Last Stop Willoughby sees massive turnout for household enjoyable, parade and chalkfest

Last Stop Willoughby, a yearly custom since 2008, noticed a big crowd end up for the 2026 version of the occasion on Aug. 8.

Visitors checked out chalk art work, distributors promoting every little thing from pet food to flowers on the Willoughby Outdoor Market, and a parade at 2 p.m. stretching from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church parking zone by way of the downtown sq..

Jessica Dutton, Heart of Willoughby president, the nonprofit in command of organizing the pageant and the weekly farmers market, stated that she noticed extra individuals end up this yr in comparison with years previous. She was glad to see households partake within the totally different actions that they had arrange, such because the mock honest video games, face portray, reside music and art work.

“I think having these events really brings out the community and shows why we love Willoughby and makes it more of our hometown,” Dutton stated in between giving out prepare whistles and conductor hats. “The occasion has been handed round to a couple organizations and we adopted it about eight years in the past. It’s based mostly off the ‘Twilight Zone’ episode, and now we have that enjoying within the library yearly, and it’s nice to have slightly little bit of a bit of that as consultant of our occasion and city, simply actually bringing the group collectively.

“We have games, arts and crafts, face painting,” Dutton continued. “Sometimes we hand out balloons and hats and other trinkets. Our nonprofit allies are also representative of lots of different organizations throughout the county and are also in the parade, who hand out materials and lots of other little goods for the families.”

When requested what she hoped individuals would go away with after popping out to the occasion, both metaphorically or bodily, she responded with a smile, that candy treats have been typically on the forefront of individuals’s recollections.

“It is known as the candy parade, so leave with bags full of candy, and smiles, and just find their ‘heart’ of Willoughby,” Dutton stated. “Thank you all for coming out and we hope to see everyone in future years … There are a lot of plans that are in the works, but we are getting through this weekend and seeing what we can do bigger and better for next year.”

The sidewalks weren’t solely stuffed with individuals, however with art work as properly. Last evening and throughout the earlier hours of the day, a large number of artists scratched away their designs in chalk, masking the as soon as plain concrete into depictions of faraway landscapes, fantastical animals and lavish portraits.

One of these artists, Eric Siebeneck from Findlay, Ohio, stated he began the drawing the evening earlier than and lined it with a tarp within the hopes that his work would stay intact. Luckily for him, the climate held out and he was in a position to get a soar begin on his yellow, purple, black and blue portrait of a lady sliding right into a physique of water.

“The thing about this event is textures,” Siebeneck stated. “I just thought in terms of what I can do with that. Like light, texture, movement, that sort of thing. That’s kinda the inspiration behind this particular piece.”

Siebeneck travels everywhere in the nation to take part in several artwork festivals. Recently, he was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the place he did a chalk drawing and can be going to Downtown Perrysburg to affix the second annual “Art Show on the Fringe” on Aug. 15.

“I enjoy it, I think some artists don’t really like to do pieces in public, be it nerves or whatever the case may be, I think that alone is a challenge,” Siebeneck stated. “You can’t hide what you’re doing, you can’t trace that, everybody has got their own way of tackling a large piece like that. Most people put down a square grid and draw from there. Just to help you get started with placing the piece.”

He stated it was his first time coming to Downtown Willoughby and was hopeful to return again subsequent yr to do it once more.

“It’s a nice community, a very beautiful downtown,” Siebeneck stated. “I look forward to seeing what today brings. I wasn’t expecting to see this train parked in front of me and Abe Lincoln but that’s cool, and the farmers market; should be a good day… definitely would like to come again next year.”