'A great homecoming': Sugarcreek to stage 70th Ohio Swiss Festival this weekend
SUGARCREEK ‒ Yodeling, a grand parade, the Steinstossen contest and lots of great food will highlight the 70th Ohio Swiss Festival, which begins Thursday in downtown Sugarcreek.
"The community is very proud of the fact that it is No. 70," said Scott Gerber, president of the Ohio Swiss Festival.
To commemorate the anniversary, the festival will be selling T-shirts and beer steins. A 70th commemorative plate auction is planned on Thursday.
History of the event
The festival was first held on Oct. 2 and 3, 1953, sponsored by Swiss cheese makers in the area to promote the industry. The two-day event marked 120 years since Jacob Steiner had arrived from Switzerland to give cheese-making its start locally. In 1953, there were 26 cheese factories within a 10-mile radius of Sugarcreek, producing 8 million pounds of cheese in 1952.
About 20,000 people attended the first festival, which featured a parade with 26 cheese floats, a performance by a 30-piece accordion band, yodeling, street dancing and a Swingfest, a Swiss wrestling competition. Mayor Roy B. Odenkirk had asked residents to wear traditional Swiss costumes when they were on the streets of Sugarcreek during the festival, as well as the two weeks preceding the event.
No festival was held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gerber said this year's festival will feature really good entertainment at the Main Street stage. The grand parade at 2 p.m. Saturday will have eight bands marching in it ‒ high school bands from Garaway, New Philadelphia, Strasburg, Sandy Valley, Hiland and Euclid, as well as the Canton South Alumni Band and the Ohio State Alumni Band. After the parade, the Ohio State Alumni Band will be giving a 45-minute concert behind the fire station.
Steinstossen competition
As always, the Steinstossen (stone-throwing) contest will be a popular event. Contestants attempt to throw a stone as far as possible. The men's stone weighs 137 pounds and the women's stone weighs 75 pounds.
"It's a very traditional thing having the rock throwing contest," Gerber said. "This year we have heard there are going to be some heavy hitters competing."
The men's record is 14 feet, 7 inches, set by Garaway graduate Beau Lenarz. He broke the record set in the 1980s by Judd Logan, a North Canton graduate. Last year, one of the contestants came within one inch of breaking the record, Gerber said. The festival offers a $500 prize for a record-breaking throw.
"It's a great homecoming," Gerber said of the Swiss Festival. "Generations keep coming back and supporting this event."
The festival can be found online at, ohioswissfestival.com.
Schedule of events
THURSDAY
5 p.m.: Concessions and rides open
5 p.m.: Music begins at Pavillon Stage
5:30 p.m.: 2024 Little Swiss Miss Contest (Main Street)
6 p.m.: Huntington Bank and Bags of Sugarcreek Big Wheel Race (Main Street)
6:30 p.m.: 70th Commemorative Plate Auction (Pavilion)
7:30 p.m.: Music begins at Pavillon Stage
8 p.m.: 2024 Ohio Swiss Festival Queen Crowning Ceremony (Cuckoo Clock at Main Street)
8:45 p.m.: Garaway Marching Pirates (Main Street)
FRIDAY
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Craft Tent
11 a.m.: Concessions and rides open
11 a.m.: Joey Tomsick (Pavilion)
11 a.m.: Alphorn Grüezie (Main Street)
Noon to 9 p.m.: Wine and cheese tasting (Fire Station)
Noon: Posting of colors by the Sugarcreek American Legion Post 494 (Main Street)
Noon: Welcome and summary of program (Main Street)
12:10 p.m.: Garaway Pirates Marching Band (Main Street)
12:30 p.m.: Larry Notz and Mandolin Dave (Fire Station)
1 p.m.: Alphorn Grüezie (Main St.)
1:45 p.m.: Garaway Alphorns (Main Street)
2 p.m.: Aaron Dussing (Pavilion)
2:05 p.m.: Killbuck Bank Kiddie Parade (Main Street)
3 p.m.: Alphorn Grüezie (Main Street)
3 to 11 p.m.: Craft Beer Tasting (Tent on Main Street)
3 p.m.: Martini & Russo (Craft Beer Tent)
4 p.m.: Commercial and Savings Bank Kid’s Tractor Pull (Steinstossen Pit)
4 p.m.: Joey Tomsick (Pavilion)
5 p.m.: BROTHERS (Fire Station)
7 p.m.: Aaron Dussing (Pavilion)
7 p.m.: Moonlyterz (Main Street)
7:30 p.m.: Steinstossen (Steinstossen Pit)
SATURDAY
7 a.m.: Cheese Chase registration, packet pick up (Pavilion)
8 a.m.: Cheese Chase 1 Mile Fun Run/Health Walk (Fire Station)
8:30 a.m.: Cheese Chase 5k/10k (Fire Station)
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Craft Tent
11 a.m.: Concessions/rides open
11 a.m.: Joey Tomsick (Pavilion)
11 a.m.: Alphorn Grüezie (Main Street)
Noon: Posting of colors by American Legion Post 494 (Main Street)
Noon: Ohio Swiss Festival Tributes (Main Street)
12:30 p.m.: Yodeling contest/Swiss costume contest (all ages)/cheese eating contest (Main Street)
Noon to 9 p.m.: Wine and cheese tasting (Fire Station)
12:30 p.m.: Randy Moomaw & Greg Moomaw
1 p.m.: Aaron Dussing (Pavilion)
1:50 p.m.: Antique Car Parade (Main Street)
2 p.m.: Military and safety forces tribute (Main Street)
2 p.m.: Grand Parade (Main Street)
3 p.m.: Nick Bonner (Craft Beer Tent)
3 p.m.: Alphorn Grüezie (Main Street)
3 to 9:30 p.m.: Craft beer tasting (Tent on Main Street)
4:30 p.m.: Steinstossen (Steinstossen Pit)
5 p.m.: Ohio State Alumni Band (Pavilion Stage)
5 p.m.: Timothy Joseph (Fire Station)
6 p.m.: Schwingfest demonstration (Steinstossen Pit)
6:45 p.m.: The New Delhi Monkeymen (Pavilion)
7 p.m.: Tyler Reid Band (Main Street)
7:30 p.m.: Steinstossen (Steinstossen Pit)
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: 70th Ohio Swiss Festival this weekend in Sugarcreek
