A young family member of a Seward Township fire fighter helps cool off the crowd during the 2023 Mentone Egg Festival Parade. This year’s parade is slated to step off promptly at 11 a.m. File photo

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — The Mentone High Class of 1974 will be honored during this year’s Mentone Egg Festival as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

This year’s festival will be held Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1. The three day event features entertainment, games, food, a parade through downtown areas and much more. All entertainment events are free. Flea markets and craft vendors will line the main streets of downtown.

For the safety of everyone, no dogs — with the exception of service animals — or other pets are allowed in hte festival area. Also, the sale of alcohol is not part of the festival.

Thursday, May 30

Along with flea markets, crafts and food, there will be a children’s area to help kick off the festival at 5 p.m. The children’s area will be uptown. The Bulldogs (formerly Spike and the Bulldogs) will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the fire station. This concert is in memory of Russell and Leona Eber.

Friday, May 31

The fun started at 11 a.m. Grab a Bell buger and more from the tent at the Bell Museum. The flea markets, craft booths and food vendors will be open from noon to 9 p.m.For the kiddos there will be inflatables and games until dark.

The 29th annual Egg Festival Car, Truck and Motorcycle Shown and the Echoes of the Past Tractor Show will get underway at 4 p.m. on Tucker Street.

Enjoy listening to 50s sand 60s music while biding on silent auction items from 6-9 p.m.. The band Ell River will perform at East Main Street and the Barricade

Saturday, June 1

The Valley football team will be trying their hand at flipping pancakes for breakfast from 6-10 a.m. at the fire station. Registration for the Egg City 5K/1-mile walk will be from 6:30 -7:45 a.m. at the fire station with the races stepping off at 8 a.m. from the fire station.

The aroma of barbecue will be wafting throughout the festival grounds as the backyard BBQ cookoff gets underway at 9 a.m. in front of Hartzler Funeral Home.

The inflatables, games, flea markets, craft booths will also open at 9 a.m.

Judging for the parade will begin at 10 a.m. in the staging area with the parade stepping off promptly at 11 a.m. This year’s parade marshals are the class of 1974 from Mentone High School, the last graduating class.

At 12:30 p.m. will be the Miss Chick and Mr. Rooster contest. From 12:30-3:30 p.m. there will be an open house in the former Mentone High School gym in Mentone Elementary School. There will be a class and county players Hall of Fame display. Come share in memories and light refreshments. All county school graduates are invited to visit with friends and reminisce about high school days.

Kids games and the garden tractor pull will start at 1 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. will be the kiddie tractor pull while at 2:30 p.m. will be the egg toss.

Mentone United Methodist Church will sing gospel at 4 p.m. Awards for the Backyard BBQ Cook off will be presented at 4:30 p.m. Winners of the cutest baby contest will be presented at 6:30 p.m. and the Crowning of Miss Mentone will be at 7 p.m. The festival will wrap up with the Family Feud Game Show at 7:30 p.m.