Zane’s Trace Commemoration has returned
ZANESVILLE – A quarter of a century has passed since the last Zane’s Trace Commemoration festival.
It’s a fond memory to many – the parade, the music, the fishing contests, the arts and more family-friendly activities. And it’s coming back for three days, June 17-19.
One popular event was the Anything that Floats But a Boat competition, a race down the canal with any vessel that can stay aloft on the waterway. Everything except a boat to level the playing field, that is.
It’s all about bringing back the history and traditions that have been gone for so long, Zane’s Trace Commemoration President Rick Buck said.
He hopes the original magic will be the same – with a few new twists.
“Everybody is excited,” Buck said. “That’s what we started it for.”
Bringing back the beloved tradition
It all started when Zanesville Mayor Don Mason approached Buck two years ago with a proposition: Why not bring back the annual festival?
Buck told him he was on board, but it took time to put it together. The festival couldn’t proceed last year due to the pandemic, but it’s full steam ahead this year.
“The main thing is we worked hard to bring it back,” Buck said.
The festival began in 1973 and went on every summer until the last one in 1997. Historically, it was held in the Putnam area with some events and the parade downtown. That tradition is continuing.
A few new features are on the schedule this year. In addition to classic events, a live DJ and karaoke sessions will be held in the Dutro Ford park lot. There will also be to live music on stages in Putnam all day.
Food and merchandise vendors will be abundant, as well as craft beer from Zanesville breweries Y-city Brewing and Weasel Boy Brewing.
But organizers don’t want to forget the festival’s roots. A history and education tent will be set up for visitors to learn about the festival’s traditions and the history of Zanesville, particularly how the Zane’s Trace trail played a role in it.
Also on the history side, Schulz Mansion and Stone Academy will be open to the public.
Still, Buck hopes the festival will attract Zanesville’s youth to continue the festival for years to come.
“We want to try to get it to carry onto a younger generation, because if it doesn’t, it’s gone,” Buck said.
The festival runs Friday, June 17
through Sunday, June 19. Hours 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Here is the schedule of events for the three-day festival next weekend: Friday, June 17:
● 10 a.m.: Festival opens.
● 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Youth activities.
● 10 a.m. to close: History and education tent.
● 10:30 a.m.: Ribbon cutting at Main Stage With Mayor Don Mason; All Occasion Carriage and Pony Rides LLC.
● 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Live entertainment
on Main Stage and Dutro’s Stage.
● 10 p.m.: Closing time.
Saturday, June 18:
● 8 a.m.: 5K and 10K races start at Zane’s Landing park.
● 10 a.m.: Parade downtown; festival opens after parade.
● Noon to close: History and education tent.
● 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Kids Fishing Contest at Putnam Landing at lower parking area; All Occasion Carriage and Pony Rides LLC.
● 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Youth activities.
● Noon to 11 p.m.: Live entertainment at Main Stage and Dutro’s Stage.
Sunday, June 19:
● 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Nondenominational service at Main Stage.
● 10 a.m.: Festival opens;
● 8 a.m.: Anything That Floats but a Boat race check-in at the canal.
● 10 a.m.: Anything That Floats but a Boat race begins.
● 10 a.m. to close: History and education tent; All Occasion Carriage and Pony Rides LLC.
● 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Youth activities.
● 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Live entertainment at Main Stage and Dutro’s Stage.
● 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cruise-in car show in Arnold’s Lot (In memory of Jim Arnold).
● 8 p.m.: Closing time.
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