Fremont ready to show off daffodils
By Gary Popp
Published in News on March 25, 2012 1:50 AM
FREMONT -- The scents of savory barbecue and sugar-coated funnel cakes will fill a crowed Main Street this weekend as northern Wayne County prepares for its largest celebration, the Fremont Daffodil Festival.
Organizers say the event, which typically draws more than 5,000 people, is a bit like a big family reunion.
"It draws the community together," said Brenda Paul, a long-time festival organizer. "It is a day for those who reside in Fremont and family and friends that have moved away to come back and join in the fun."
Mrs. Paul said a team of organizers have been working together since January to plan the festival, now in it 26th year.
Festival-goers can expect a wonderful array of delicious delights to satisfy virtually any comfort-food craving.
The fair-style foods will include cotton candy, frozen bananas, candy apples, popcorn, shaved ice, hot dogs, hamburgers, Philly cheese steaks, pork chops, roasted corn and loads of barbecue.
Along with the edible treats, people can also peruse tables of handmade crafts created by artisans from Wayne County and around the state.
"We pride ourselves in restricting the crafts at the festival to handmade goods," Mrs. Paul said. "It is hard to find people that make handmade crafts. Everything is handmade."
The crafts will come in the form of clothing, accessories, wreaths, floral arrangements, glassware and jewelry, she said.
Mrs. Paul said one of the reasons the Daffodil Festival is important to the community is the opportunity it provides many of its area organizations to raise money.
"For many of our local nonprofit groups, this is one of their biggest days," she said.
Some of the local groups selling treats to raise money will be the Fremont Rotary, Silver Blossom ladies group, Fremont Rescue Auxiliary and Fremont Youth Sports.
Area churches and schools will also have baked goods and other treats to sell.
In addition, volunteers will be staffing the Fremont Heritage Museum and giving tours to those who looking to add a history lesson to their day of fun.
A daffodil exhibit will be held in the Town Hall annex featuring real daffodils and inspired artwork.
The festival will kick off at 10 a.m. with a greeting from Fremont Mayor Devone Jones, Miss Daffodil Karen Stallings and Little Miss Daffodil Sara Pinkowski.
A service will follow at Fremont Memorial Park to honor those in the community who have died in the past year.
Youngsters from Fremont Preschool and Fremont STARS have musical performances at scheduled at 10:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., respectively.
Beach music band The Embers will also perform from noon to 2 p.m.
Raffle drawings for handmade quilts and baskets will take place at 5 p.m.
In the case of rain, all the festivities will be moved to the Fremont Elementary gymnasium.