What started out as a fundraiser for a church's Jamaican mission trip has turned into the yearly festival Zanesville Homespun Day, which celebrates its 30th anniversary Saturday with the theme Red/White/Blue.
Though there won't be any special events added to celebrate the milestone anniversary, everyone will be happy with the town's offerings, according to committee member Melba McBride Edwards.
Zanesville, which lies in Allen and Wells counties, is located on Indianapolis and Marzane roads, 3 miles south of Interstate 469, Exit 2, and 7 miles north of Markle.
Homespun Day always starts with a sausage and pancake breakfast 7-10 a.m. at Zanesville United Methodist Church (ZUM), she said.
The arts and craft show and sale also opens at 7 a.m. inside the church and features the Indiana Historical Society's exhibit, “Steam Boats A Comin'.” The show and sale ends at 3 p.m.
Vendor's booths open at 9 a.m., though some wait until after the 10 a.m. parade, Edwards said, and extend from the church's parking lot on North Main Street to the Lions building along West Van Horn Street.
The church's specialty, ZUM Stiks, will be available for purchase. The treats include apple, pineapple, marshmallow and banana coated in chocolate and served on a skewer stick.
“They've been doing that for years,” Edwards said, adding the church also sells ZUM Stiks at the Bluffton Street Fair.
The Lions Club car show takes place all day in ZUM's parking lot. Registration is 8:30 a.m.-noon, with awards at 2 p.m. A model car show takes place 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in the church's parking lot.
The Lions Club also will offer chicken barbecue, salad bar and apple dumplings (from Richard's in Huntington) 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Zanesville Lions Community Park.
Zanesville Church of God will sell bratwurst, onion rings and sno cones at its bake sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m. near the ballpark. Proceeds go toward digging a Haitian well.
A pet contest takes place at 11 a.m. at ZUM, which also hosts the Zanesville United Brethren in Christ Church (ZUB) bike rodeo at noon. Both events are held in the lower level of the church.
ZUM also hosts the model car contest 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Upward flag football 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Music is provided by 2 To Go at 1 p.m. in the church's lower level, and horse-drawn wagon rides also are offered 11 a.m.-1 p.m. there free of charge.
A slow-pitch softball tourney takes place all day at the Lions ballpark.
Proceeds from ZUM and Lions Club-sponsored activities benefit their programs, Edwards said.
