By Jordan Studer
jstuder@wbcowqel.com
The usually quiet streets of New Washington became filled with activity on Thursday evening at the Hatchery Festival. Colorful vendors and carnival rides lined the streets to kick off the first day of the event.
If the sound of music and carnival rides didn’t make for a happy atmosphere, the smell of Snooties BBQ was spiking everyone’s tastebuds. “You have got to try these ribs from Snooties! They are so good,” a festival-goer exclaimed to one of his friends.
Snooties BBQ has been coming to the Hatchery Festival for six years now. When asked what brought them to the Hatchery Festival owner Janet Studer explained, “We mainly come because it’s Dad’s birthday weekend and it’s his hometown and I get to see everyone here.”
Her father, Dennis Studer, is the original founder. They have many options that are bragged about like their pulled pork, BBQ brisket, ribs, and chicken legs. All of which customers love to smother in Snooties sauce, carefully homemade to perfection.
When finished with their dinner at Snooties, festival-goers also love Rader’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream where the ice cream is made, “just like you would do with grandma and grandpa,” owner Grace Rader explains.
With seven different flavors ranging from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter-pecan, mint chocolate chip – their “John Deere green” ice cream – and peanut butter there has got to be a flavor that everyone will enjoy.
And of course, kids were flocking to all of the carnival rides and games. When asking 5-year-old Carrie Stephens what her favorite part of the Hatchery Festival was she excitedly said, “We get to ride the rides and get snow-cones!”
Her three-year-old friend, Harlee Wilson responded to the same question pointing, “That,“the merry-go-round.”
Big crowds are expected for the rest of the weekend, with many fun events planned.
The most popular event, the firework display, is set for Saturday night, at 10 p.m.
“This year the display is going to be bigger than ever, bigger and better,” Jim Kenny, one of the co-chairs of the Hatchery Festival, announced.
Events for the rest of the Hatchery Festival:
Friday, June 12
• Chicken Barbeque: 4-8 p.m. K of C Hall
• John Kennedy Band: 6-8 p.m. Gazebo
• Gopher Barbeque Band: 8-11 p.m. Beer Garden
Saturday, June 13
• Poker Run Registration: 9 a.m. American Legion, last bike out at 11 a.m.
• Chicken Barbeque: Noon-8 p.m. K of C Hall
• Gang Band on the streets: 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Parade: 5 p.m.
• United In Harmony, Men’s Choral Singing Group: 6-7 p.m. Gazebo (Sponsored by Hanes Farms & Excavating)
• Kiddie Tractor Pull: Registration 6:30 p.m. Pull @ 7:30 p.m. (In front of Post Office)
• 5-K Run: 7 p.m. (Registration Dr. Thresa Young’s Office)
• New Washington Town Band: 8-9 p.m. Gazebo
• Smoke Stack Lightening, Rock & Roll Band from Columbus: 8-11 p.m. Beer Garden
• Fireworks: 10 p.m.
• Polaris Sportsman 570 4-Wheeler, 50/50 drawing after Fireworks