Firelands Festival returns

NEW LONDON — The biggest weekend of the year for New London is the 116th Annual Firelands Labor Day Festival, from this Friday through Monday, Labor Day, at the Recreation Park at 2 Blake St. The midway opens Friday at 6 p.m. and at noon for the rest of the weekend with a home run derby and a D.J. following. Bingo and a softball tournament will continue all weekend. Saturday starts with a 5k race, pickleball tourney, the Rotary-sponsored parade, horseshoe and cornhole tourneys, the Great Lakes Tractor Pulls, a Life Flight demo and live music. A church service begins Sunday, and the day includes sand volleyball, cornhole and horseshoe tourneys, the Demo Derby and live music from Back to the Future. Monday features kiddie tractor pulls, kids' games, pizza eating and cupcake baking contests, live music from Aidan Albaugh, the OSTPA Pulls, the Hall of Fame Induction, door prizes and the always spectacular fireworks display. In addition to all the food and rides all weekend, the Boy Scouts will offer a rock wall at their cabin. Daily gate prices are $10 a person, with those 62 and above paying $5 on Saturday and Monday and $7 on Sunday. Children 3 and under are free with rides included. Pre-sale weekend passes are $25 a person and $15 for seniors, available at the village hall and Gilbert Hardware. Festival schedules can be found in businesses around town and at newlondonoh.com, along with additional information.