Although it poured rain Friday night, Saturday morning the sun was shining bright for Orrville’s first annual Founder’s Day. Children and adults alike converged on the grounds surrounding the Orrville Convention Center — all eager to play games and win prizes, listen to the gospel stage and grab a stick of freshly spun cotton candy and a snow cone.

The day started with a parade through town led by the Keith High School marching band, area churches and old muscle cars and trucks. And between a bouncy house, hayrides, may pole, cake walks and a line of booths filled with different games — there was plenty for everyone to see and do.

“It’s been great,” Orrville Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin said. “The weather held up, and the turn out was awesome. The vendors are good and the parade was real good.”

Lumpkin said the best part of Founder’s Day was the people — meeting different people and seeing the children having a great time.

“Orrville came out and met my expectations,” Lumpkin said of the first Founder’s Day. “People are just happy to be out.”

Kendra Johnson, 13, and Keyonna Atkins, 12, both students of Salem Elementary School said with an armful of prizes that they were enjoying their Saturday playing games and riding all the rides. On the other end of the field Robert Jackson, Levi Jackson and Charles Lumpkin, said admiring the old muscle cars was the most interesting part of the event, noting that there was really something for everyone. Geneva Hardy who is part of the Founder’s Day Committee said working at the Wheel of Fortune booth and being a part of the parade were some of her favorite elements of the event.

“I love it all,” Hardy said.

Founder’s Day founder and coordinator Lula Watters said the event could not have been planned better and vendors are already looking forward to participating next year.

“It’s just so amazing,” Watters said. “The ground might be a little wet, but the weather is great and the turnout is awesome. Even with the wet ground — the kids are getting a kick out of jumping in the water puddles.”

In addition to being a fun day for the whole family, Founder’s Day was an opportunity to learn more about Orrville’s town history.

Watters said she thought everyone learned something new about Orrville’s past.

“There’s a lot of stuff in Orrville I didn’t know,” she said.

Watters thanked Mayor Lumpkin for her support and the opportunity to bring the new event to town.

“Hats off to her again, because everything has been a success,” she said. “Everybody wanted to see this day be a success, and now everybody is just enjoying themselves.”