(PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA N. STRIPE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
ARTWORK BOOTHS … 419 Day in Wauseon also featured crafts such as earrings and artworks like paintings for sale on the North Fulton Street sidewalk. An Easter egg hunt was held in the afternoon, bringing more visitors to businesses.
VISITING FOOD TRUCKS: Two food trucks came to the 419 Day event in Wauseon, including Maria’s Sunnyside Café, based in Adrian, Michigan. Owner Maria Guerrero-Marr shared that she was excited to celebrate the 419 even though she is based in the 517 area code.
SAMPLING APPETIZERS … A Perfect Pair Bradford Catering held an open house with free hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a kid’s corner for 419 Day in downtown Wauseon.
By: Samantha N. Stripe
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The morning rain didn’t dampen the spirits of Wauseon’s first 419 Day festivities on Saturday, April 19.
Not only did the event feature food trucks, a kid’s corner, crafts for sale and local business discounts, but it also coincided with the second annual kids’ Easter egg hunt in the downtown area, organized by the owners of the Bargain Bin and Black Swamp Boots.
While it’s not quite an official holiday, the ode to the region’s original zip code is an annual celebration of local businesses, communities and the people who make them up.
They are honored on the fourth month of the year and the 19th day of the month – bringing about the term ‘419 Day.’
Some larger cities, such as Toledo, hold a variety of annual events to commemorate the day. Jeanette Frost-Bradford, co-owner of A Perfect Pair Bradford Catering, previously lived in Toledo before moving back to her familial roots in Wauseon.
“When I came, I said, ‘What is everyone doing on 419 [Day]?’ and everyone was like, ‘What’s that?’” she said.
“It is a huge celebration of community, especially small businesses – We need the support of the community. Everyone’s going to Toledo – why go to Toledo when we have everything they have?”
Frost-Bradford began to organize Wauseon’s own 419 Day by reaching out to other local businesses to curate special deals and discounts to encourage citizens to shop locally on April 19, especially in the downtown area.
She also had signs printed and placed throughout the town, as well as in businesses’ windows, advertising the event.
In total, 43 businesses offered discounts and/or sales for 419 Day, ranging from $4.19 deals at the Bargain Bin to 14 percent off (4+1+9 = 14 percent) at Black Swamp Boots and 20 percent off various items at Passion 4 Fashion. Some offered deals throughout the week.
“Supporting small businesses is so incredibly important because those people are working for their livelihoods, not a vacation home,” said Rebecca Flores, co-owner of the Bargain Bin. “We’re local families that are just putting food on the table.”
After the egg hunt, several families perused the downtown stores, Easter baskets in hand. Frost-Bradford hosted an open house to visitors, offering guests a taste of their menu with free hors d’oeuvres, as well as drinks.
Maria’s Sunnyside Café – a restaurant based in Adrian, Michigan – brought their food truck to the event. Maria Guerrero-Marr shared that even though they’re from Michigan, they were excited to join the 419 Day celebration – all the way from the 517.
“I like the environment here,” she said, explaining that while the food truck comes down for the Fulton County Fair once a year, they were happy to be able to return to the city of Wauseon again.
Families also had the opportunity to check out local artwork for sale at two tents set up on North Fulton Street’s sidewalk.
The kid’s corner, set up for coloring and cornhole, among other activities, was moved inside A Perfect Pair Bradford Catering’s building due to the inclement weather that morning.
For families like Alex Sabo’s, who is originally from Indianapolis, the small town feel of 419 Day in Wauseon is what made the event so important and unique.
“It’s really interesting, the smaller sense of community that gets built up,” she said. “I’ve been able to see multiple neighbors here, and being able to recognize people, and have…a sense of belonging that I didn’t really have before I moved here.”