Milan Melon Fest rolls back into town

MILAN — Summer may be winding down, but there's no reason to be melancholy because the Milan Melon Festival is on its way.The festival has taken place every Labor Day weekend since 1958 to pay homage Milan's history of melon farming, bring the community together and celebrate the end of summer.For the past 61 years, the festival has been a popular event with people from all around flocking to the historic village to take part in the fun and to grab a scoop of the one-of-a-kind melon ice cream served there."The Melon Festival is famous for the watermelon and cantaloupe ice cream," said Amanda Richards, secretary for the Milan Melon Festival Committee.The Melon Festival runs Saturday through Monday in the village square. It will feature food vendors, rides, festival games, live music, family friendly events and more."We have all kinds of different food and craft vendors all weekend," Richards said. "Our melons are locally grown at Gastier Farms and sold at our committee booth at the entrance of the festival."One of the most popular events is the queens' contest on Saturday, which will feature Edison seniors Haley Lloyd, Briana Keyser and Emily Vogus competing for the Melon Festival Queen's Crown.On Sunday, floats will fill Milan's streets for the grand parade. On Monday, there's one of the oldest 5K road races in Ohio and the Sports-a-Thon, where Edison's athletes complete tasks submitted by the audience to earn donations for their program.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterCole Deitz , 7, rolls a watermelon toward the bowling pins at the Milan Melon Festival on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.Community members walk around the Milan Town Square during the Melon Festival on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.Milan Melon Festival on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.Milan Melon Festival on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.