The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Woollybear Festival to bring in crowd
Fest enjoys long-held tradition, connecitons
Vermilion’s streets will be packed with vendors, furry friends and activities for its largest one-day festival Oct. 6.
The Woollybear Festival, with activities running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Vermilion, attracts anywhere between 100,000 and 150,000 visitors in a single day, said Sandy Coe, executive director of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce.
“Woollybear Sunday is like Christmas morning, it’s a magical moment,” Coe said.
With everything from the Woollybear 500 caterpillar race, Wollybear parade, costume judging and kids’ race, Coe said much of the event’s popularity comes from tradition.
“It’s worth it to me to see people come back and comment how they remember being a kid and being involved in the festival or marching in the high school band in the parade, who are now bringing their kids or grandkids,” she said. “To me, that’s what it all is.”
Coe has been involved in just about all 47 years of the festival’s existence and remembers making pom-pom woollybears at her school in Birmingham, where the festival first started, to be sold to make money for the PTA.
She said her father, Sam, even crafted the original woollybear race track, which still is in use.
In need of a new coat, Coe said the track could get a fresh layer of paint this year.
With the festival in Vermilion for 38 years, she said it’s becoming so large it’s almost outgrowing the city.
Given the sheer size of the festival, Coe said it wouldn’t be possible without sponsors, a handful of committee members, volunteers and student workers.
“They either love it as much as I do, or know how much it means to me,” she said of her committee members.
In addition to its successful growth over the decades, the festival celebrates and welcomes animals and pets, with merchandise sold by the Chamber of Commerce and Fox 8, which benefit the Dick Goddard Animal Foundation.
Ultimately, through a lot of hard work and dedication, the festival has done its part in making Vermilion known, Coe said.
“It puts Vermilion’s name on the map for sure,” she said.
Schedule of events
The annual World’s Greatest Kids’ Race will kick things off at 9 a.m. with registration at the Vermilion High School stadium at 1250 Sanford St.
The caterpillar races will begin at 10 a.m. at the main stage, with king and queen woollybear costume judging following at 11 a.m. and animal and pet costume judging at noon.
The parade featuring radio personalities, high school bands, vintage cars, animals and floats, will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Todd Meany and Ace Molar Band will begin performing at 3:45 p.m. at the main stage after the parade.
The finals of the woollybear race and the official woollybear weather prediction based on its colors will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the main stage.
Coe has been involved in just about all 47 years of the festival’s existence and remembers making pom-pom woollybears at her school in Birmingham, where the festival first started, to be sold to make money for the PTA.