Saturday, July 24th, 2021
Lake Fest returns
Amphicars, rides, fireworks kick off first day of festival
By Erin Gardner
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Billy Syx known as the "Splash King" drives his Amphicar into the hot water hole during the Lake Festival's Amphicar Splash-In Friday evening in Celina.
CELINA - The Celina Lake Festival is back, bigger and better than ever.
On the heels of last year's cancellation because of the pandemic, the festival made its return on Friday.
In the afternoon, festivalgoers flocked to sidewalk sales downtown. In the evening along Lake Shore Drive, crafts, the popular amphicar splash-in at Grand Lake and bands drew in more visitors.
Michelle Miller, co-chairman of the festival, on Friday reported that attendance so far had been outstanding. New this year are additional crafts and food vendors, a K9 demonstration, a pleasure boat and car poker run and a golf cart portion in the grand parade set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m., she said.
"Everything is being ran bigger and better; we're excited for a great weekend ahead," Miller said.
More than 60 vendors were set up for the craft show, which will continue throughout the weekend. Despite rain earlier in the day, the area was packed with people. Products range from honey to woodworking to tapestries and even massages.
Dawn Kennedy, owner of Convoy Road Coffee Roasters, is a newcomer to the festival. She opened her business, which is in Van Vert, in late January.
"This is our first time at Lake Fest," Kennedy said. "(The reception has been) fantastic. A lot of people have tried the coffee and there's been a great turnout. Even after the rain, it just opened right back up."
Kennedy wasn't the only small business owner who was pleased with Friday's crowd.
Mark Beougher, owner of Boegher Honey Farms in Celina, is no stranger to festivals. This is the second year the business has been part of the Celina Lake Festival. He's been selling his honey at festivals for five years.
"(I'm) very excited that the festival is coming back," Beougher said. "We're thrilled that people are getting back out in the economy after COVID-19, so we're very happy. It's been a great crowd and the customers are very receptive."
Raelynn Hoffman, Celina, 14, said she is excited about the rides this weekend. She said she also hopes to ride a horse. Several mechanical rides and pony rides are set up along Lake Shore Drive for festival goers.
Crowds milled around the more than 400 cars registered for the annual car show/cruise-in staged near the amphitheater. This year marked the 50th anniversary for the event, Miller said.
Car show participants George Jeffries and his wife, both of Celina, are part of a 31-member team that built an Abrams M1A2SEP V2 half pint, a half-size replica of the Abrams M1A2SEP battle tank. The tank is 16 feet long, about 6 feet wide, weighs 6,600 pounds and travels 10 miles per hour.
It's made out of aluminum and 3D-printed plastic and it fires T-shirts. The tank was funded by contributions and cost $96,400. The funding was entirely local.
"It was built to honor our veterans and workers," Jeffries said of the tank.
The car show/cruise-in brings automobile lovers from all over.
"It's great," said a car enthusiast from Columbus. "We actually go to car shows in Columbus and this has a nice mix of different types and styles and ages," she said.
Rachel Werling, Miss Lake Festival 2021 from St Henry, has never been to the festival or car show before. She said Friday she loved getting to meet all the people.
The Amphicars, cars that travel on land and water, have also been a staple of the festival for more than 20 years. More than 45 Amphicars attended the splash-in Friday evening, Miller said.
Mark Rahn, an Amphicar owner from Kalamazoo, Michigan, said he has attended the Amphicar show in Celina for three years.
"It's always fantastic," Rahn said. "The people here are so friendly and we have such a good time. I can't think of a better place."
Chris Kutinac, an Amphicar owner from Louisville, Kentucky, has been doing the Amphicar show in Celina for 10 years and loves it.
Late in the evening the already huge crowds swelled to watch the annual fireworks display over Grand Lake.
The festival continues through the weekend.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Fireworks light up the sky behind the Celina Rotary lighthouse on Grand Lake Friday night. The Celina Lake Festival continues through this weekend.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Kids ride a new attraction Friday called the Crazy Surf during the festival.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Vincent Mertz, 8, checks out a 1932 Ford 3WDW Coupe Friday during the car show/cruise-in at the Celina Lake Festival.
