Residents of the town of Orrville are gearing up for the first ever town Founder’s Day Saturday. The event will kick off with a parade at 9 a.m. outside of the convention center and will feature a multitude of attractions including a gospel stage, talent show, may pole, cake walk, numerous games, hayrides, a bouncy house for children, and even a pie bake off. In addition to dozens of tents filled with vendors selling food and homemade crafts, there will also be a muscle car show, motorcycles, antique cars and trucks on display. The event is open to the public and pre-sale tickets will be sold Friday at Orrville Town Hall from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at a reduced rate of two tickets for $1. 

“It’s not expensive at all. All the games will be about two tickets or four tickets,” Founders Day founder and coordinator Lula Watters said, noting that all the games have prizes children can win. “It’s just going to be a full day of fun and excitement.”

Watters said there have been a lot of people asking what a Founders Day is all about, to which she explained it’s like a fair with the hayrides and games, but will also be a chance to celebrate and learn a little more about the history of the town.

“When [Orrville Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin] got in office, she asked me what things would I like to see in Orrville,” Watters explained. “I’ve been here for 40 some years, and I’ve never seen a Founders Day nor a carnival, so I said that would be the first step, and something exciting for the kids.”

Watters said she traveled from town to town, gathering ideas for Saturday’s event that will host more than 20 vendors.

“People have been talking about coming and seeing it because it’s something we’ve never had in Orrville. People always say we don’t do anything down here,” she said. “But I knew we could do something like this in Orrville and bring some excitement.”

Watters noted the event will be something different than the Orrville Tractor Show, and “just the beginning” of exciting things the town has to offer.

“We’re praying that the weather holds off, and that the event will continue and be successful,” Watters said. “We’d like to thank Mayor Lumpkin for giving us the opportunity to bring something new to town.”