Sarah ArnoldJames Harward set an ambitious goal when he decided to launch a brand new, multi-day outdoor festival. The idea came to him after helping George Broughton redesign the disc golf course at the Broughton Nature and Wildlife Education Area off Ohio 821 in Marietta. Wanting more people to know about all that the area has to offer, James dreamt of a summer celebration that would showcase the park and highlight some of the new ideas planned for future additions.
“The purpose of the Broughton’s Farm Fest, sponsored by People’s Bank and People’s Insurance, was to raise funds for the Broughton Foundation and the Devola Multi-Use Trail,” said James, Festival Director and Organizer. “We are on a mission to provide the public with a space for outdoor activities where they can enjoy nature and stay in shape.”
Held earlier this month, the first ever Broughton’s Farm Fest included everything from a 5k face, a disc golf tournament, live music featuring local musicians, farm animals, a beer garden hosted by the Marietta Brewing Company, regional food trucks, and local artists, to a country store, yoga, and much more. Events kicked off Friday evening a round of Glow-in-the-Dark Disc Golf and ended on Sunday with the Disc Golf Awards Ceremony; for most of the family-centered events, however, Saturday was the day to be there.
“My boys loved being able to pet and feed the animals, and were really excited to pick up their free bicycle helmets,” said Cristie Thomas, who attended Farm Fest with her family. The Marietta Adventure Company and the Washington County Health Department teamed up to provide free kids helmets and safety checks on kids bikes on Saturday afternoon to promote bike safety, just one of the many mini events that took place throughout the weekend. After a full day, festival goers gathered around the stage for performances by Michael Beardmore and Back Porch Alibi as the sun set Saturday evening.
