Milan Melon Festival has a sweet return

MILAN — Milan celebrated the end of summer with a bash for its 61st Melon Festival.The festival, which took place Saturday through Sunday, attracted hundreds of people, some of whom, returned to the area for the festival and its famous cantaloupe and watermelon flavored ice cream.Lines stretched out from the booths offering the ice cream that is only available once a year at the festival.[gallery]Family friendly activities took place all weekend long, like the Melon Festival Queen Contest on Saturday in the Milan Township Hall's ballroom.Edison senior Briana Keyser earned the crown. Emily Vogus placed as first attendant and Haley Lloyd rounding out the court at second attendant.On Sunday, mother nature rained on the parade, but despite the wet weather the streets of Milan were lined with families waiting to watch the passing floats in the Melon Festival Parade.The festival also featured carnival rides, games, live entertainment from artists like Fleetwood Mac tribute band Rumours and dozens of food vendors.Monday featured one of the oldest 5K road races in Ohio and the Sports-a-Thon where Edison High School athletes completed tasks suggested by the audience to earn donations.The festival may have ended, but that's no reason to be melancholy because it will return to the historic village of Milan next Labor Day weekend.Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterHundreds of people flocked to the village square in Milan for the Melon Festival which ran Saturday through Monday.An Edison High School cheerleader shares a laugh as she passes out soft served melon ice cream at the Milan Melon Festival on Saturday.Three Edison High School Seniors — Haley Lloyd, Briana Keyser and Emily Vogus — competed for the Milan Melon Queen crown Saturday in the Milan Township Hall.Children cheer on the passing floats Sunday in Milan for the Melon Festival's parade.