The Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 44rd Annual Roche de Boeuf Festival Saturday, September 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Waterville.
The festival features a variety of activities for all ages and free entertainment throughout the day. Waterville’s downtown streets will be filled with crafts, food vendors, area artists, as well as booths staffed by area businesses
and non-profit organizations.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. down Farnsworth Road and will feature various floats. Those interested in participating in the parade can register at www.watervillechamber.com .
Three stages of free entertainment will highlight an array of local performers. Along with the great performers, there will be many activities for children, including inflatable rides, pitching machines, euro-bungee, and old-fashioned games, plus a dunking booth with some of the City’s leaders taking their turn in the dunking booth.
The Annual Roche de Boeuf Car Show will be held in the Shawn’s Irish Tavern Parking Lot throughout the day, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 3 p.m. There are many car show categories. Trophies will be awarded, as well as a “People’s Choice Awards.” In addition, dash plaques will be presented to the first 150 registered cars. Participants will also have a chance to win door prizes throughout the day. The Car Show Registration fee is $10. Car Show registration forms are available on the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.watervillechamber.com.
In addition to the many festivities of the day, many area Waterville retailers and restaurants will provide special offers throughout the day, according to Chamber Executive Director Corina Pfleghaar. “The Roche de Boeuf Festival, parade and car show have been very popular community events in Waterville and have attracted thousands of people for many years,” states Mrs. Pfleghaar.
The Festival name, Roche de Boeuf, is the French translation meaning “Rock of Beef” or “Buffalo Rock,” which commemorates the rock which is still present in the Maumee River area of Waterville. The rock was used by the Ottawa Indians as a staging ground for hunting and war times, as well as a council ground for peace treaties.
The Roche de Boeuf Festival is provided by the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce and Shawn’s Irish Tavern in Waterville and many additional sponsors. For more information regarding the Roche de Boeuf Festival or parade, please visit the Chamber’s website at www.watervillechamber.com.