By Sarah Lang/The Lebanon Reporter
Lebanon — Missy Krulik of Lebanon Vitalization Inc. had a goal Friday night. And she met it.
“I really wanted to bring an art feeling to downtown,” said Krulik of the first-ever Red, White and Blues festival held on the Courthouse Square. “And I think we did it.”
The festival, hosted by LVI and Lebanon Community Arts Council, featured entertainment by the Greyhound Dixieland Band and the Sugar Creek Big Band, the Frog Jumping Jubilee, art exhibits provided by local artists and food and drinks for all — wine tastings by New Day Meadery, assorted cakes from a local pastry chef, strawberry shortcakes by LCAC and soft drinks from LVI.
“We really needed this to be an event to span all ages,” Krulik said. “And we achieved that.”
Children and adults alike caught their own frogs to compete in the Frog Jumping Jubilee with one stipulation — the frogs had to be released back into the wild when the competition was over.
Ben Piper and his frog, Bob, took first place for the longest single jump, the longest first jump and, the grant prize, the longest three jumped combined. Isabella Lecklitner’s frog won for the ugliest frog. Grant Krulik won for best-dressed jockey, and Debra Culley’s frog, Peyton, won for best-dressed frog.
Judge Dan Robbins reminded everyone before the frog jumping competition began that no steroids were allowed.
The wine tasting was something Krulik really wanted to have, but she said many people told her she wouldn’t be able to pull it off. But she did.
“So we’re kind of like pioneers,” said Brett Canaday of New Day Meadery. “We’re all about showing that, even at a family event, we can enjoy alcohol responsibly.”
And their booth, where they served a wine taste for $1 or a glass for $5, was almost non-stop busy.
In the end, Krulik said they had a great turnout, and she was “very pleased” at the success of it for the first time.
“I hope to make it an annual event,” she said.
