Woollybear Festival returns

VERMILION — Experience races, costume contests, a parade and more in Vermilion next weekend. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 29, the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce will host the 52nd annual Woollybear Festival. The festival celebrates the Woollybear caterpillar, whose stripes predict the intensity of the coming winter, according to folklore. The majority of events will take place at Victory Park, Ohio and Main streets. In addition to events, there will be vendors, food and the Mystic Belle cruise boat will be taking rides down the Vermilion River. Here's the schedule: • "Johnny Live": From 9-10 a.m., "Johnny Live" classic rock and country will take over the main stage. • World's Greatest Kids' Race: At 9 a.m., Vermilion Sailor Stadium, 1250 Sanford St., will host the YMCA's annual kids' race. Registration begins at 8 a.m. • Woollybear 500: Throughout the day, Woollybear caterpillars will race against one another. Preliminaries are at 10 a.m. and the finals will be on the main stage at 4:30 p.m. • Woollybear Brunch: At 10:30 a.m., German's Villa, 3330 Liberty Ave., will host a brunch with festival royalty. Attendees must check in by 9:30 a.m. • Woollybear Costume Contest: At 11 a.m., the royalty woollybear costume contest will take place. • Pet Costume Contest: At noon, the main stage will host the Woollybear costume contest for pets. • Ace Molar Band: At 3 p.m., the Ace Molar Band and Fox 8's Todd Meany will take to the main stage for live music. • Winter Weather Prediction: At 5 p.m., the festival will close with the winter weather prediction based off the Woollybear 500 winner. The wonderful, wacky woollybear parade At 1:30 p.m., one of Ohio's largest parades will begin at Grand Street and Liberty Avenue. The route will turn onto Sandusky Street and then South Street. It will end at South and Decatur streets. The parade will include vintage cars, floats, animals, festival royalty, clowns and more. Visit vermilionohio.com/woollybear-festival/ for more information.