Woollybear Festival returns

VERMILION — A caterpillar-themed festival returns to the area this Sunday. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 8, the 51st Annual Woollybear Festival will be hosted in downtown Vermilion, at 5495 Liberty Ave. The festival celebrates the woolly bear worm, the larvae that turn into the Isabella tiger moth. The worm is characterized as being fuzzy with black and orange bands. The Woollybear Festival is the largest one-day festival in Ohio — more than 100,000 people are expected. The event is presented by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and Fox 8 Cleveland. At 9 a.m., the festival kicks off with "Johnny Live" Classic Rock and Country on the main stage. The YMCA Annual World's Greatest Kids' Race will also begin at 9 a.m. The race is open to children who can crawl up to 12 years old. The first 100 registrants will receive a free t-shirt Registration for the race begins at 8 a.m. at Vermilion High School Stadium, 5337 Sailorway Drive. At 10 a.m., the Woollybear 500 Caterpillar Race Preliminaries will be hosted on the main stage. Woollybear caterpillars are chosen to race each other and the winners will advance to the finals. At 11 a.m., the King and Queen Woollybear Costume Judging will be on the main stage. Participants must register behind the main stage between 8 and 9:45 a.m. At noon, the Aminal/Pet Woollybear Costume Contest will occur on the main stage. The judging will be hosted by Fox 8's Natalie Herbick. Participants must register behind the main stage from 8-9:45 a.m. At 1:30 p.m., the Wonderful, Wacky Woollybear Parade will match through downtown. The parade includes marching bands, animals, festival royalty, vintage automobiles and majorette groups. At 3 p.m., the Ace Molar Band will perform on the main stage with Fox 8's Todd Meany. At 4:30 p.m., the final race of the Woollybear 500 Caterpillar Race will be on the main stage. At 5 p.m., the festival will finish with the Winter Weather Prediction on the main stage. The prediction event comes from the folklore that the longer the black bands on the caterpillar, the longer and more severe the winter will be. In addition to the festival's scheduled events, the festival will have over 40 food booths and 100 vendors. To find parking information, visit woollybearfestival.com. Want to go? What: The 51st Annual Woollybear Festival When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 Where: 5495 Liberty Ave., Vermilion