“OUR Bucket of Fun” float won the Buckets of Fun division at Wednesday’s Pemberville Free Fair Kiddie Parade. The float was made by the Madaras family kids including Quinn, Roman, Paisley, Maverick, Mariah and Keahu.
Jaydon “Juggles” Whiting high fives a spectator at Wednesday’s Kiddie Parade at the Pemberville Free Fair.
PEMBERVILLE — Buckets of Fun kickED off Pemberville Free Fair’s Kiddy Parade Wednesday.
The mid-August evening was filled with the sounds of kids finishing up their floats with their parents and family members. Loaded with bags of candy and smiles, their costumes are checked before the kids were loaded on floats pulled by adults on tractors or four-wheelers. Judging is done front of the Pemberville Opera House.
Opening the fair was Major Carol Bailey, who welcomed everyone to a smaller version of a larger county fair, but the same amount of excitement to include the Grand Parade on Saturday, crafts, quilts show, flowers arrangement contests, food contests, photography contests and more. Bailey praised the volunteer board for all it takes to set up and make the Free Fair run, as well as the community that turns out with great pride in their homes.
Pemberville is the only place you can leave a chair on the parade route for the grand parade the night before and the chair will be there in the morning, she said.
Prayer was led by Chaplain (Col.) David Bowlus, a 1989 Eastwood graduate. He was named chaplain at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June.
Pre-parade entertainment included twirlers, jugglers and stiltwalker Jaydon Juggles.
The kiddie parade floats were decorated to be judged in six categories.
Buckets of Fun at the Pemberville Free Fair. The winner was “OUR Bucket of Fun” with the Madaras family kids including Quinn, Roman, Paisley, Maverick, Mariah and Keahu.
Radio, TV, movies. The winner was “Liam’s World of Minecraft” by Liam Myers.
Small floats. The winner was “Under the Sea” with Coralynn and Garrett Knott and Lorkin Tonyan.
Patriotic. The winner was “Vote for Rudy 2024” by Noel and Zion Preston.
Spectacular sports. The winner was “Future of Monday Night Lights 2040” by Austin and Brayden Wolnlewicz and Oliver Eckhart, who were escorted by Quinter Farmer and Tammy Farmer.
Fun on Wheels. The winner was “A Wool Ha” by Thomas, Eleanor and Cameron Bockbrader.
The Pemberville Free Fair continues through Saturday.
