Winesburg Fall Gathering set to celebrate 31st year

Every fall when the leaves start to change, the people around Winesburg collectively get together to celebrate and honor the town they call home that came into being in 1829.

This year the 31st annual Winesburg Fall Gathering Sept. 19-21 will get an additional boost of creativity with the combination of the Winesburg Reunion that is celebrated every five years.

“This gathering is a real throwback, a slice of Americana that is always personable and is just down home fun and relaxation,” Winesburg Community Business Association member Emily Miller said.

This year’s event will feature all the time-honored activities and events of the past three decades while adding some new twists, but as always, the key to the whole weekend centers on the community fund, a financial pot to which all the proceeds go. In turn, those funds are divvied out to community members and families struggling with financial hardships.

“Our community fund has been a blessing for dozens of individuals and families throughout our community who needed a helping hand, and as always, all of the proceeds from the auction and the raffle go directly to families in need,” Miller said. “This event is always so much fun, and it is like a giant reunion even when the reunion isn’t part of it. We invite everyone to visit us for what is going to be a special weekend.”

Friday, Sept. 19 will begin with the softball tournament at Winesburg Park, where there will be live music, food trucks, a pickleball tournament from 4-10 p.m., homemade ice cream and carousel popcorn available, with the evening coming to a loud and colorful ending with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.

In addition, the Kinsley House & Store and Peter’s School will be open from 4:30-5:30 p.m., followed by the reunion’s Homecoming Dinner, complete with a silent auction and history panel at Zion Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s slate of activities will continue with the 5k Great Grape Race at 8 a.m., and food trucks, pickleball and softball will continue all day and into the night while the blacksmith shop at Laurel Park will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Historical Winesburg Tours will begin at 9 a.m. with maps available at Peter’s School at Heritage Park. There will be a gun display available for viewing at Kinsley House from 9-11 a.m., Peter’s School and Kinsley House & Store will reopen at 9 a.m., and the annual Winesburg Historical Society Cake Walk will take place at the German Methodist Church at 10 a.m.

Historical wagon tours to Bear Cave will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be live music by Dave Keim in the main tent from 11-11:45 a.m. and the annual Fall Gathering Benefit Auction will begin at noon.

New this year will be a raffle for a new garage shop that is usually auctioned off, with the individual holding the winning raffle ticket having an option to instead accept $30,000.

“We wanted to try something unique and different that would be exciting,” Miller said. “Tickets are available now at www.visitwinesburgohio.com and will be available right up until the drawing following the auction."

The garage shop is a 40-by-60-foot building, and there will be a bonus raffle featuring plenty of other great prizes.

Tickets are available for purchase for $100 apiece.

At 2 p.m. the Winesburg Reunion Quilt and Blanket Chest will be auctioned off, with the Winesburg Fire Department offering its barbecue chicken dinners beginning at 3 p.m. Local country music duo Low Gap will perform live on stage at 6 p.m.

The weekend will wrap up Sunday, Sept. 21 starting with an invitation for all to attend a memorial service at Zion Reformed Church at 10:30 a.m., followed by a noon luncheon, all of that offered at no cost. The grand parade will stroll along Main Street starting at 2 p.m., and Kinsley House will again reopen at 3 p.m. following the parade.

“It’s three days packed with plenty of fascinating and fun things to experience and plenty of great food and music,” Miller said.

To sign up for the pickleball tournament, call Kenny Kline at 330-473-7598.