PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BOUNCE … Festivalgoers had several opportunities to have fun during Fayette’s annual Bull Thistle event. One way for kids to have fun was with the available bounce houses.
CARICATURE … An artist was onsite during this year’s Bull Thistle festival to provide caricatures to those who wanted one.
FACE PAINT … Face paint was another fun option for children during the Bull Thistle festival this year. Children had paint options of a skull, dinosaur, and more.
HISTORY … The Bean Creek Valley History Center was present during the Bull Thistle Festival this year. There they had Fulton County Barn Calendars, a book by Robert Kroeger about different barns in the U.S. and Ohio, and a pamphlet describing upcoming events.
VOLLEYBALL … Sand Volleyball games were going on during this year’s Bull Thistle Festival. Games took place right in-between the park area and the field where softball games were taking place.
SPLASH … The Fayette Splash Pad running full blast during the Bull Thistle event. Children took time throughout the day to run through the water and have fun.
FIRE DEPT … The Fayette Fire Department was present during the Bull Thistle Festival. Members were active in selling raffle tickets for a 50/50 drawing that saw proceeds go towards the upkeep of the departments 1932 REO Speedwagon antique fire truck.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Fayette’s 49th Annual Bull Thistle Arts Festival brought large numbers of residents and visitors to Normal Grove Park on Saturday, August 2nd, for a full day of hometown pride, live entertainment, and family-friendly fun.
The event ran from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and concluded with a dazzling drone light show that lit up the night sky over the village.
The day kicked off with a community breakfast at Our Lady of Mercy Church, where guests gathered from 8 to 10 a.m. to enjoy a meal and greet neighbors before the festival parade stepped off at 11 a.m.
Normal Grove Park then quickly filled with activity as vendor booths opened, bounce houses sprang to life, and families explored games, food, and craft displays.
Highlights included pedal tractor pulls, caricature drawings, bull thistle judging, and raffles, along with a Chinese auction that drew plenty of attention throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile, teams faced off in friendly competition during both softball and sand volleyball tournaments.
Festivalgoers enjoyed food from Brookview BBQ chicken, B&E Lemonade, Bloomer’s Kettle Corn, Zilantro’s Tacos, burgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, pulled pork, milkshakes, Aqua Ice, and more from Powers Station. Lines stayed steady throughout the day as people returned again and again for local favorites.
Live music added to the festive atmosphere, with Lee Warren performing from noon to 3 p.m., followed by Heidi Paxton from 3 to 5 p.m. DJ Mayko kept the energy high into the evening with a five-hour set leading up to the festival’s grand finale.
As the sun set over Fayette, attention turned skyward for the much-anticipated “Park After Dark” drone light show, donated by Ritter Station Solar.
Spectators watched in awe as choreographed lights formed dazzling patterns and symbols overhead, bringing the day to a memorable close.
This year’s festival also celebrated the individuals who help define the heart of Fayette. John and Charlene May were crowned King and Queen of the festival, while Catalaya Brown and Eric Smith were honored as Princess and Prince.
Don Glasgow, widely respected for his dedication to the village, was named Citizen of the Year and recognized during the day’s events.
With nearly five decades of tradition behind it, the Bull Thistle Festival once again proved to be a meaningful gathering of community, celebration, and summer spirit, leaving attendees looking forward to next year’s 50th milestone.