Winesburg Reunion loaded with exciting opportunities

The 27th Quinquennial Winesburg Reunion will take place Sept. 19-21 throughout Winesburg, and the three-day event will come packed with plenty of punch for those who want to enjoy a family-like time of fellowship in conjunction with the annual Winesburg Fall Gathering.

While the gathering takes place annually, the reunion comes around only every five years, and with the 2020 reunion canceled due to COVID, it makes it a decade since everyone has gotten together.

“This reunion has always been special since it began decades ago,” said committee member Glenn Wengerd, who also serves as the town’s historian.

Dr. Robert Sunkle, former fourth reunion president, summed up the meaning behind the reunion in these words from 1910: “The reunion of 1910 is only a few days hence. How many more reunions there will be, none can tell. Let us hope there will be one every five years until Winesburg shall be no more and until the last ex-Winesburger will have passed away to meet in that grand reunion where friendship never dies and farewells are unknown.”

The reunion will begin Friday, Sept. 19 with the homecoming dinner at Zion Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m. The evening’s meal will be catered by Yoder’s Family Home Cooking, and anyone is welcome to enjoy the evening.

The night also will include a silent auction featuring plenty of local items, with the main program featuring seven different local speakers who will share stories about Winesburg and their favorite memories.

Tickets are $25 per person, and anyone wishing to enjoy the evening may order tickets by emailing smcfadden.oh@gmail.com.

“We did a similar thing with local speakers 10 years ago, and it was really well received,” said Sue McFadden, committee co-president. “It’s going to be a fun night of reminiscing and fellowship.”

The big show will come later that night when dark arrives, and at 10 p.m. there will be a huge fireworks display at Winesburg Park, courtesy of sponsors Case Farms and Mavin.

“This will be our first-ever fireworks display, and one of the neat things about this reunion is that so many local businesses support it to make it special,” McFadden said.

Saturday will bring with it more activities. It will begin early with the running of the Great Grape Race 5k at Winesburg Park, traversing the rolling hills of the countryside.

The race is sponsored by Case Farms and Witmer’s Store, and anyone wishing to participate may sign up at www.runsignup.com/Race/OH/Dundee/GreatGrapeRace.

The day also will feature a chance to enjoy Winesburg’s history.

The first opportunity will be a self-guided tour that allows patrons to walk the streets of Winesburg to explore 14 local historical landmarks and buildings, the last stop being at the Winesburg American Picker’s Garage.

“It’s a chance to learn more about many of the town’s history,” Wengerd said.

The second opportunity will be wagon tours to visit a pair of iconic areas, along with some special surprise stops along the way.

The two main visitation spots on the wagon tours will be Bear Cave and Bear John Lane. Not familiar with these two longtime historical locations near Winesburg?

“If you don’t know what those two places involve and the stories behind them, we invite you to come on a tour and learn about some pretty neat history,” Wengerd said. “The tour includes some incredible scenery, and we’re planning on adding a couple of surprise stops along the way.”

There will be three different times slated for the tours, which will begin along Wood Street beside Zion Church, the first starting at 10 a.m., the next around noon and another in the afternoon.

Saturday also will feature a pair of old-time gun-makers in the Dan Kinsley Room at the Winesburg Historical Society Building on Main Street from 9-11 a.m. In addition, the memory room will be open all day with loads of historical content.

Part of that display will include the bicycle display, featuring plenty of old bicycles, many of which belonged to local residents from their childhood and younger years and have been beautifully restored to their initial appeal.

“Some of these bikes are very rare, and they all tell a story,” Wengerd said.

Another beloved event will be the cake walk at the German Methodist Church next to Winesburg Park.

Another opportunity will take place during the Winesburg Fall Gathering Auction at 2 p.m., when the reunion’s quilt and blanket chest will be on the auction block.

“The quilt is a beautifully handmade quilt made by a local group of Amish women,” said Julie Gerber, committee co-president.

The reunion will continue Saturday at 6 p.m. when the duo Low Gap, featuring Winesburg’s own Gus and Phin Johnson, will perform. Low Gap has been touring around Ohio and the Midwest but made time to return home for this special occasion.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, the committee invites everyone to a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Church, followed by a luncheon at Zion Fellowship Hall promptly afterward.

“No need to sign up. Just show up and enjoy a morning service and lunch and fellowship,” Gerber said.

The reunion will culminate with the grand parade through Main Street starting at 2 p.m. 

Anyone needing more details may email McFadden at smcfadden.oh@gmail.com or Gerber at ckc92@frontier.com.