By JARED ORZOLEK
orzolek@crescent-news.com
HAMLER -- This year marks the fourth decade for a popular Henry County summer festival as the Hamler Summerfest is set for next weekend.
The 40th annual event brings a sampling of polka music, along with food and friendship, to southern Henry County.
The festival lineup features a good mixture of both northwest Ohio bands and national touring performers.
"The Hamler Summerfest was really the first German heritage/polka festival in northwest Ohio. This is why it is referred to as 'the granddaddy of them all,' " said Rob Panning, a member of the summerfest organization team.
"It has always been the largest in the area and the standard to which all other polka fests were judged. While it is not as large as it was in its heyday during the '70s and '80s, it is still one of the largest polka festivals in the country," said Panning. "Even to this day, the fest will draw bus loads of people from states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York and all states in between."
The festival gets underway Thursday with an interdenominational church service at 8 p.m. led by Rev. Norm Norden, retired from Hope Lutheran Church.
The first day of music is Friday and the evening will start at 5 p.m. with the Music Connection of Wausau, Wis., alternating with Polka Family of Numidia, Pa., and Marv Herzog Reunion Band through 1 a.m.
A special video presentation recalling the history of the Hamler Summerfest and a tribute to the late Marv Herzog will run from 9:30-9:45 p.m. A portion of Friday's proceeds will be donated to the Marv Herzog scholarship fund.
Saturday's entertainment will start at 3 p.m. with Karl and the Country Dutchmen of Trempealeau, Mich., which will be joined by the Music Connection, Ted Lange and Squeezebox from Ridgeville Corners and A Touch of Brass from Toledo performing through 1 a.m.
Sunday's music will start at 12 p.m. with Karl and the Country Dutchmen alternating with Ted Lange and Squeezebox through 8 p.m.
"One of the things that make the fest unique this year is that we were able to book a 13-piece brass band from the Netherlands called Zwarte Fanfare. Not only is this band over twice as large as the average band in the U.S. which has three to five people, it is from Europe which means that it has a slightly different style than what people are used to hearing," Panning said.
"Another new and unique activity planned for Sunday this year is the corn hole tournament. This tournament is sanctioned by the American Corn Hole Association. This is a national organization that promotes the standard play of the corn hole game."
The music groups will perform at the Hamler Summerfest site, which is a covered outdoor facility with a 6,400-square-foot wooden dance floor.
Other features of the event include a parade Saturday at 1 p.m. through downtown Hamler and inflatable toys for children on Sunday, which are free with a paid adult admission.
Food will be available all weekend including German favorites like barbecued chicken, bratwurst, sauerkraut, hot dogs, hot beef, hot German potato salad and baked beans.
Admission to the event is $7 Friday and Saturday and $5 on Sunday. A three-day pass will cost $15, and children under age 16 are admitted free with parents.
There is a large area for camping, some with 20 amp service.
"I would think that the main thing that kept the fest going for 40 years are the thousands of dedicated volunteers that have helped throughout its history. The fest is a non-profit organization that raises money for the local school programs and also the local ball diamond, basketball courts and park, which is used by hundreds of kids throughout the year," Panning said.
"None of the volunteers, including the president, vice president, treasurer, or anyone else receives any money for the long hours that they put in. They all do it for the good of the community, and also for the free beer when they work, I must admit."
For more information, visit the summerfest website at www.hamlersummerfest.com or call 419-758-3404.