City of Clyde steps up to keep Winesburg Weekend going
CLYDE — Winesburg Christmas Weekend will be held again this year in Clyde from Nov. 18 to Nov. 20, featuring multiple activities, a parade, a visit from Santa Claus and a horse-drawn trolley.
In the past, Winesburg Weekend was organized by a committee under the Clyde Business and Professional Association. Earlier this year the Clyde BPA folded when officers stepped away from the group, according to Jackie Hoppe, administrative secretary for the city.
The city had already committed to paying for the Nov. 19 fireworks show before the Clyde BPA folded and city officials decided to organize the entire festival.
Festival named for book written by Sherwood Anderson
Hoppe said the new committee consists of herself, City Manager Justin LaBenne and City Finance Director Frank Weasner. The goal will be to see that the Winesburg Weekend festival will continue into the future as well. Winesburg Weekend began in 1976 in Clyde and a festival has been held annually except in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The festival was named for the book, "Winesburg, Ohio" written by city native Sherwood Anderson nearly 100 years ago.
Hoppe said the goal is to keep Winesburg a thriving holiday celebration in coming years as well.
"Plans are that it will. We have created our own new arts and entertainment committee and that was the reasoning for that," Hoppe said.
"We've actually contracted with Christmas 419, and they are going to do some lights for us," she added. Clyde Light and Power will again be putting up Christmas wreaths downtown.
Participants have until Nov. 14 to enter the annual Northern Light Parade. Forms are available at the city manager's office and can returned to the Clyde Municipal building, 222 N. Main St., or by email to jhoppe@clydeohio.org. For more information on the parade, call 419-547-6998.
Many of the events this year will continue as they have in the past. One notable change is there will no longer be a petting zoo at Doebel's Flowers and Gifts, Hoppe said.
A schedule of all the weekend's events is available on the city's website, clydeohio.org/events/winesburg-weekend.
The biggest event during Winesburg Weekend will be the Northern Light Parade, which will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 on Main Street. Line up will be at Harvest Baptist Temple, 1022 S. Main St., at 5 p.m. that Saturday. The parade will take Santa Claus to his Santa House downtown, across from the municipal building, and his arrival in Clyde will be followed by the annual fireworks show in downtown.
Hoppe said there will be a couple of food vendors downtown and Impact Credit Union will be providing hot chocolate and donuts.
Horse-drawn trolley rides slated for downtown Clyde
On Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., horse-drawn trolley rides with SouthCreek Clydesdales will be offered downtown.
Friday, Nov. 18, begins weekend events which include open houses and extended hours at local businesses including Wild Brew, Cosi Bella, and Christi Jo Guhn Mini Photo Sessions.
Sirona Healing will hold "Make It and Take It" ornament craft kits throughout the weekend.
Friday also will see the opening of the Monroeville Model Train Display at the Clyde Monticello Masonic Lodge on Hamer Street. Hours are 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
On Saturday, Nov. 19, there will be two craft shows from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — one at the Clyde VFW and another at First United Methodist Church. St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold an open house and cookie walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a Storytime is planned with Mrs. Claus at Hidden Pines Christmas Tree Farm. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hidden Pines will be holding tree tagging through the weekend.
The Clyde Library is holding its annual Gingerbread Program at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Clyde Museum and McPherson House will each have live music and refreshments from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The First Presbyterian Church will again display Nativity Scenes from noon to 6 p.m. Also from 6 to 8 p.m. there will be an interactive movie at the Clyde Public Library.
Various businesses will hold open houses on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19 and 20.
From 10 a.m. to noon, Sunday, Wild Brew will host Donuts with Santa and no reservations will be needed.
Santa will be at his house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday too.
Santa's additional hours at the Santa House for the holiday season are 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 4 and Dec. 18.
For more information and additional activities, visit facebook.com/WinesburgWeekend.
Rbrooks@gannett.com
419-334-1059
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: City of Clyde steps up to keep Winesburg Weekend going
