ROSSFORD — A host of events is planned for the culmination of the 2023 celebration of Rossford’s 125th Anniversary.
The weekend kicks off with an opening ceremony in Rossford High School auditorium at 6 tonight.
On Saturday, a 125th anniversary parade will begin at 10 AM, and the evening will feature the traditional Riverfest event sponsored by the Rossford Business Association with some extra added attractions for the anniversary.
The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m., but attendees are encouraged to come early to participate in a mosaic project with national mosaic artist Gail Christofferson. The mural Fire, Sand, and Water designed by Christofferson, incorporates pieces of Libbey Owens Ford glass to form a breathtaking three-panel glass mosaic. It represents Rossford’s iconic beginnings thanks to the ingenuity and tenacity of Edward Ford and all those who worked in the city’s glass factory. Once completed, the mural will be installed in Rossford Council chambers.
The program in the auditorium will feature a short video as guests arrive, followed by the Presentation of the Colors by the Honor Guard of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. After the invocation, introductions, proclamation and comments, the one-hour event will conclude with a performance by the Ukrainian Kolomeyka Dance Ensemble from Detroit. All attendees will receive a ticket for a Staycation Giveaway that includes an overnight stay at the Courtyard by Marriott on Clark Drive in Rossford, and gift cards from Reset, Camping World, Interstate Lanes, Cinco de Mayo, Danny’s Café and Ella Flora Boutique. You must be present to win.
The 125th anniversary parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. will start at Veterans Memorial Park and follow the route of Bacon Street to Dixie Highway to Eagle Point Road and down Hannum Avenue back to the park.
The parade will host several bands, the Birds Eye View Circus, Jeep groups and Jeepsters, dance groups, historic automobiles, sports team mascots, and decorated floats from various businesses and organizations. The parade features a “follow me” format inviting children and adults to join the end of the parade with decorated bikes, scooters, wagons, and golf carts. Participants with decorated wheels can enter drawings at Vets Park immediately following the parade to win hundreds of dollars’ worth in prizes including bicycles, gift cards, tickets to sporting events, and a $1,000 Mud Hens suite package. You must be present to win. Sponsors include Fifth Third Bank, Hollywood Casino, Meijer, Target and Walmart. Refreshments from Detroit Mini Donuts and The Wandering Bean food trucks will be available in Vets Park throughout the morning.
A special 125th anniversary Riverfest celebration is planned for Saturday from 6-11 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park, 300 Hannum Ave. The traditional activities including food trucks, inflatables, a beer garden and live music provided by Tongue N’ Groove, will be enhanced with a Kids Game Tent sponsored by All Saints Church, a 125th Anniversary Cake, aerialist performances by Birds Eye View Circus, and a special fireworks display at dusk by the Northeast Ohio Pyrotechnics Group. The group is a non-profit fireworks club with members throughout Ohio and surrounding states. They plan and execute about 20 shows per year for municipalities and members, and their organization provides training for pyrotechnicians.
The show will be an 18-minute Pyro Musical using a computer program to coordinate the firing of aerial shells to the beat of the music featuring tunes from the early 1900’s to the present.
“People will see quite a variety of effects — at least 1072 items including aerial shells, slices and comets,” said Dan Schreiner, a Wood County native, with the pyrotechnics group.
The music will be broadcast in the park, but those watching from home can download an app from the App store called Pyrocast and enter the code Z1X8 to sync with the Rossford show.
Parking for Riverfest is available at Rossford High School and at All Saints Catholic Church with two shuttles running to and from Veterans Memorial Park from 6-11 p.m. In coordination with Riverfest, All Saints Catholic Church will have a Polka Mass on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. followed by an ethnic food dinner at the church’s McAlear Center. Dine in or carryout are available. The dinner is $16 and includes stuffed cabbage roll, kielbasa, potato pierogi, an apricot and raspberry kolaczki, and a roll.
The 125th Anniversary Celebration is sponsored by NSG/Pilkington, the City of Rossford, the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau, Key Bank, IPS, Taylor Automotive Family, Smith Bonds & Surety, SL&A Insurance, Genoa Bank, Kingston Healthcare, Rossford Eagles, Tru House of Munch, and Interstate Lanes. For more details visit www.Rossford125.com.
