By BETHANY RAYLE
crescent@crescent-news.com
ARCHBOLD -- The Archbold community and Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce are gearing up for Carp Festival 2007 slated for Friday and Saturday. This year's festival will include many returning favorites and will introduce an all-new "Art in the Park" display featuring several artists and crafters from around northwest Ohio.
The two-day event kicks off Friday with inside/outside merchant sales to be held throughout the community and a fish dinner served by the Lions club from 5-6:45 p.m. An auction and "Archbold Idol" talent contest at 7 p.m. are scheduled to entertain festival-goers following the fish dinner.
Saturday activities kick off at 8 a.m. with a fishing derby at the Archbold reservoir and the annual Run for the Lights 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m., sponsored by the Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce. The run/walk will begin from Ruihley Park.
The park will also be the home of the newest event, "Art in the Park," which will feature more than 40 area artists and crafters from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. Art fans can also check out Sauder Village on Friday or Saturday to see demonstrations or try their hand at creating works of art.
"We're very excited to bring 'Art in the Park' to this year's festival," said Mari Yoder, chamber director. "It will feature several artists and crafters from Michigan, Toledo, Findlay and all around northwest Ohio. We're really looking forward to it. It should be a great addition to this year's festival."
The "Art in the Park" event is free and also includes the Farmers & Merchants State Bank festival stage that will feature Assemblies of God Praise and Worship Band, Black Swamp Swing Band, Girls Night Out and the Turkey Foot Trotters. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day.
Kids will be able to get in on the fun with a hands-on kidz art zone from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to be hosted by Black Swamp Arts Council and inflatables daylong sponsored by Miller Bros. Construction and Archbold Rotary.
Volleyball tournaments will be held in Ruihley Park on Friday and Saturday with softball tournaments scheduled all weekend at Archbold Memorial Park.
The festival is set to go out with a bang featuring a fireworks display Saturday night beginning around 9:30.
Residents can kick off the weekend right with events also scheduled for Thursday evening. These include an ice cream social to benefit Adriel Foster Care, 3rd Thursday barbecue at Home Restaurant and Brookview Farms, as well as a car display in front of the municipal building by the Corvette Club.
"Weather permitting, we're hoping to see a great crowd out this year," said Yoder. "There are plenty of events scheduled for this year's festival and it keeps growing each year. This is something we enjoy putting on, not only for the Archbold community but surrounding communities as well."