Author Stephen King once wrote, “Everything old is new again.” And at this weekend’s West Liberty Labor Day Festival, the revival of some old favorites promises to give visitors some fun new memories.
The festival, which the West Liberty Lions Club started in 1965 as a softball tournament and homecoming for local businesses, has grown over the years and is now one of the largest in Ohio. But in the nearly 60 years since its inception, some of its events have been lost, including the softball tournament.
According to Lions Club member and festival organizer Jake Vitt, several of these traditions will be revived. From the Cox Pulling Garden Tractor Pull at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 30, to the full day of family fun on Monday, September 2, the weekend promises something for everyone.
In addition to the mini tractor pulling on Friday night – a popular activity that was suspended for several years – the mixed softball tournament will also resume on Saturday at 3 p.m.
“It was an important part of the festival’s history years ago, but it fizzled out,” Vitt said. “We were able to get a group together and get it going again.”
However, members of the community will be honored at two events this weekend.
The first event is the dedication of the Jim Godwin Memorial Tractor Pull Track on Sunday, September 1st at 1 p.m.
Godwin, who died earlier this year, was a longtime member of the Lions Club. “The festival was a big part of his life and he was a big supporter of it,” Vitt said.
The Lions are also hosting the first Liberty Spirit 5K on Monday at 9 a.m. The race is dedicated to Joe Rose, who died this year from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). All proceeds will benefit ALS support.
Other highlights of the weekend:
FRIDAY:
4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. – Vintage Car Cruise-In
9:30 p.m. – High school late-night party after the football game
SATURDAY:
10:30 am – Parade
13.00 – Tractor pulling for children
ALL AFTERNOON/EVENING, starting at 2:30 p.m. – Country Legends Concert Series
SUNDAY:
10 a.m. – Vintage tractor pulling
10:30 a.m. – Mixed Softball Championship Game
7pm – Cochren & Co. with Natalie Layne Concert in the Park
Monday is family day with a DJ dance party, glitter tattoos, show dogs, face painting, blow-ups, a children’s scavenger hunt, balloon modeling, a magic show and a caricaturist.
With over 20 food vendors expected, there will be plenty of food to choose from for people. Additionally, there will be a free shuttle service from the city’s church parking lots to Lions Park and back all weekend long.
For the full schedule, visit westlibertylions.org/labor-day-festival.
