Pioneer Days 136 years old and still going strong

KALIDA - Pioneer Days has been around quite awhile.

Actually, that's an understatement. Pioneer Days has been around 136 years, which is "quite awhile" plus some.

And it's still one of the most-looked-forward-to, got-to-be-there, gosh-I-can-hardly-wait festivals of the year in this area. Not bad for something that started out more than a century ago as a meeting of the local historical society.

The event is going on now through Sunday, and it transforms downtown Kalida into an entertainment smorgasbord. Rides, concerts, a craft show, karaoke, an antique tractor show and even a ventriloquist for the kids will keep the whole family busy, according to Joe Siefker, co-chair for publicity for the event. At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the parade billed as "Northwest Ohio's Largest Parade" starts. This year's theme is "From the Black Swamp to Productive Pioneers."

"There's a lot of free entertainment, and we try to have entertainment for all ages," said Bill Rieman, also a co-chairman for publicity.

Free concerts are scheduled for both tonight and Saturday night, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and includes the band Howl at the Moon, well-known at clubs in Cincinnati and Cleveland, on Saturday night, Rieman said.

Oh, and don't forget the chicken wing challenge scheduled for 2:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Sponsored by Wibby's Sports Bar, the challenge is sure to please the palate of any wing lover.

But let's not forget the "pioneer" in Pioneer Days. Because it began as an annual meeting of what eventually became the Putnam County Historical Society, the event does host events highlighting the history of the area.

"The historical society is "still very much a part of Pioneer Days," Rieman said.

The Putnam County Historical Museum will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and will remain open both before and after the parade. The historical society will hold its annual meeting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Guest speaker John Carnes, curator of the Allen County Historical Museum in Lima, will talk about John Dillinger's infamous stay in the Allen County jail, which ended in a jail break and the death of then-sheriff Jessie Sarber.

Rug weaving demonstrations on a loom are also scheduled for the museum on Saturday.

"We'd like to see more participation in visiting this historical building," Rieman said.

The historical society managed Pioneer Days until the 1960s, when it handed over the reins to the community, Siefker said.

"The event became too big for the historical society so they turned it over to the Lions Club and the Kalida Fire Department. It's just grown from there," Rieman said.

Kalida is about 18 miles north of Lima on state Route 65. Visit www.pioneerdays.com for details and a complete schedule of events.

WHEN: Now through Sunday

WHERE: Kalida, about 18 miles north of Lima

COST: Free

FOR MORE INFO: www.pioneerdays.com