WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) -Â Wapakoneta wrapped up its Summer Moon Festival on Sunday with a space-themed celebration at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum.Â
The six-hour event included rides and activities themed after the museum and space, including a replica of the Apollo lunar rover, a human gyroscope ride, and a miniature rocket launch station. The museum also offered educational activities to teach people the history of Apollo 11 and Ohio's relevance in the Space Race. Museum workers said the festivities bring people back to Wapakoneta's history and inspires young people to dream big.Â
"I mean, the whole reason for the Summer Moon Festival was to honor the achievements of Apollo 11 and Ohio's own Neil Armstrong. So, we really want to maintain that as our foundation for this festival," said Logan Rex, curator and communications director for the museum.
"This was a huge achievement for humanity, and this festival is supposed to remind people of that and remind them that extraordinary things can come from ordinary places like Wapakoneta, Ohio."
The museum partnered with multiple organizations in the community focused on educating children in STEM-related fields. Workers said that people have come from around the world to see what the museum and the city is all about.
"We've had people from Japan and Australia here this weekend. People see it and they want to be a part of it, and it's great that this can be not only a community thing, but a chance for people to come from around the world to see what Wapakoneta and Ohio has to offer," Rex added.
The festivities ended with a live performance from the Lima Area Concert Band at Wapakoneta High School's Performing Arts Center.Â
