The peaceful Recklein Commons area on N. Smith Street will be transformed during Cuba Fest.
Update: the Route 66 Cuba Fest 2012 is on October 20-21.
It’s a quiet and peaceful scene now on N. Smith Street in the historic Recklein Commons area. But on Saturday and Sunday October 15-16, the area will be transformed with tents, stands, activities, music, a trolley, and a lot of fun. The saying “It takes a village” is certainly true as it takes many organizations and groups to make the annual Cuba Fest a successful event. Each year the Tri-C organization coordinates the fun. Cuba Fest runs from 9 am to 4 pm each day with various events taking place.
The kickoff to Saturday will be the 9:00 am 5K Mural City Run sponsored by the All Aboard Learning Center that will wind past some of the Route 66 Mural City’s12 outdoor murals along Route 66 and the historic district.
The Tri-C ladies wil be building the fire under the copper kettle to turn out another batch of their famous apple butter.
Artists and crafters will be unloading and setting up their booths to showcase their wares.
Crafters and artists fill Recklein Auditorium. Various venders can be found outside.
Viva Cuba’s Chili Cooks will don their aprons for another year of great chili offerings from 11:00-1:00 on Saturday. For $3.00, you can taste some of the Chili to Curl up and Dye for because this year some of Cuba’s beauticians and a barber are preparing their best chili for the contest. Come by and vote for your favorite.
Last year, Cuba’s mechanics prepared some Nuts & Bolts chili.
Or the Taste of Cuba will allow you to taste some of the offerings of Cuba area restaurants. The Methodist members will serve their annual Turkey Dinners inside Recklein Auditorium along with their tasty pies.
Last year the Methodist Ladies turned out many turkey dinners and some wonderful pies.
Taste of Cuba offers food from the Cuba area to tempt you.
The Arts Council will man the Wine tent if you would like to taste area wines in your custom painted glass by council members. The Crawford County Historical Society Museum will be open on both Saturday and Sunday, so make it a priority, especially if you have never visited their many exhibits and artifacts.
On Saturday starting at 11:30 Viva Cuba’s free, narrated trolley tours of the murals take place. Every mural has a story to tell. Get aboard early for these popular tours.
Saturday’s mural tours are a popular activity.
And on Sunday at 11:30 am the trolley begins tours to Kinder Cemetery on the West edge of town where historical figures from Cuba’s past will climb aboard to tell you their story. Cemetery tours are also free. Here’s a preview of this year’s characters:
*His father was a gambler and ran a bawdy house and saloon. He made major decisions in the oil industry.
*He was one of Cuba’s WWII Gold Star Boys who lost his life in Africa.
*She was a dramatic reader on the Chatauqua circuit and played the role of Mammy Yocum on Lil Abner.
*He faked his death in a barn fire and then hid on the family farm.
*He was a Civil War veteran and was imprisoned in the infamous Andersonville Prisoner-of-War Camp in Georgia.
*She was the sheriff of Crawford County.
*They performed in vaudeville and later ran a resort in the Cuba area.
During Sunday’s Cemetery Tour historical figures from Cuba’s past share their stories with trolley riders.
Historical figures board the trolley to tell their stories and offer a slice of Cuba’s past.
Junction 19 provides live music on Saturday, and the Cuba High School Band and Drill Team on Sunday will also set some toes tapping. Other musical events will take place.
Cuba’s drill team and band wowed the crowd in 2010.
Event organizers have activities planned for the kids as well, so the whole family can attend Cuba Fest for fun and frolic. Other groups will have informational and fund raising booths to make the fun pay off for some worthy causes. There will also be a petting zoo, a children’s play area, a kids costume parade, a flag ceremony, and more. See the time table of events below.
There’s something for everyone at the 2011 Cuba Fest on October 15-16. Don’t miss out.
There’s something for everyone at Cuba Fest.
Tri-C provided this time table of events.
how do i enter chili cook off
This year’s cookers have already been chosen.