If football is your "thing," then you'll want to attend Saturday's Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival."
Here's the all-day schedule:
The event begins with the Wilson Football Factory garage sale at 8 a.m. and concludes with the traditional football drop at 10 p.m. in the Ada Depot Park. It includes an array of activities throughout the day that are designed to appeal to football fans of all levels of interest.
The festival celebrates Ada’s contribution to the gridiron sport, as all footballs used in the National Football League are made in Ada’s Wilson Football Factory. The event is sponsored by the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce.
Among new highlights that promise to be fan favorites are the “Wilson Experience,” which demonstrates the process of how footballs are made and an exhibit by the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Among other highlights are pre-season football scrimmages featuring the Ada High School and Ohio Northern University football teams and marching bands, as well as a performance by the band “Nashville Crush.” In addition, raffle tickets will be sold throughout the day to win commemorative Wilson footballs.
Following is a schedule of events:
· 8 a.m. to noon. Wilson Football Factory garage sale, 217 Liberty St.
· Pre-Season Kickoff Classic Scrimmage, ONU Dial-Roberson Stadium
• “Wilson Experience” museum exhibit
• 9:30 a.m. Ada High School Marching Band performs
• 10 a.m. Ada High School vs. Perry High School
• Noon. ONU Marching Band performs
• 12:30 p.m. ONU vs. Trine University
· 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Made in Ada Football Festival, Ada Depot Park
• Sale of raffle tickets for commemorative footballs and a smoker
• Watch footballs being made at the “Wilson Experience” exhibit
• Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit
• Tailgating area featuring games and raffles
• 5 p.m. Presentation on football design and technology by Wilson engineers
• 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nashville Crush performs
• 10 p.m. Wilson football drop
Sponsors include:
Liberty National Bank, Lewis Family McDonald’s, Quest Federal Credit Union, Century 21 Sunway Realty, Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance, Hardin Memorial Health, Bluffton Hospital,
Kiwanis Club of Ada, Beam Suntory, Ada Area Chamber of Commerce, Pro Football Hall of fame, Village of Ada, Ohio Northern University, Wilson, Tavern 101, William H. Bass Trucking Inc., Interim Healthcare Hospice of Lima,
Ream McElroy VFW Post 9381, The Rogers Agency, The Inn at Ohio Northern University, Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative Inc., Vancrest of Ada, US Bank, Auburgey Construction Company,
Viva Maria, NASG Ohio LLC, VanDyne Law Office, Peter Previte, Attorney at Law; Jalapenos Mexican Grill, and The Mercantile on Main.