ORRVILLE — The emphasis was on community and fellowship Friday night as Orrville residents cut the ribbon on their new pavilion.

The pavilion, located on Church Street, was a project made possible by the Orrville volunteer fire department. While gathering for its dedication, citizens shared stories of Orrville and enjoyed hotdogs hot off the grill.

Bill Grimes, Orrville Fire Chief, explained that one of the main reasons for building the pavilion was to serve as a center stage for the town’s annual tractor show, which occurs every second Saturday in November.

“We used to bring in a flat bed trailer and have to set it up (for the stage),” Grimes said. “But now we got something a little nicer and a little bit more permanent.”

Along with serving as a center stage come November, Grimes also said he hopes the community uses the new pavilion for many other Orville events.

“So that’s just one of the uses that we hope to have, maybe some community events and a few concerts and a wedding or two, something along those lines,” Grimes said.

After the dedication and ribbon cutting, several citizens displayed their talents in the pavilion using song and story telling. Orrville resident Chip Spencer played guitar while his daughter, V.K, accompanied him with the violin. As Chip slowed his strumming, he told a story of his Uncle Jesse.

Also, the First Baptist Church Youth Choir followed Spencer’s performance as Aveon Young took center stage and sang while Katrina Jackson played the keyboard.

Orrville Mayor Gene McHugh said he hopes there will be many more events at the pavilion like the one held Friday.

“It’s certainly an asset to the community,” McHugh said. “And with the tractor show coming in November it’ll be a tremendous help.”

McHugh said he would like additions to be added to the Pavilion in the near future, making it more of a permanent feature in Orrville.

“We would eventually like to add some park benches around the front of it and maybe some concrete or brick and landscape,” McHugh said. “Maybe make it look a little dressier.”

And although a name for the pavilion hasn’t been decided yet, McHugh said to be expecting one soon.

“I think a lot of people will get great use out of it,” McHugh said. “I think it’s just a good thing for the community. Everybody seems to have turned out tonight for the dedication and I’m sure we’ll get a lot of use out of it.”