Traditions return for 2015 Peony Festival

Peony Festival information

“Blooming Colors for 40 Years” is the theme for the Peony Festival’s birthday this year. To celebrate, the Peony Festival Committee is planning a couple of changes working to make the 2015 festival better than ever.

First, the YMCA will be bringing its run downtown this year with some exciting new changes to increase the fun factor. Then to give a nod to Peony Festival’s heritage, the parade will be going west down Main Street this year, which is the traditional parade route established in the 1930s and later in the first revival of the festival in the 1950s.

“Since the march won’t be quite as long, we hope to increase the participation that has dwindled in the last few years and leave the participants with enough energy to come back to the park for more fun,” said Peony Festival Committee President Zoe Longstreth.

The Punt, Pass and Kick contest will return this year, and Longstreth urged local youths to come out and support the Cougar football team, while showing off their grid skills.

The local Girl Scouts will also be returning with their children’s games, as well as a small petting zoo to delight the young, as well as the young at heart.

The Main Street Van Wert organization is also busy making sure area residents have all their favorite food vendors on hand, while ArtRageous on Main will feed participants’ souls with the beautiful artwork of local artists.

“Speaking of beauty, we hope you will take some time during the festival to enjoy the display at Wassenberg Art Center,” Longstreth added. “Even the grounds around the ‘The Wass’ are becoming a work of art.”

This year’s festival will be held the first full weekend in June (June 5-7).