FREDERICKTOWN — A little rain didn’t keep the crowds away from the fun, food and entertainment at the Fredericktown Tomato Show Friday night.
Eight-year-old Xavier Stall of Fredericktown said his favorite ride was the one with umbrellas over the top of each car, anyway.
“The rain’s not ruining it at all,” Stall said as he stood in the misty rain with his friend, Anthony Caputo, also from Fredericktown.
Earlier in the evening, before the clouds opened, a group of longtime friends gathered at a picnic table to enjoy some fair food. Rich and Jewell Fairchild from Mount Vernon said they have been coming every year for the past 15 years, and enjoy spending time with Ed and Teresa Giffin of Fredericktown.
“We’re having a lot of fun,” Rich said. “I eat a funnel cake once a year, and it’s always here.”
Teresa, who teaches eighth and ninth grade in Fredericktown, said she enjoys seeing her students past and present at the festival.
“I get to see people I never get to see, even though I live in Fredericktown,” she said.
An informal poll of children at the festival revealed no surprise: They all love the rides.
“The rides are my favorite,” said 5-year-old Nadia Smith of Mount Vernon, who was taking a break from riding with her 3-year-old sister, Maycee.
Some visitors at the Tomato Show Friday night were enjoying the festival for the first time. Fifteen-year-old Megan Long of Ashland said she and her friends were enjoying the rides, the food, and just walking around people watching.
Many families said they never miss the annual event in Fredericktown. Marjorie and Robert Carlin of Bellville have been coming every year.
“Since the beginning,” Marjorie said of the 32-year-old festival. Holding a sandwich, Marjorie said the food was the couple’s favorite part.
Indian bread, funnel cakes, smoothies and more; everyone walking up and down Main Street seemed to be holding a different favorite.
Over at the fire department’s bingo tent, familiar faces the firefighters see every year hoped for a lucky call from Capt. Tony Schwartz.
“I love it,” Marge Hamilton of Mount Vernon said of the annual game. “I’ve been coming forever and I’ve been here every night.”
Bobby Johnston of Calhoun, Ga., said he was enjoying his first night of bingo at his very first Tomato Show.
At the main stage, the baby crawling contest found little ones racing across the finish line on their hands and knees. The youngest first-place winner was Elizabeth Swartzentruber, who led the 7- to 8-month-olds. Nolan Bender took first prize in the 9- to 10-month-old age group, and Teagon Tyson crossed the finish line first among the 11- to 12-month-olds.
Today, the Tomato Show will wrap up with the “Lost In Time” parade at 12:30 p.m., the Fredericktown Idol finals at 2 p.m., and much more, including the bathtub races at 6 p.m.
