GALION — The entertainment lineup for Galion Oktoberfest is now complete.
The long-running community festival is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 30 through Saturday, Oct. 2 on the Square in Uptowne Galion, returning this year after going on hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Festival chairman Travis Wolford said local residents Carol Kable and Bill Seymour were in charge of organizing the musical talent for the first day of the 2021 festival. A full lineup of gospel music is scheduled for the opening day of the festival on Thursday, Sept. 30. The Bridge, a praise and worship band from Morrow County featuring Jeffrey Stuttler, will kick off the schedule at 4 p.m.
Taking the stage at 5 p.m. will be a host of gospel music performers from previous Oktoberfest festivals. Organizers are calling that 60-minute segment of music “The Homecoming.”
Following is the rest of the gospel music lineup for Galion Oktoberfest: The Warriors, 6 p.m.; Unashamed Worship with Scott Brown, 7 p.m.; Dale Powers and Friends, 8 p.m.; Stones Cry Out Band, 9 p.m.
For information about the gospel stage entertainment lineup, call 419-468-2944 or 419-566-2762.
Headlining the entertainment lineup for the festival is Floyd Live, a Pink Floyd tribute band known for providing audiences with “The Authentic Sound of Pink Floyd.” Floyd Live is scheduled to perform from 8:30 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2.
“They’re going to be absolutely mind-blowing,” Wolford said. “They have an amazing laser light show. They do all the special effects. They sound phenomenal.”
Bluegrass and country music will be the focus on Friday, Oct. 1 when the Kickin’ Grass Band and the Terry Douglas Band hit the Oktoberfest stage. Kickin’ Grass, a bluegrass group based out of Crawford County, is a popular group that plays fairs, festivals, and private events across the region. Kickin’ Grass is scheduled to perform from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 1, according to the festival website.
The Terry Douglas Band, based in Thornville, Ohio, plays “a mix of classic country, honky-tonk, and old school rock and roll,” according to its website. The band has released three albums since 2017 with its most recent offering “Through the Storm” dropping in November 2020. The Terry Douglas Band is set to do their show from 9 to 11 p.m. on Oct. 1, according to the Oktoberfest website.
“I’ve seen the Terry Douglas Band and they’re awesome,” Wolford said. “They play authentic country, just the good old country music.”
“Chalkin’ It Up,” a free community “pop-up” chalk art mural project, will be part of the activities offered this year at Galion’s Oktoberfest event. Organizer Carol Kable said community participation is welcomed at this venue, which takes place from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 in the first block east of the square in Cider Alley. The venue is sponsored by Crawford County Arts Council and Kable Art Studio. For information, call 419-468-2944.
Galion Oktoberfest will also feature a midway with rides and games as well as a large group of food vendors — many of the same concessionaires from previous years and some new ones. The festival craft show and beer garden will be open all three days.
For information about Galion Oktoberfest, contact Travis Wolford at 419-777-7768, visit the Galion Oktoberfest website at galionoktoberfest.com, or go to the festival page on Facebook.
Wolford said the Galion chapter of the League of Riders Motorcycle Club is sponsoring a poker run on the Saturday of Oktoberfest.Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Galion Police Department. For information about the poker run, go to the League of Riders Motorcycle Club Ohio page on Facebook.
