A variety of free carnival rides were available to children who came to the Milford Lions Festival. InkFreeNews photos by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Joe and Ellen Shetler were named Senior King and Queen at the Milford Lions Festival Saturday, May 24. That wasn’t the only excitement at today’s festival. There were free rides, a pancake breakfast, car show, music and more.

The weather couldn’t be better with temps in the mid-50s and 60s.

The day began with an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast, sponsored by Milford Kiwanis Club. Despite the big crowd that came to get their morning meal, the Kiwanis Club had plenty of food to go around.

Shortly after one meal ended, another began, this time at the Milford Fire Station, where the town’s volunteer firefighters were busy grilling their always-popular ribeye steak sandwiches.

A variety of live entertainers took to the stage, such as local resident Adrienne Frailey, as well as John Gaut, The Spaniels Forever, Quentin Flagg and Big Daddy Dupree.

The annual crowning of the senior queen and king was held in the afternoon on the Lions Club stage. They are Joe and Ellen Shetler. Joe Shetler was building commissioner in Milford for 30 years and is president of the Milford Food Bank Board and its executive director.

The Shetlers have been married 53 years. They attend Milford Chapel. They have made many trips to Jamaica leading youth groups to help build homes for single mothers. They have four daughters and 12 grandchildren. They said “Milford has been good to them.” They feel God led them here where they started out in a little home on Main Street.

During this year’s Milford Lions Festival, members of the Friends of the Milford Library held its annual sale, offering books, music, movies and other materials. The proceeds benefited the Friends, which in turn spends the money to support library projects.

The east side of Main Street from Catherine Street to Fourth Street was lined with a variety of automobiles. They were there for the cruise-in, sponsored by Kosciusko Masonic Lodge No. 418. As of 11 a.m. there were 47 cars lined up down the street.

Throughout the afternoon, B.A.J.A. offered free carnival rides for the kids. The rides were sponsored by local businesses. Also set up along the downtown streets were a variety of food and craft vendors.

The fun continues until 8 p.m. tonight.

Joe and Ellen Shetler of Milford were named the Milford Lions Festival’s Senior King and Queen at Saturday’s event.

Local singer Adrienne Frailey was one of the entertainers during this year’s Milford Lions Festival.

Many people came to Milford to see the many vehicles on display at this year’s car show and cruise-in.

Ellen Slabaugh of Milford proudly displayed her 1965 Pontiac GEO at his year’s car show.

Milford Volunteer Fireman Travis Beer, left, was busy grilling ribeyes for the fire department’s annual ribeye sandwich fundraiser, while Virgil Sharp, also a fireman, looks on.

A long line of people anxiously wait for the doors to open so they can get their share of the ribeye steak sandwiches being offered by the Milford Fire Department.

Bobi Doll offers her services to people who came to the Milford Kiwanis Club’s pancake and sausage breakfast Saturday morning.

A variety of craft vendors sold their wares at the Milford Lions Festival.