ROSSFORD — Rossford is turning 125, and a grand celebration is planned for next year.
Four months of events celebrating the city’s anniversary were presented to council at last week’s meeting.
Milton“Tony” Knight, who is the chairman of the anniversary committee, said that the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau and the city have put together a wide array of activities that start in April and continue to roll out through July.
“2023 is the 125th anniversary of the formation of the city. We’ve planned a number of events beginning in April,” Knight said. “The big event is in July, on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th, which will include a parade and fireworks that is part of the Riverfest.”
The official launch of the 125th anniversary celebration takes place on April 2 at Rossford High School with a proclamation by Mayor Neil MacKinnon III.
There will be guided tours of the murals at Rossford Library, which has a local history section.
There is also a growing historical photos collection of downtown buildings and Alex Chiarelott will re-enact his Edward Ford performance from the RCVB 2015 Chautauqua, with the date still to be determined.
There will be anniversary T-shirts and lawn signs available for purchase and a magazine celebrating Rossford.
The May 30 Stroll the Street will have a trolley to participating businesses from Ford Park with entertainment throughout the downtown. There will also be a scavenger hunt.
June events will include home trolley tours of the Eagle Point Colony and a event at the Ford Mansion, which will include tours and drinks, live music and glass blowing demonstrations.
July will feature tours of NSG during Stroll the Street.
The big date is July 28 with an evening event at Rossford High School.
There will be a proclamation, speakers and special guests. On the list of guests are Gov. Mike DeWine, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Ford family members, Hall of Fame honorees and other dignitaries, followed by tours of the high school and a glass blowing demonstration by Firenation in the Edward Ford Memorial Park.
There will also be an invitation only event at IPS and Edward Ford Memorial Park, which will include IPS tours, live music and a catered dinner.
On July 29 there will be a morning parade from the high school to Veterans Park, with prizes for decorated golf carts, bikes and scooters. Afternoon and evening activities will include food trucks and a large city birthday cake.
There will be a children’s game tent, sponsored by All Saints Church, a bounce house and dunk tank.
It will cross over with the annual Riverfest event activities including a live band and beer garden, fireworks by Rocketship Pyrotechnics and a river cruise on the Pearl.
Some of the anniversary events will have a fee, like the cruise and trolly tours.
The RCVB is hoping to cover the costs of the estimated $60,000 in expenses primarily with sponsorships, and a full package of various levels of sponsorship has been laid out.
