By JARED ORZOLEK

orzolek@crescent-news.com

DESHLER -- Festival enthusiasts are preparing for competitive target shooting, the music and German food featured at the 35th annual Deshler Schutzenfest.

The Schutzenfest is slated for Friday through Sunday at the Bavarian Haus, located off Ohio 18 just east of Ohio 65 in southeast Henry County.

The Deshler Schutzenfest is the only remaining event of its kind still going strong in this area, according to John Ziegler, schutzenfest president.

"It's like family and friends out here each year. The campers have a big reunion. People come from all over, including Michigan and Indiana. Usually, a couple even comes down from Canada," Ziegler said.

The music will start Friday when doors open at 6 p.m. Music by Duane Malinowski will run from 7-11 p.m. while target shooting will begin at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, doors will open at 5 p.m. Jerry Robotka will take the stage from 6-11 p.m. Target shooting will commence at 5 p.m.

The final day of the event is Sunday and doors open at 11 a.m. Marksmanship will kick off at 12 p.m. and music will run from 1-10 p.m. with Squeezebox and Bavaria Brass performing.

"These bands will play everything from country to ballroom -- a real good variety," Ziegler said. "All the people have to do is request what they want."

The schutzenfest includes its signature shooting contest with crowns going to the top male and female marksmen. Contestants fire three-shot groups with .22 caliber, single-shot rifles at targets 100 yards away. The rifles are owned by members of the Bavarian Club and are equipped with peep-style sights.

Shooting begins with a preliminary round, where anyone who earns a perfect score of 36, by hitting the two-inch bull's eye with all three shots in their group, will qualify for the final shoot-off.

There will also be a shoot-off for people who narrowly miss the mark on one shot and have a score of 35.

At the end of the shoot-off, six winners will be crowned. Four will be in the adult division, which includes men and women, while the remaining two titles will be awarded to the winners in the youth division.

The targets are unique to the event and constructed each year by committee member Gene Rosebrook.

The plywood targets have removable centers so only the high-impact areas have to be replaced each year.

The event started in 1972 when the Bavarian Club Inc. was formed by a group of community-minded area residents. They formed a non-profit corporation, purchased land near the village of Deshler and constructed a building -- complete with a full kitchen and large dance floor.

Now, the Bavarian Club Inc. and its women's auxiliary are responsible for many gatherings throughout the year including polka dances, wedding receptions and its signature event, the Deshler Schutzenfest. Hundreds of people attend the event over the three-day period.

Plenty of homemade German food, featuring bratwurst, will be served daily.