The streets of downtown Milford will be filled with carnival rides, vendors, a car show, live entertainment and more this Saturday, May 25 for Milford Fest. The committee who has worked throughout the year putting the event together includes, from left, Marcy Haab, Brenda Bethel, Jerry Bethel, Tricia Gall with sons Noah and John, Dr. Jennifer Glasgo, Steve Haab and David Brown. (Photo by Rebekah Whirledge)

When Milford Fest was revived by the Lions Club a few years ago, it didn’t take long for folks across the area to realize once again how fun a community-wide day of entertainment and activities could be.

The annual all-day festival will take place this Saturday, May 25, and feature carnival rides for kids, vendors, a car show, cutie contest, live entertainment, dancing and more all centered around downtown Milford.

Car, Tractor, Motorcycle Show

The Car, Tractor and Motorcycle Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Main Street in Milford. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the corner of Main and Catherine streets. Awards and trophies will be presented at 3 p.m.

Registration is $10 per vehicle and there will be door prizes.

Awards will be given in the following categories: Best Cheverolet, Best Ford or Mercury, Best Dodge of Chrysler, Best Pontiac, Best Other Manufacturer, Best Foreign Car, Best Rod and Custom, Best Motorcycle, Best Truck, Best OEM Original Car, Best Antique Tractor, Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Engine, Oldest Vehicle Award, Longest Distance Award, Best of Show and People’s Choice.

Community Wide Garage Sales
Garage sales will be taking place throughout town and beyond during Milford Fest and throughout the long weekend. Stop by Milford Town Hall, 52 Main St., to pick up a map of garage sale locations. Maps are now available.

The Friends of the Library will also be holding a book sale outside the Milford Public Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cutie Contest
The cutie contest will take place at 10 a.m. on the Main Street Stage. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 can be entered if they have a parent or grandparent who live in the Milford School district. A cutie king, queen, prince and princess will be chosen after the children are asked a few simple questions. Each winner will receive a prize.

The deadline to enter the cutie contest is Thursday, May 23. Free registration forms are required and located at the Milford Public Library and Milford Town Hall.

Sign-in participants before the contest from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Senior Royalty Contest
Entries for the Milford Fest senior king and queen have closed, but the crowning of the winners will be at 5 p.m. on the Main Street Stage. The senior king and queen recognizes mature individuals for their community involvement, and the winners are invited to participate in the Milford Memorial Day Parade.

Entertainment
There will be arts and crafts vendors lining Main Street from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stuckman’s Salvage and Glen’s Wrecker Service will have a few junk cars for those who would like to take a sledgehammer swing at them during the Car Smash, also from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Eight free carnival rides and games, including a Ferris wheel, will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free pony rides will be offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On the Main Street Stage, live entertainment will take place throughout the day. The schedule is as follows:

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Living Word (gospel)

12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.: Restless Leg Syndrome (blues)

2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.: Captain Bob (oldies)

3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: Milford Talent Showcase

5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Milford street dance featuring Big Daddy Dupree and the Broke and Hungry Blues Band

The Milford Talent Showcase is open to people in all communities, and of all ages, who have various forms of talent. Each act will be allowed a total of three minutes performance time and can use the sound system. Awards will be presented at the end of the program.

Acts should check-in by 2:30 p.m. at the registration table by the stage. All music must be submitted on a cued CD and labeled with the act’s name.

The unveiling of the Kosciusko County Habitat for Humanity’s “Rain on Kosciusko” decorated rain barrels will also take place during the day.

Food
The Kiwanis will start the day bright and early with their pancake and sausage breakfast in the Milford Community Building from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The breakfast is by donation.

For lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Milford volunteer firefighters will be serving ribeye steak sandwiches at the Milford Fire Station. For dinner, the Milfrod Lions will have pork and beef burgers available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A wide variety of fair-type food will also be available throughout the day from food vendors including, funnel cakes, lemon shake-ups, caramel apples, corn dogs, deep fried candy bars, walking tacos and more. Milford Scoops will also be on hand selling ice-cream.