Lucky 13 for the Twin City Fall Festival

New event organizer Katie Parrish was thrilled with the outcome of the 13th annual Twin City Fall Festival in Uhrichsville. The event was originally organized by Kathy and Ralph Allen, who retired after last year’s event.

Organizing the event is no small feat.

“We've actually spent the last six months preparing and prepping for this,” Parrish said.

“I do the Fall Festival part of it, so all the vendors, the food trucks, the businesses, and then Jamie Randolph does the car show."

Parrish was pleased with the festival turnout and the participation of residents who entered the chili and pie cookoffs.

"They have been showing up pretty good for this. It's amazing. I am super proud of the people that showed up today, for all the vendors and everybody involved,” Parrish said.

Very popular were the children’s events with pumpkins given away – reportedly for the last year – and the more hygienic apple fishing instead of apple bobbing. Three characters from the movie "Toy Story" also visited the festival interacting with festival goers.

Renly Alberty, 8, of Bowerston was excited to get a pumpkin. His family had already purchased some items including cookies and buckeyes and were planning to go back to another booth that featured toys. 

Jamie Randolph and her crew of Special Olympics athletes judged the car show. Proceeds will be donated to the Tuscarawas County Special Olympics program.

Richelle Lefler, coordinator for Tuscarawas County Special Olympics, was pleased with the event and its contribution to the program.

“Events like this help us so much. First of all, it allows us to be in the community, seeing people and having people see our athletes,” Lefler said. "We're just so grateful for Jamie Randolph for planning this car show and Twin City Fall Festival for allowing us to be here.” 

The donations received from the car show help financially support the 15 sports that Tuscarawas County Special Olympics offers.

There are many benefits of participating in Special Olympics including a sense of family, belonging, and opportunities for growth and enjoyment. Lefler recently asked the athletes why they thought people should join Special Olympics.

“Some of them had a hard time answering because they said they couldn't narrow it down to one reason,” Lefler said. “But several said it's a family. And a lot of our athletes have struggled to have that community and connection at other places in their life, and they're able to find it here."

Lefler has two children involved in the program. The Special Olympics programs provide things she can’t give them as a mom. 

“My kids benefit so much, my own personal children, and the athletes who I call my ‘kids’,” Lefler said.

Lefler was pleased to announce that the most recent sport added to Tuscarawas County Special Olympics is cornhole. About 40-45 participants played at a recent Spooktacular Cornhole Tournament in New Philadelphia. They enjoyed the Halloween theme and goodie bags of candy were distributed. Next week, 14 members of Tuscarawas County team will travel to Stark County to compete in a cornhole tournament with other teams from Northeast Ohio.

“We’re pretty excited about that. It's another offering and it's a popular sport right now,” Lefler said of the addition of cornhole. 

You can find more information about local Special Olympics on Facebook at Special Olympics Ohio – Tuscarawas County.

The winners of the Twin City Fall Festival car show were:

Kid’s Choice Awards: Top Choice was Randy Grantz, 1969 Camaro; second place Ted Boitnott, 1965 Chevy; and third place Ron Sandy, Model A Coupe.

Category winners: Top car went to Karen Mortimer for her 1935.5 Chevy Master; Top Truck went to Jacob Corpman for his 1984 Chevy S10; top motorcycle went to Adam Fox for his 2022 Harley Street Glide; top alternative vehicle went to Tobias Korn, Little Tikes vehicle; top Jeep went to Robert Chewing, 1980 AMC Jeep; top semi went to Mike Cottrell, and the top overall winner was Michelle Clay for her 1965 Ford T-Bird.