By LISA NICELY
nicely@crescent-news.com
The annual Fort Street Fest is doing things a little different this year.
While the fest is slated for Friday, some of the events normally held on the day of the festival will take place Saturday this year. However, the reason for the festival remains the same.
"The Fort Street Fest is a way the Volunteer Connection, American Cancer Society and chamber can thank the community for all the support they give to us throughout the year," said Bobby Olashuk, executive director of the Volunteer Connection of Northwest Ohio.
The fifth annual Fort Street Fest will run from 12-9:30 p.m. Friday, featuring a cornhole tournament, live entertainment, food and more.
Registration and practice for the Lion's Club cornhole tournament will begin at 12 p.m. behind the McDonald's building off Fort Street. The tournament will begin at 1 p.m. It is expected to last until 6 p.m. Cost is $15 for a two-person team. Half the proceeds from the event will benefit the Lion's club and the other half of the proceeds will go to first-, second- and third-place winners.
The band, Strawberry Hill, will perform from 6-9:30 p.m. The band plays 1960s and '70s music.
In addition to the entertainment, there will be food by Charlie's On the Road. Among the items being served are hamburgers, cheeseburgers, brats, hot dogs, baked beans, cole slaw and potato salad. Pop, water and beer will also be on sale.
Additionally, D&D Putting & Amusements will hold a carnival at Kingsbury Park.
"There will also be carnival and festival-like games at Pontiac Park at 4 p.m.," said Cindy Mack of the Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau.
The fireworks show for Defiance will be held at dusk on Friday.
Before the events on Saturday, volunteers are being sought to clean up Kingsbury and Pontiac parks as well as the fortgrounds. Individuals are asked to meet at Fort and Wayne streets at 8 a.m. Pontiac Park will be the first park to be cleaned up. For more information, call 419-782-3212.
Two events normally held the same day as the Fort Street Fest will be going on Saturday -- the Mighty Maumee Duck Race and eighth annual Hospice Car Show.
"We looked at it with the fireworks on Friday and the car show on Saturday," Olashuk said of the duck race. "That's just the way the holiday fell. A lot of businesses are open until 5 p.m. Friday. To make things easier we put the show and race on Saturday. Next year everything will be on the same day."
The Hospice Car Show will kick off with registration from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost is $10 the day of the show. All makes and models are welcome. Dash plaques will go to the first 100 entries. There will also be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing. Proceeds from the event benefit Hospice of Defiance County.
Awards will be presented from 3-3:30 p.m. to the top 40 cars and trucks, best of show, long distance award, the hospice/Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau award and Chief Pontiac award. A new award, the Kelly Award, will be given out to vehicles that are less than 25 years old.
There will also be a silent auction and swap meet at the show. Pair-A-Dice Entertainment will DJ the event.
"The car show will have its own food," said Olashuk, who added that no alcoholic beverages will be served Saturday.
While individuals are enjoying the various vehicles they can also watch the seventh annual Mighty Maumee Duck Race at 2 p.m.
The numbered plastic ducks are dropped from the Clinton Street bridge and then float down the river to the Defiance Public Library where they are caught.
Approximately 1,700 ducks have been sold so far.
"We anticipate selling 1,000 more this week," Olashuk said.
Individuals may purchase ducks for the duck race. Ducks are $5 each or a six quack for $25.
The race features prizes of $1,500 for first place; $750, second place; and $500, third place. In addition, there are 10 "deluxe" ducks -- each with a prize valued at $20,000.
Before the race is launched, 10 ducks will be randomly selected and designated as deluxe ducks. If one of those 10 ducks wins the race, the person who purchased that duck will not only win the first-place prize, but the bonus prize as a deluxe duck.
This year's deluxe duck prizes include a Harley from Ben Breese Harley Davidson in Ottawa, a vacation from Central Travel, groceries from Chief Super Market, college scholarship from Close to Home Pre-school, a boat and more from Five Span Marina, cash from Midwest Community Federal Credit Union, a house full of furniture from Ken's Furniture, diamonds and jewels from Stambaugh Jewelers, a new car from Stykemain Pontiac Buick GMC, and paid-in-full life insurance policy from First Insurance and Investments.