By JARED ORZOLEK
orzolek@crescent-news.com
Thousands of people from across northwest Ohio and beyond were drawn to Defiance on Saturday afternoon and night to enjoy music, fellowship and the fireworks display launched at dusk from Kingsbury Park.
Crowds of people brought blankets, lawn chairs and portable shelters to the fort grounds and Pontiac Park starting in the early afternoon in preparation to enjoy the city's annual Fort Street Fest and fireworks display.
Larry and Jeannie Sinn of Paulding were waiting in Pontiac Park for the fireworks to launch along with various family members ranging in age from one month to 86 years.
"We are having a picnic and we are playing games," Mrs. Sinn said while sitting in a lawn chair underneath a shady tree.
"This is my kind of weather."
The Sinn's said family members from as far away as Cleveland and Indianapolis traveled to Defiance to spend time together Saturday.
The couple said they head to the same spot in each year to view the fireworks.
Other families were also waiting in the shade for the fireworks display to begin.
Mike Bowers of Antwerp and his girlfriend Ann Garza of Hicksville were enjoying time with Garza's extended family while waiting for the fireworks in Pontiac Park.
"We just find an open spot and sit on this side of the river," Bowers said.
Other folks spending time in Pontiac Park were waiting for the Volunteer Connection's duck race fund-raiser, which took place at 7:45 p.m.
Lois Gerken, her daughter Michelle Harmon and grandson Noah Harmon, all of Wauseon, were anticipating the performance of their rubber duck.
"We came early enough that we can get a good parking space," Gerken said, adding that they were expecting 15-20 family members to reach the park before the fireworks were launched.
"We are going to have a party. (The weather) is beautiful and couldn't be better."
Other fireworks fans were waiting for the display to start at the fort grounds at the intersection of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers.
"I am going to watch from right here if I don't get burnt up (from the sun) first," said Mike Dennison of Bryan, his lawnchair parked above the confluence of the rivers.
"The weather is beautiful. It's not too windy, but a little too hot."
Dennison said he and his family members try to come to the same spot each year -- they arrived at 4 p.m. this year -- to observe the fireworks.