The Pemberville Free Fair has been conducted annually since 1935. Well, almost every year.

According to Todd Sheets, a past fair board member and current grand parade chairman, the fair began in 1935.

“It was held for the next two years (1936 and 1937) but then there was a break, and it started up again in 1948,” Sheets said. “Then we didn’t have one in 2020, because of the COVID (outbreak).”

The Eastwood High School Marching Band make its way downtown during the Grand Parade.

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The fair started out being known as the Fall Fair in 1935, sponsored by the village’s Civic Club.

“Ted Bowlus was the chairman of the Civic Club that first year, and the fair was held on Front Street in the downtown area. They completely blocked off the streets for the fair back then.”

Sheets said the first fair featured farm products, fruits, needlepoint projects and poultry exhibits.

The Pemberville Free Fair has been around since 1935.

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“They had the chickens displayed in what is now the village council chambers,” Sheets said.

What was then Nieman Mortuary, was where the Garden Club held their flower exhibits.

“(The mortuary) opened up their garage for the Garden Club to have their flower show,” Sheets said.

The first fair also offered carnival attractions, band concerts, wrestling and boxing bouts, and one parade.

A past Tug of War at the Pemberville Free Fair.

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“In 1936, the American Legion and the fire department joined with the Civic Club to sponsor the fair. There was a calf auction that year, and judging was done by the Pemberville Livestock Company.”

There was a dance and a kiddie parade in 1936, Sheets said.

Fairs were conducted in 1937 and 1938 before the nine-year break, from1939-47.

“The fair started up again in 1948, sponsored by the Civic Club, the local American Legion Post, and the fire department. That fair had a patriotic pageant, and a rodeo. Betty Konzen was the queen that year.”

The Grand Parade is a Saturday staple at the Pemberville Free Fair.

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For 1948, the fair had two parades, a kiddie parade and a grand parade, and the fair moved to Memorial Park, where it continues to be held today.

The first year for the Outstanding Citizen Award was in 1990.

“Mildred Beeker was named Outstanding Citizen that year, and it’s been held every year since then,” Sheets said.

Nominations for the award are given by the public during the fair.

Sheets has fair books dating back to 1948.

A more notable fair was conducted in 1976, the year of our country’s bicentennial. That year, the fair was extended to five days, and started on Tuesday and ended on Saturday.

“(In 1976) they held a tug-of-war contest over the Portage River near the Water Street bridge,” Sheets said. “One team was on the north side of the river and the other team was on the south side.”

There was also a garden tractor pull in 1976.

“They also gave away a brand-new Chevy Impala from Eisenhower Chevrolet. Just to show how times have changed, one of the other big prizes that year was a (handheld) calculator.”

That year, each of Ohio’s 88 counties was tasked with casting a bell, and Wood County’s bell was cast during the fair.

“It was cast on Memorial Drive, and the bell is now at the (Wood County) Courthouse,” Sheets said.

The year 2011 saw the 30th anniversary of the Five Miler foot race that is conducted every Friday night of the fair.

The 75th anniversary fair was conducted in 2019, just before the COVID outbreak caused the fair to be cancelled in 2020.

Sheets said the Pemberville Free Fair has a lot of followers.

“The fair is known for the entertainment it (provides).”

T-shirts have been made up for the fair for many years. T-shirts for this year’s fair say, “We’ve got your ticket to the Pemberville Free Fair … free admission.”

Sheets, 55, is a Pemberville resident and has been helping at the fair since he was 12 years old.

“I have a lot of years put into this fair.”

Fair Fun Facts

~ The Pemberville Independent Merchants Association sponsored the first annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest in 2009

~ The Pemberville 5-Miler celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2011

~ The 1976 Pemberville Centennial Free Fair featured five days of activities (Tuesday –Saturday)

~ The Lions Club served a Chicken Barbeque in the Bingo Tent on Saturday of the 2002 Pemberville Free Fair.

~ Miss Mildred Beeker served as Pemberville’s first Outstanding Citizen – 1990

~ The 1948 Pemberville Fall Fair presented a United Nations Pageant on the Legion Field – September 2-4

~ A 1959 Plymouth 4-Door Belvedere, Station Wagon was given as the Grand Prize on Saturday, Aug. 29, 1959

~ Cheerleaders from Bowling Green State University served as the judges for the Pemberville Fair Cheerleading Competition in 2002

~ The Luckey Kiwanis Club served Root Beer Floats at the 2007 Pemberville Free Fair

~ The Mitte-Mini Garden Tractor Club sponsored the Garden Tractor Pull at the 1976 Pemberville Free Fair

~ Tekla Walston danced on the Main Stage (local talent) Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1959

~ Lois Alexander, Donna Beeker & Nedra Sheets chaired the Tasting Spree on Aug. 19, 1976

~ Portage Valley 4-H sponsored a 50/50 Cow Plop on the Pemberville School Athletic Field – Saturday, Aug. 19, 1995

(Courtesy of Pemberville Free Fair)

Daily schedule:

Tuesday

3-7 p.m. Open registration, quilt show, former elementary building

6-8 p.m. Open registration, arts, crafts, collectibles, photography, needlework, former elementary building

6-7 p.m. Open registration, all produce, scout cabin

Wednesday

8-11 a.m. Open registration, flower show, legion hall

9-10 a.m. Market goats weigh-in, goat tent

9-11:30 a.m., Open registration, all produce, scout cabin; open registration, small animals, small animals tent

9 a.m.-noon Open registration, arts crafts, collectibles, photography, needlework, former elementary building.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Open registration, baked goods, scout cabin

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sidewalk chalk art created, library

11 a.m. Fair board food vendors open, legion auxiliary food stand open

Noon-5 p.m. Judging, all exhibits closed

1:30-3:30 p.m. Kids free bingo, bingo tent

4:30-10 p.m. Lollipop raffle sales, raffle tent

5-10 p.m. 50/50 raffle sales, raffle tent

5 p.m. Rides open

5-10 p.m., Quilt show, needlework, arts, crafts collections, photography displays open, former elementary school

5:15-5:45 p.m. Open registration, kiddie parade, town hall

5:15 p.m. Kiddie Parade judging

6 p.m. Opening ceremony, main stage

6-10 pm. Commercial tents open

6:30 p.m. Kiddie parade begins town hall

7-8:30 p.m. Quilt show, Pemberville Elementary

7-9 p.m. Kids Zone opens, kids zone tent

7:15 p.m. Ceremonies, main stage; senior king and queen, outstanding citizens, scholarship recipients, royalty contestants, sidewalk chalk art winners

7:30-10 p.m. Bingo in the bingo tent

7:30-8:30 p.m. Chicken plop ticket sales, small animals tent

8:30 p.m. Baked goods auction, entertainment tent

8:45-10 p.m. Family Dance Party with A&J Sound, entertainment tent

10 p.m. Nightly and lollipop raffle prize winner announced, entertainment tent

Thursday

9 a.m. Displays and shows open

9 a.m. Cattle judging, cattle arena

10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Flower Show open

11 a.m. Fair board food vendors open, legion auxiliary food stand open

Noon-1 p.m. Music in the bingo tent

Noon-10 p.m. Quilt show, needlework, arts, crafts, collections, photography displays open, former elementary school

1 p.m. Swine scramble, former elementary school

1-3 p.m. Senior bingo in the bingo tent

1-9 pm. Commercial tents open

3 p.m. Family discount rides begin; market goats show judging, goat tent

3-4:30 p.m. Kids’ Even & Odds Games, bingo tent

3-9 p.m. Kids Zone opens

4:30-10 p.m. Fair T-shirt Challenge, raffle tent

5-10 p.m. Raffle sales, raffle tent

3:30-4:30 p.m. Cupcake walk, main stage

5 p.m. Beef barbecue by the Calf Club

5-7 p.m. Johnny Rodriguez

5-6:30 p.m., GLOvation Circus, entertainment tent

6 p.m. Pony pull in the school valley, cornhole tournament in the baseball court

6-10 p.m. Bingo in the bingo tent

6-8 p.m. Youth flower arrangement night, legion hall

6-6:30 p.m. Kids Pedal tractor pull registration/weigh in, library parking lot

6:45 p.m. Kids Pedal tractor pull contest, library parking lot

7:30-8:30 p.m. Chicken plop ticket sales

7:30-10 p.m. Wolf Creek Project, entertainment tent

10 p.m. Nightly prize winner announced, main stage

Friday

9 a.m. Displays and shows open

9:30 a.m.-noon Let’s reminisce, bingo tent

10 a.m. Flower show open

11 a.m. Fair board food vendors open, legion auxiliary food stand open

Noon-1 p.m. Music in the bingo tent

Noon-10 p.m. Quilt show, needlework, arts, crafts, collections, photography displays open in the former elementary school

1 p.m. Horse pull weigh-in at Countyline Co-op

1-3 p.m. Senior bingo in the bingo tent

1-9 pm. Commercial tents open

3 p.m. Horse pull, school valley

3 p.m. Rides open

3:30-4:30 p.m. Cupcake Walk, entertainment tent

4:30-10 p.m. Lollipop raffle, raffle tent

5 p.m. Hog roast by SAL

5-6 p.m. Kids scavenger hunt, scout cabin

5-9 p.m. Kids Zone open, kids zone tent

5-11 p.m. 50/50 raffle sales, raffle tent

6 p.m. Market goat sale, goat tent

6-11 p.m. Bingo in the bingo tent

6:30 p.m. 5-Miler begins at fire hall, downtown

6:30-8:30 p.m. Chicken plop ticket sales, small animals tent

7 p.m. Post 183 calf club cattle sale, cattle arena

7:30 p.m. Kids fun run

8:30 p.m. Brother Believe Me, entertainment tent

11 p.m. Nightly prize and lollipop winners announced, entertainment stage

Saturday

7-11 a.m., Scouts pancake breakfast, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

8-11:30 a.m. Parade registration, former elementary school

9 a.m.-noon vehicle show registration, Bethlehem parking lot

9 a.m.-8 p.m.. Baked goods, produce and small animal displays open

9 a.m.-9 p.m. Commercial tents open

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Vehicle show

11 a.m. Fair board food vendors open, legion auxiliary food stand open, fair rides open

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 50/50 raffle sales, raffle tent

Noon Marching Band Extravaganza, Memorial Drive and downtown

1 p.m. Grand Parade begins, College Avenue

3-6 p.m. Quilt show, needlework, arts, crafts, collections, photography displays open, former elementary school

3-4:30 p.m. Tug of war weigh-in, Pemberville elevator

3-11 p.m. Bingo in bingo tent, lollipop raffle in the raffle tent, 50/50 raffle in the raffle tent

3:30 p.m. Grand parade awards, entertainment tent

4-8 p.m. Kids zone opens in the kids zone tent

5 p.m. Tug of war, school valley

5-7 p.m., Bob Stevens, entertainment tent

7-8 p.m. Quilt show pickup, former elementary school; arts, crafts, collectibles and photography pickup, former elementary school

8 p.m. Chicken plop in the small animals tent, small animal pickup in the small animals tent, flower show pickup in the legion hall

8 p.m. Screaming Heathens, entertainment tent

9 p.m. Exhibits close, all displays to be picked up, produce exhibit entry pickup in the scout cabin

11 p.m. SAL golf cart, lollipop raffle and 50/50 drawing winners announced, all in entertainment tent