Dennison Depot to host America 250 signature event

One of five signature events in Ohio celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary will be held in Tuscarawas County at the Dennison Depot and surrounding area April 25-26.

The 250 Buckeye Train & Transportation Celebration is being held in partnership with the Dennison Depot and members of the Ohio Commission for America 250.

The celebration will stretch from Dennison to Uhrichsville and includes two main parts.

“The Buckeye Train is running Saturday from Columbus to Dennison and back. And Sunday, it goes from Newark, picks up in Coshocton, to Dennison and back,” said Wendy Zucal, Dennison Depot director and a member of the Ohio Commission for America 250.

There are 14 passenger cars on the train, making it the largest passenger train on the historic Panhandle line since 1968. The train trip is sold out, although a few individual seats may remain.

The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum has loaned two passenger cars for the trip and will have three steam engines at the event. One will be fired up.

The celebration itself will be the focal point for visitors departing from the trains during the layover from noon to 3 p.m. The event will be open to the public each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission.

Guests may donate $20 for a Victory Pass, which includes free museum admission, a 10% discount on merchandise in the Dennison Depot and Streetside Center gift shops, four free food truck or mess hall samples, or a Dennison Depot branded soda in the gift shop.

Members of the Ohio Commission for America 250 already have praised the event.

“They said they’ve never seen an event where an entire community has taken on an event like this — the whole community,” Zucal said. “We’ve been working on this for three years.”

In addition to veteran recognition, organizers say there will be something for everyone, including music, activities, a car show, flyovers, the Goodyear Blimp and food.

Along with restaurant options in Dennison, 14 food trucks and a mess hall inside the Streetside Center will be available. Selections include Ross Mountain BBQ, Cheezylicious, Gator Bites, BangOn BBQ, Angello’s 2 U and Little Lao Kitchen. Other choices include coffee, tea, cupcakes, smoothies, mini-doughnuts, Japanese hibachi, ice cream and lemonade.

The event will begin Saturday, April 25.

“At 10 a.m. we’ll kick things off; we’re going to have an event welcome with a color guard and a flag-raising ceremony. Mayor DiDonato will speak and we’re going to have all the military flags represented,” said Brennan Mathias of the Dennison Depot.

The celebration is themed around the 1940s with patriotic USO-style presentations. Choirs from local schools, other groups and individuals will perform throughout the weekend.

Performers include Kelsey Moore and the Jericho Big Band. The Trumpet in the Land singers will present “Pride of America: A Salute to Our Military Veterans” Sunday. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is also expected to attend Sunday.

A special flyover air show will be conducted each day from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.

“That’s one of the biggest things so that the planes will actually have a physical presence,” Mathias said.

The planes will fly over the flatbed stage, and speakers will announce the names of the planes and their significance.

“There’s going to be various vintage planes flying overhead. We’ll have a PA system, and it should be a nice program,” Mathias said.

“We actually hired an air boss to coordinate the airplanes,” Zucal said. “I want everybody to know it’s safe. When you have air shows you need somebody who knows what they’re doing.”

There also will be a Route 250 Car Show on both days of the event. Featured vehicles will include military vehicles, historic trucks, a Tesla and an electric car from the Reeves Museum.

Numerous vendors and organizations will be set up throughout the celebration. A kids zone will feature games, scavenger hunts, library activities and more. The Clay Museum in Uhrichsville, which is nearing completion, will be open with displays and free admission.

Art also will play an important role. A new mural will be painted in downtown Dennison during the event. A Local Lens exhibit featuring photos from an Ohio Bicentennial camp held at the Dennison Depot in 2003 and a photo exhibit of the Freedom Train, which was part of the national celebration in 1976, also will be on display.

“We also have the Tuscarawas County Bicentennial bell hanging in the tower here, and it will be rung during this event,” Zucal said.

Parking will be available for $10 at a number of lots throughout Uhrichsville and Dennison. Proceeds will go to the organization assisting with each lot.

Zucal encouraged the public to attend.

“It’s the biggest event in Dennison since the Train Fest in 2004,” Zucal said.

For more information, visit the Dennison Depot Railroad Museum Facebook page.