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While some towns focus on Independence Day for their summertime celebration, Hampshire area residents plan their yearly fest around the first week of August.
The 34th annual Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days took place Thursday to Sunday at Bruce Ream Memorial Park, 368 Terwilliger Avenue.
Kathy Grupe, of Hampshire, said she comes to the fest every year. She treated her grandchildren, Jayce and Sophie, to rides at the park Saturday afternoon. Carnival rides ran all four days.
“I love it,” Grupe said. “I save all my change during the year so I can spend it on my grandchildren.”
The fest is run by the nonprofit Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days Committee. Profits go to the Burlington Hampshire Area Food Pantry and other area charities such as Shop with a Cop, Golden Diners and local animal shelters.
The HCCCD committee sells raffle tickets for gift baskets at the fest. According to committee members, the sale of raffle tickets on Saturday alone surpassed the number of tickets sold during all four days of the fest in 2015.
Attendees enjoyed a variety of music from nine different bands: New Odyssey, ARRA, Whiskey Romance, Rumor Hazit, Gary Nelson Band, The Nine Spot, Young Guns, Modern Day Romeos and Peach’s Beach Party.
There were also 12 food booths, over 35 crafters, Randy’s Beer Garden, a fireworks display Saturday night by The Mad Bomber, a parade Sunday afternoon and 4,000 free ears of boiled sweet corn.
In honor of its 85th anniversary, the Hampshire Fire Protection District, 202 Washington Ave., held a contest and gave out prizes
Lt. Jeanne Maki said the district will celebrate its anniversary Sept. 17,with a dedication of the memorial statue and a firetruck-themed playground, 1 p.m. at Ralph Seyller Memorial Park, followed by an open house from 4 to 7 p.m.
“We just want to invite everyone over to see our station and learn about our history,” Maki said.
The Knights of Columbus Hampshire Council 13034 of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 297 East Jefferson St., ran a food booth at the fest that sold pork chop sandwiches.
“St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church has always been a part of Hampshire’s summer festival,” said church member Bill Freeman. “We were there when it was first held downtown and then at Ralph Seyller park before it moved to Bruce Ream park. The Knights of Columbus have been running the church’s booth at the fest since 2005.”
First United Methodist Church of Hampshire, 207 East Grove St., sold hot dogs, shredded beef and walking tacos.
“Our church ran a food booth two years ago,” said Pastor Thomas Yang. “Last year, we had a kiddie booth. Now we are back to running a food booth.”
Faithway Baptist Church, 195 East Washington St., provided children with free balloon animals, swords and flowers.
The Hampshire Lions Club served up a pancake breakfast Sunday morning at Hampshire Middle School, 560 South State St. Hampshire Parks & Recreation also met at the school for their annual 2K/10K walk/run.
Tower Hill Stables in Hampshire ran a free petting zoo Saturday and Sunday that included geese, ducks, rabbits, sheep and goats. Tower Hill Stables also offered free pony rides at their facility on Tower Hill Road on Sunday afternoon.
Since 2000, the Earl and Hazel Engel Award of Excellence has been presented during the fest to an individual or couple in Hampshire who have shown outstanding commitment to the general welfare of the people of the village.
Former Hampshire resident Bonnie Engel created the annual award in memory of her parents who grew up on farms in the Burlington-Hampshire area and once ran businesses in Hampshire.
“They loved their country and their neighbors,” Engel said.
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Hampshire couple Ray and Marie Maynard were announced as the 2016 award winners.
“They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary,” Engel said. “Their sons Joel, Kirk and Rory have all served as colonels in the United States Air Force.”
According to Engel, Ray Maynard has been a member of the Hampshire American Legion Post 680 for 60 years, and he and his wife have been placing flags on the graves of military servicemen and women on Memorial Day for the past 70 years.
“For 60 years, Marie has been a member of the Hampshire American Legion Auxiliary and a member of the Hampshire Women’s Club,” Engel said. “Ray and Marie are also members of Zion United Methodist Church in Hampshire.”
The Maynards’ sons and grandchildren attended the ceremony.
“Our mom and dad set us a great example,” Rory Maynard said. “Hampshire is a great place to grow up.”
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.