store fronts along Jackson Street will be decorated with antique memorabilia from past festivals.

The day also will be packed with entertainment. The West Holmes Chamber Choir will perform from 11-11:45 a.m. on the stage at East Jackson Street. Tequila Mary will follow that with a live performance from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Finally, the Chardon Polka Band will liven up the evening hours with a performance on the main stage from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 8 will be a repeat effort from the Antique Market and Antique Arts & Crafts Show, which will both be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prior to that, there will be a public church service open to anyone at Faith Lutheran Church from 9-10:30 a.m.

Of course, the annual grand parade will again serve as the highlight for the weekend, where thousands will line Jackson Street in HDM to bear witness to a multitude of floats, marching bands, royalty from near and far, old cars, wagons and more.

The lengthy parade is a candy-filled procession through town that is a celebration of community, county and the coming fall season.

Immediately following the parade, there will be an introduction of visiting festival queens and princesses on the main stage, along with the kids tractor pull on North Monroe Street.

There also will be more entertainment, with the Hiland Jazz Band performing on the main stage from 11-11:45 a.m. and a performance from Shine Bright Dance Studio from noon to 1 p.m.

Each day also will include plenty of festival food, with all the favorites making their appearance.

While the weekend is packed with festival fun, the events truly begin Sunday, Oct. 1 with the annual Queen and Princess Contests taking place at Millersburg Christian Church on North Clay Street starting at 2 p.m.

It all adds up to a festive time returning to yesteryear.