Wifflefest, the annual summer festival hosted by Southview Grace Brethren Church, Ashland, Ohio (Mark Abel, pastor), went off without a hitch over the weekend, though smaller in scope than in previous years. An article in the Ashland Times-Gazette tells the story, a portion of which appears below. Click here to read the complete article and see photos.
WIFFLEFEST XXI | Despite obstacles, Wifflefest marches on
With guest speakers arriving from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night before the middle school/high school tournament began, the COVID-19 pandemic may have watered down participation for Wifflest XXI, but it could not make a dent in the annual event that has become a part of Ashland’s holiday tradition.
Although the number of teams dropped from approximately 120 last year to 45 this weekend, Southview Grace Brethren Church Pastor Mark Abel said that knowing how important this event is to Ashland, was reason enough to surge ahead.
“With everything the way it is right now, we felt like this was something we could do to help with the attitude and the atmosphere in the community,” Abel said, “That definitely was a big part because we were thinking, ‘if we don’t do this, then that is just one more blow to the community.’”
Click here to read the complete article and see photos.