WAPAKONETA, OH (WLIO) - An Auglaize County Fourth of July holiday tradition has continued for over 70 years.
The 74th annual Saint Joe Church Festival kicked off at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds. The festival originally started as a fundraiser for the St. Joe football team and has since become a fundraiser for St. Joe's Church.
The festival brings the community out for summer fun with live entertainment, tents with kids games, the cake wheel provided by the area youth high schoolers, and vendors with fair food and refreshments. The Saint Joe Festival is always something those in Wapakoneta and the Auglaize County community look forward to, as it combines Fourth of July fun with raising money for a good cause.
"Oh my gosh, so for the last couple years, the chairmen of the kid's tent have had to go out and buy more prizes because the kids are just all over this. They love it, and we love providing that for them. Again, it's something family-friendly. There's nothing out here that you wouldn't be afraid to show Grandma. And on the 4th at 10:30, we have fireworks, and that's supported by the community. We get donations from the community for our fireworks," said Tina Mallory, chairman of the St. Joe Church Festival.
For more information and a schedule of events going on at the Saint Joe Festival, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stjoe4th.
