2026 Columbia Hometown Festival!
The Festival is being coordinated by The Columbia Youth Players, a non-profit non-denominational faith-based group that coordinates the Community Christmas Play, Columbia Bingo, The Spring Designer Purse Bingo, The Miss Greater Cleveland Scholarship Program, and the Mother’s Day Tea Party.
Volunteers, Sponsors, Donors, & Vendors wanted!
Questions?
Phone
(440) 263-9131
Email
ccottom@kent.edu
2026 Columbia Station Hometown Schedule
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
VENDORS SET UP 12-NOON-9 PM
Chicken Dinner, 5-7 pm
$15.00 per person
Colors posted at 4:45 by American Legion Post 572 with
National Anthem Performed by
VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS EAT FREE And Receive a Challenge coin courtesy of the Pam Coleman Family
Pavillon “A” behind the fire department
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June Thursday, 25; Friday, June 26; and Saturday, June 27, 2026
Columbia Township Park
FEATURING FIRST OHIO LIGHT ARTILLERY CO K
REENACTORS! Demonstrations throughout Homecoming
behind the VFW
5:00- 11:00 Thursday & Friday, 12:00-11:00 Saturday
Vendors, Bingo, Contests, Rides, Music, and Fireworks!
2026 Columbia Station Homecoming Ride Company-
McGinnis Amusements! The same company from the Lorain County Fair!
Fireworks on Saturday, June 27! Rain date Sunday, June 28
Coordinated by The Columbia Youth Players
Charmae Cottom, Director, 440.263.9131/ ccottom@kent.edu
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Park opens at 5:00- Vendors, Bingo, Rides, Music, & Food!
FEATURING FIRST OHIO LIGHT ARTILLERY CO K
REENACTORS! Demonstrations throughout Homecoming
behind the VFW
5:00- EVERYDAY, take a selfie and scan the QR code to submit it for the daily video loop!
6:00- National Anthem performed by
6:30-9:00- Bingo!
$20.00 to play all games or $5.00 per game
Must be 18 to play
7:00 Band: Bridge the Gap
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Friday, June 26, 2026
Park opens at 5:00- Vendors, Bingo, Rides, Music, & Food!
FEATURING FIRST OHIO LIGHT ARTILLERY CO K
REENACTORS! Demonstrations throughout Homecoming
behind the VFW
5:00- EVERYDAY, take a selfie and scan the QR code to submit it for the daily video loop!
6:00- National Anthem performed by
6:15- Baby Liberty Crowning- Cottom’s Wildlife Main Stage
(Categories: 6-18 months, 19-35 months, 3-5 year olds)
Registration must be received by Friday, June 25
$10.00 entry fee
All participants receive a crown, sash, & gift bag.
6:30-9:00- Bingo!
$20.00 to play all games or $5.00 per game
Must be 18 to play
7:00- 9:00- The Cottom Catz Band
9:00-11:00- Almost Allman Band
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Saturday, June 27, 2026
10:00-11:00- The Seaway Bolt Sponsor and Vendor Breakfast
Columbia High School Cafeteria
12:00-1:30- Queen’s Breakfast
Columbia High School Cafeteria
Park opens at 12:00- Vendors, Bingo, Rides, Music, & Food!
FEATURING FIRST OHIO LIGHT ARTILLERY CO K
REENACTORS! Demonstrations throughout Homecoming
behind the VFW
12:00- EVERYDAY, take a selfie and scan the QR code to submit it for the daily video loop.
2:00- The Eagle’s Club Yankee Doodle Parade Line up at the Columbia Eagle’s Club
3:00- Columbia Eagle’s Club Yankee Doodle Parade!
3:00- National Anthem performed by Tracy Sabol at Parade Grandstand
4:30- After Parade- Queen’s Introductions- Cottom’s Wildlife Main Stage
4:45- Parade winners announced
TROPHIES AND RIBBONS!
Parade Car Award Categories
🏆 Appearance & Design
Best Decorated Car
Best Theme Car
🚘 Vehicle Type Awards
Best Classic Car
Best Antique Car
Best Vintage Car
Best Muscle Car
Best Truck/SUV
Best Tractor
✨ Special Recognition
Judge’s Choice
🧒🎉 Kids’ Group Parade Award Categories
⭐ Creativity & Theme
Most Creative Youth Group
Best Themed Youth Entry
Best Use of Costumes
🚶♀️🚶♂️ Walking & Performance
Best Children’s Walking Group
Most Spirited Youth Group
Best Performance (dance, cheer, routine)
🎨 Decorations & Design
Best Decorated Wagon
Best Decorated Bikes/Scooters
5:00- FREE OFFICIAL Guiness Book of World Records Oreo Stacking Contest!
ALL AGES, Judged by Dontae Jones, FOX 8 News
6:30- FREE Watermelon Eating Contest
Ages- 5-10, 11-17, 18-? Woot! Woot!
6:30-9:00-Bingo!
$20.00 to play all games or $5.00 per game
Must be 18 to play
6:00- National Anthem performed by Jennifer Darling-Mellott Cottom’s Main Stage
7:00-The Diamond Project Band Cottom’s Main Stage
10:00- Fireworks! (Rain Date: Sunday, June 28)
11:00- Park Closes
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Sunday, June 28, 2026
12:00-5:00 Clean up
A big THANKYOU to the Sponsors of the 2026 Columbia Hometown Festival Sponsors!
Click on our sponsor’s names to visit their website!
FIREWORK’S SPONSOR
RUBY SPONSOR
1. Cottom’s Wildlife Removal Main Stage
PEARL SPONSOR
1. Seaway Bolt
4. Morton’s Landscape Development
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
Thank you to our repeat donors marked with an asterisk. We are grateful for your continued support.
1. Therese Aigner
2. *Connie Ardnt
3. Kevin Smith: Barbarino’s
4. Martin Belfi
5.*Lee Boise: Rural Urban Record
6. Nick Carmigiano: Grand Finale Fireworks
7. *Tim & Vicki Coffield
8. * Bob & Traci Dietrich
9. Leo & Catherine Eck
10. * Robert & Cheryl Galo
11.* Shirley Howell
12. *Louis Ignaczak
13.*Bill & Rene Jacobucci: State Custom Plumbing
14. Sheela Jadud
15.*Karen Jeffries
16. *Chad Kolar: Kolar Concessions
17.*Jack & Caolyn Kurtz: Kurtz Concessions
18.*Thomas & Marsha Merriman
19. Frank Miller
20. * Joyce Schroth
21.*Ken & Jane Schultz
22.*Betty Sloboda
23.*Daryl & Christine Smith
24.*Edward & Erlene Smith
25.*Gene Smolik
26. *Neal & Mary Sollan
27.*Jeffrey & Beth Trammell
28. Susan Wendt
29. *Gerald Wetzel
CONCESSIONS
1. Artino’s Sausage Sandwiches
2. Dippin’Dots
3. Feelin’ Good Ice Cream
4-5. Gold Star Food Service: Polish Sausage & Footlong Corndogs
6-8. Kolar Concessions: Corn Dogs, Fried cheese, French Fries, Funnel Cakes, Elephant Ears, Fried Oreos, Lemonade, Sodas
9-11. Kurtz Concessions: Steak Sandwiches, Fried Veggies, Bloomin’ Onion and Lemonade
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Vendors
1. Ava Stine Jewelry
2. Columbia Youth Players
3. Cottom’s Wildlife Removal
4. Different Branches
5. Friends of the Columbia Library
6. Joyce Factory Direct
7. Leafguard
8. Lorain County Auditor’s Office
9.Morton’s Landscape and Development
10.Nectar from the Hive
11. Nerf Ax Game
12. Nikki and Diane Tumblers
13. Photo Opp: Barbie Box
14. Photo Opp: Wicked, Glenda & Elphaba
15. Photo Opp: Columbia Homecoming Festival
16. Seaway Bolt
17. Shear Shack
18. Stone Creek Boutique
19.Universal Windows

