(Posted June 9, 2022)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
What’s new at this year’s Summer Jam Festival in Mount Sterling? For starters, a second music stage, a touch-a-truck display, free rock painting, and an opportunity to throw pies in the faces of local government officials.
Hosted by the Mount Sterling Chamber of Commerce, Summer Jam 2022 is set for June 16-17 from 5 to 10 p.m. and June 18 from 12 to 10 p.m. The action takes place on London Street between Church and Columbus streets and on Main Street one block to the east and one block to the west of London Street.
Music
Plenty of music is planned with bands playing on two stages. Hammer Time Pub is sponsoring bands each night of the festival on a stage set up on South London Street between Ben & Joy’s Restaurant and Larry’s Pizza. Spectators can bring their own chairs or enjoy the music from seating inside the pub’s outdoor beer garden or nearby bleachers.
Sean Poole & Buckin Crazy get the music flowing on the Hammer Time stage, playing traditional country, ‘90s country, blues and southern rock on Thursday night. Jamie Said So brings their high energy, positive attitude and popular party music to the stage Friday night. The public gets their shot at performing with karaoke planned for Saturday afternoon. Acoustic Mayhem, playing original country, bluegrass and American roots music, closes out the weekend with a show Saturday night.
The second stage will be located near Masonic Lodge 269 on North London Street. Spectators can bring their own chairs or watch from nearby bleachers. The Masons’ concessions stand will be open.
Bill Wilt “The Music Man” kicks off the Masons stage live music lineup with rockabilly tunes from the ‘60s to the ‘90s. Friday night brings the Bluegrass Jamboree Band of Mount Sterling to the stage followed by Blackwater, a bluegrass band out of North Carolina. On Saturday afternoon, Vasid, featuring Bobby Hartman and his band, performs rock tunes from the ‘80s to the present. On Saturday night, 3-Candy rounds out the weekend with modern pop/rock selections. A deejay will spin tunes between sets throughout the weekend.
Children’s Activities
Children will have plenty to enjoy during Summer Jam. The new touch-a-truck display is set for Saturday afternoon and includes a fire engine, medic, farm equipment, tanker truck and other vehicles. Look for the display on London Street near Chase Bank.
Also new is a tent dedicated to free face painting and rock painting, open throughout the festival. Not only can children paint rocks, they also are invited to find rocks. Mt. Sterling OH Rocks will hide 12 rocks around town each day of the festival. Children ages 2 to 17 can turn them in at the tent to claim prizes.
On Saturday afternoon, Mount Sterling’s parks and recreation committee invites children to play a carnival basketball game and enter a giveaway for six bikes donated by village council members. The committee also plans to give away 74 bike helmets, funded by a Put A Lid On It grant, as well as some basketballs.
The Mount Sterling Community Center is hosting a kids’ water balloon toss Saturday afternoon on the town hall lawn.
Albanese Amusements returns with a variety of rides all three days. The festival is offering $15 wristbands good for unlimited rides from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Pie throwing, games and contests
Mount Sterling Mayor Marci Darlington and all six members of village council have bravely volunteered to have pies thrown in their faces. Anyone can toss a pie for a $1. This sweet event takes place Friday night.
A cornhole tournament also is slated for Friday night. The cost to enter is $10 per two-person team. Winners will receive a trophy and prizes.
The Mount Sterling Community Center is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament Friday night and Saturday morning. For details, call the center at (740) 869-2453.
Saturday’s contests include a bike decorating contest for children and a pet costume contest. Both are free to enter.
Royalty contests for various youth age groups are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, along with a baby contest on Saturday. Applications are available at: Urban Pineapple, 19 N. London St.; Mad Hatter, 17 E. Main St.; or by request via email at theurbanpineapple@yahoo.com. The entry fee is $15 for these contests. The application deadline is June 13.
Food, vendors and info
“We will have more food trucks this year,” said Becky Martin, a Chamber of Commerce member. “And we will have vendors set up in a street market all weekend.”
Visitors will find an information booth inside the town gazebo across from town hall. They can pick up a Summer Jam schedule of events, as well as flyers promoting other upcoming events and activities in town.
Summer Jam schedule of events
Thursday, June 16 (5-10 p.m.)
5 p.m. – Flag raising ceremony and national anthem sung by Lucas Anthony (town hall lawn)
5-10 p.m. – Rides, vendor market, food trucks, rock/face painting, outdoor seating at Hammer Time Pub
5-6 p.m. – DJ (Masonic Lodge stage on North London Street)
6-8 p.m. – Royalty contest for contestants entering grades 3-12 (Masonic Lodge stage)
7-10 p.m. – Sean Poole & Buckin Crazy (Hammer Time Pub stage on South London Street)
8-10 p.m. – Bill Wilt “Music Man” (Masonic Lodge stage)
Friday, June 17 (5-10 p.m.)
5-10 p.m. – Rides, vendor market, food trucks, rock/face painting, outdoor seating at Hammer Time Pub
5-7 p.m. – Bluegrass Jamboree (Masonic Lodge stage)
5-8 p.m. – 3-on-3 basketball tournament (Mount Sterling Community Center)
7-10 p.m. – Blackwater bluegrass (Masonic Lodge stage)
6-8 p.m. – Pie throwing (town hall lawn)
7-9 p.m. – Corn hole (town hall lawn, register at 6:45)
7-10 p.m. – Jamie Said So (Hammer Time Pub stage)
Saturday, June 18 (12-10 p.m.)
8-11 a.m. – 3-on-3 basketball tournament (Mount Sterling Community Center)
12-10 p.m. – Rides, vendor market, food trucks, rock/face painting, outdoor seating at Hammer Time Pub
12-4 p.m. – Ride wristband, $15
12-2 p.m. – Royalty contest for contestants age 0 to grade 2 (Masonic Lodge stage)
1 p.m. – Water balloon toss (town hall lawn)
2 p.m. – Bike decorating contest (town hall lawn, register at 1:45)
2-6 p.m. – Karaoke (Hammer Time Pub stage)
3 p.m. – Pet costume contest (near Kountry Klipping, register at 2:30)
3-6 p.m. – Touch-a-Truck display (near Chase Bank)
3-6 p.m. – Parks & Rec kids’ game, bike and bike helmet giveaway
3-6 p.m. – Vasid band (Masonic Lodge stage)
4-5 p.m. – Rides closed by state mandate
7-10 p.m. – 3-Candy band (Masonic Lodge stage)
7-10 p.m. – Acoustic Mayhem (Hammer Time Pub stage)
