NEWS & UPDATE

Front Street is turning into Fremont Street in Las Vegas this New Year’s Eve! With the 5^th Annual Downtown Fremont, Ohio, New Year’s Eve Celebration, this year’s festivities will be bringing light and excitement to YOUR Downtown!

Starting at 8pm, this community event will be held in Downtown Fremont on Front Street between Croghan Street and Birchard Avenue and will serve those in Fremont as well as the surrounding Sandusky County area and beyond with interactive activities on the street for ALL ages, along with music, photo ops, food and FUN!

To kick the night off at 8pm on the Main Stage at the intersection of Front and Garrison is Rick Smith Jr.  Rick, a World Famous Magician and Card Thrower, will demonstrate his skills through exceptional illusions and stunts like Harry Houdini Packing Crate Illusion.  Next at 9pm is an Elvis Impersonator who will bring the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, to the stage with entertainment, music and his moves.  Lastly, to ring in 2023 starting at 10pm is Old Skool from Cleveland.  Old Skool is a tight, high energy, and exceptionally fun band, guaranteed to bring a tribute to the throwback dance jamz from every era!

By purchasing a $10 wristband on Front Street from 8 to midnight will give unlimited access to all of the interactive games: Axe Throwing – 16yrs & older, Zip Line – 40 to 200 lbs, Mechanical Bull – up to 200 lbs., Connect Four Basketball Game, Full Court Press Basketball Challenge, Junior Baseball Home Run Derby, Junior Football QB Challenge and Soccer Dart.  Bring your “A Game” and show your friends the skills you have!

Businesses will be open and have entertainment inside their venues such as Potter Perfection “Done Your Way”, MoonShine Nightclub, The Strand & Backstage Lounge, The Jewel Ballroom, The Garrison, Scarpetta’s, Elroy’s Deli Market, Live Edge Center, Fremont VFW Post 2947, and Down Thyme Café.

Sponsorship from The City of Fremont, Moonshine Entertainment, Fremont Federal Credit Union, Crown Battery, Style Crest and ProMedica Memorial Hospital has helped bring this spectacular event to Downtown Fremont, but more sponsorship is appreciated. Please text Fremont NYE to 44321 to donate any monetary amount.

For further information please call 419.332.8696/567.342.4758 or visit the Downtown Fremont, Ohio, New Year’s Eve Celebration Facebook Page @FremontNYE for more specific details.

Come to Downtown Fremont this Saturday, December 3rd from 10am-2pm for the Croghan Colonial Bank Indoor Holiday Market – Sip & Shop at the MoonShine Night Club & The Jewel Ballroom at 109 S Front Street.  Don’t forget the Candy Cane Lane Scavenger Hunt, Candy Cane Lane Window Decorations Contest while visiting Santa Claus, the Holiday Parade (6pm) and remembering to Shop Small all at the same time!

Downtown Fremont Inc. will host Home Sweet Home Holiday Events when downtown is turned into Candy Cane Lane.  As part of Candy Cane Lane, downtown businesses will be decorating their front windows for the season starting on November 25^th .  The Fremont Community is being asked to vote online or in person which will be accessible on the Downtown Fremont Inc. Facebook Page, www.downtown fremntohio.org or at the Downtown Fremont Inc. office at 315 Garrison Street until Saturday, December 3^rd after the Holiday Parade.

Holiday festivities begin on Friday, November 25^th with the annual Tree Lighting at 7pm at the corner of Front & Croghan Streets.  A trackless train ride will be available through the Downtown Historic District from 4-9pm. Hot and sweet treats plus some roasted chestnuts will also be available while listening to community groups bring Christmas songs and dance to the event such as a music performance by the members of the Terra State Concert Choir.

Santa is in his house starting on Friday, November 25^th from 5-7pm before the Tree Lighting for the whole family. Santa visitation continues at the corner of Front & Croghan Streets on Fridays from 5-7pm and Saturdays from 1-3pm til Christmas.  Can’t make it to see Santa? His mailbox is ready to accept letters at his house anytime up until December 19^th.  Letters should be dropped into the mailbox to receive a FREE letter back from Santa, but please make sure to have a return address on the letter.

Saturday, November 26^{th the} season holiday season continues in Downtown Fremont with Breakfast with Buddy the Elf.  This is open to adults and children of all ages with times at 9am & 10am.  Please call Down Thyme Café for reservations and to get more details on this event at 419-332-4334.  November 26^th is also also Small Business Saturday, strides to remind consumers that Small Businesses play a key role in helping our community thrive, and so take that day to get out to shop, dine and support local.  While shopping on Small Business Saturday make sure to participate in the Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt. At the participating 13 businesses get your hunt card and uncover the code by Saturday, December 3^rd by putting completed hunt cards in Santa’s mailbox to be in a drawing for a Think Fremont Community E-Card of the value of $25.

The Croghan Colonial Bank Indoor Holiday Market – Sip & Shop is Saturday, December 3^rd from 10am-2pm at the MoonShine Nightclub & The Jewel Ballroom. Take a break at 109 S Front Street from the cold and grab your favorite hot beverage of choice to meet the makers, keeping it unique and local. At this time, we are seeking makers and vendors for the indoor market with limited spaces available.  Cost $45 for 10×7 spot, must provide your own table and chairs. Call 567-342-4758 to register and give payment over the phone. This is a great opportunity to support Small Businesses in Downtown Fremont and surrounding areas!

The Terra State Community College “Home Sweet Home” Holiday Parade is Saturday, December 3rd starting at 6pm.  This evening parade creates a sparkling atmosphere through downtown with the lighted light poles to the glistening floats and vehicles in the parade.  To be a part of the parade, an entry form is required.  The parade starts at Roger Young Park and precedes north on Front and State Streets and ends on Front Street – on the north side of State Street.  Judging will happen with prizes for 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd places.  This parade is also announced and filmed for the community, so come downtown and enjoy!

Downtown Fremont Inc. also has many more free events planned in 2023 and stay tuned in for our New Year’s Eve details soon at https://www.facebook.com/FremontNYE.

We are excited to announce that Downtown Fremont will be participating in the second-annual, nationwide, Pink Friday small business shopping experience, on November 18th. Created by The Boutique Hub, Pink Friday is a small business spin on the traditional Black Friday shopping experience, reminding people to #ShopSmallFirst. Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year, but the sales and promotions from big box stores often overshadow the experiences that small businesses are focused on providing. The goal on November 18th is to celebrate the businesses that are the backbone of our local communities. “Pink Friday was created to shine a spotlight on small businesses and encourage everyone to shop consciously during the holiday season,” says Ashley Alderson, Founder and CEO of The Boutique Hub. “There has never been a more important time than now to ‘Shop Small First’. Small businesses make a big impact in America’s communities, and it’s important that we support them as much as possible.” The official Pink Friday website (www.shopthebestboutiques.com/pinkfriday/) lists all the ways consumers can shop, including an interactive map of participating stores and various deals and gift guides that will help consumers navigate the best gifts for everyone on their list. People can also follow the #ShopSmallFirst hashtag on social media. Any small business can participate in Pink Friday and can find out more by visiting www.theboutiquehub.com/pinkfriday.

Downtown Fremont is thoroughly excited to be a part of this nationwide #ShopSmallFirst event and to have so many merchants partnering to bring awareness about the importance of supporting small businesses on  November 18, throughout the 2022 holiday season and every day.

Get ready to come to Downtown Fremont to enjoy all the Holiday Event planned for 2022

Downtown Fremont Inc. will be hosting the Croghan Colonial Bank Farmers Market & ProMedica Memorial Hospital Harvest Happenings Event on Front Street on Saturday, October 15th, 2022, from 9am-1pm.  Attendance to the market and event will be free to the public.

The Haunted Hydro will be sponsoring the Adult & Kid’s Costume Contest at The Strand Theater & Backstage Lounge starting at 10am with new a new category every 30 minutes.  Prizes will be awarded.

For the kids, remember to look for the orange balloons throughout the market along with Downtown Fremont businesses.  The businesses and vendors at the market will be participating in Trick or Treat from 10am-12pm which allows children to go to stores and vendors to receive pre-packaged tricks and treats.

And don’t forget to stop at the Downtown Fremont Inc. tent at the Front and Garrison intersection to pick up a coloring sheet, color and return to the office at 315 Garrison Street, Fremont, Ohio by Friday, October 21^st, 2022, to be entered into a contest to win 1st $20, 2nd $15 & 3rd $10 Think Fremont Community Card.

Front Street will be closed from 6am until 2pm on Saturday, October 15th from Croghan Street to Birchard Avenue and Garrison Street from Arch Street to Bidwell Avenue for this event.

Downtown Fremont Inc. also has many more free holiday events planned in the upcoming months, so stay tuned and follow us on social media.

Downtown Fremont Inc. will be hosting the Croghan Colonial Bank Farmers Market and Moke America Ohio The Handmade in the 419 Event Saturday, October 1st, 2022, from 9am-1pm. Attendance will be free to the public.

Local artists, crafters and creators will be showcased with The Handmade in the 419 Event selling unique items. Look for “Live Art on the Streets” with Painting by Emma Lehmann, Home Décor by Jennifer Lott and Sewing by Susie Spools.

Front Street will be closed Saturday, October 1st from 6am-2pm from Croghan Street to Birchard Avenue and Garrison Street from Arch Street to Bidwell Avenue.

Downtown Fremont Inc. also has many more free events planned in the upcoming months, so stay tuned and follow us on social media.

Downtown Fremont Inc. will be hosting Bellevue Hospital’s The Crop Circle Art & Music Event on Friday, September 23^rd, 2022 from 6-9pm and Saturday, September 24^th, 2022, from 11am-4pm. Style Crest is the sponsor of the Art Show and Auction at The Strand Theater & Backstage Lounge both days.  Impact Credit Union is the Music Sponsor of the event.  All events will be held on the second block of Front Street and City Lot A (Brady Parking Lot).  Attendance will be free to the public.  These events are an opportunity for Fremont and surrounding communities to watch or participate in fun, creative, interactive activities.

For Friday, September 23^rd, in the Lot A (Brady Parking Lot) will have an Alien Glow & Dance Party with DJ Werkit, Artists in Action Community Paint by Numbers Activities along with Larchmere Fire Works Glassblowing & Blacksmithing Demos. Finish the night off from 8:30-9pm with the GLOvation Fire Show.  Stop down to The Strand Theater & Backstage Lounge for Open Mic Night, Caricatures with Lydia Horvath, and an Indoor Art Show.  At 9pm The War of the Worlds (1953) will be shown at no cost with food and drinks available for purchase.  On Front Street between Garrison Street and Birchard will have an Open Air Art Market, Crop Circle Activities by Birchard Public Library & Croghan Colonial Bank, DORA Alien Pub Crawl. GLOvation Alien Character Photo Op, Chalk Art by Chris Fry the Chalk Goblin, Balloon Twisting by Megan, Nick the Magician and Face Painting by JPaint.  Downtown businesses Pottery Perfection “Done Your Way” and The Open House will have Crop Circle Activities.  Lastly, Glow Kayaking on the Sandusky River with Ghoul Runnings Kayak Adventures will launch at 7pm at the Fremont Sand Docks located at 1019 Sand Rd, Fremont. Kayakers will be paddling to the State St. Bridge in beautiful Downtown Fremont, and around Brady’s Island. Register online at https://forms.gle/CGTGKcfkjiVtMBga6.

For Saturday, September 24^th, Lot A (Brady Parking Lot) will have sounds from TSA Glass City Steel Drums and Brent Lowry Duo throughout the day.  Artists in Action Community Paint by Numbers Activities along with Larchmere Fire Works Glassblowing & Blacksmithing Demos.  The Strand Theater & Backstage Lounge will be hosting the Indoor Art Show & Auction, Caricatures with Ariel Echevarria and the showing of the movie E.T. The Extraterrestrial at no cost with food and drink available for purchase.  On Front Street between Garrison Street and Birchard will have an Open Air Art Market, Crop Circle Activities by Birchard Public Library & Croghan Colonial Bank, GLOvation Alien Character Photo Op, Chalk Art by Chris Fry the Chalk Goblin, Balloon Twisting by Megan, Nick the Magician, Face Painting by JPaint and GLOvation Stilt Performances.  At 12pm and 2pm there will be an Aerial Show by GLOvation. From 11am-4pm the downtown business Pottery Perfection “Done Your Way” will have Crop Circle Activities and The Open House have an Astrologer & Natal Chart Readings.

Stop down to see the River Wall Mural’s first panel of the Downtown Fremont Public Arts Program.  This is located by the State Street Bridge going east.

This event highlights art in our rural area celebrating our local artists and what makes us all unique.  Art is for Everyone!  For the full schedule with times please visit www.downtownfremontohio.org.

City Lot A (Brady Parking Lot) will be closed from 11pm on Thursday, September 22^nd until Saturday, September 24^th at 6pm.  Front Street between Garrison Street and Birchard Avenue will be closed Friday, September 23^rd from 1pm until Saturday, September 24^th at 6pm.

Downtown Fremont Inc. also has many more free events planned in the upcoming months, so stay tuned and follow us on social media.

Downtown Fremont Inc. is in the process of creating a River Wall Mural near the railroad tracks by the State Street Bridge heading east.  This mural is the first panel of what Downtown Fremont Inc. hopes to be a long term community mural art project.  The mural will be a creation of a local artist who was one of many who have a desire to bring life to a stone wall that many drive by daily in hopes to making the mural to expand in years to come.

This River Wall Mural is 35 feet in length by 4 feet in height.  The art is designed and will be painted by the chosen artist that will create the vivid mural for walkers and motorists to see for years to come.  Emma Lehmann has been chosen to create ‘The Walleye in the Waves’, which is going to be a bright addition to our growing downtown. She is looking forward to the additional artists that will come to the area when the call goes out for more art to be added along the wall.

Emma Lehmann is a self-taught artist with a love of bright colors and whimsical design; here she speaks about her art journey so far in Fremont, Ohio.  She is also the co-owner of The Open House at 108 S Front Street which is a collaboration of local art, crafts and unique gifts.

“I’ve always been driven to bring a bit of magic to day-to-day life, it’s like my childhood imagination never really left. I’ve found that life is far too short to try to suppress creativity and attempt to follow trends that do not make you happy. After moving to Ohio about 6 years ago I’ve managed to finally reach my goal of making my artwork, my main work. From my early pet portraits to this new venture at the river wall and everything in between, seeing my work grow has been so inspiring and motivates me daily to keep pursuing this path. I wouldn’t have come this far without encouragement from my awesome husband, Brandon, who has been saying from day one “you should draw more”, so I did exactly that. I’m still looking to give back to the local community with my ‘making spaces brighter places’ project where I’d like to donate art / murals to not for profit communal spaces, indoor or outdoor, in areas that need it. I was very happy with the way my first donated mural turned out at The Village House; it brings a lot of joy to the visitation space it was installed in. I’m looking forward to seeing what next year holds, I have some plans in the works for more installations, paint-a-long classes and possibly some immersive art experiences.’’

The Bellevue Hospital is the supporter of this project through a 2022 sponsorship that was given to Downtown Fremont, Inc. for The Crop Circle Art and Music Event.

All proceeds from The Crop Circle Art & Music Event of 2022 goes towards the Public Arts Program in Downtown Fremont.