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Special Events & Festivals

Petting zoo


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Emma Alford pets a rabbit at the Animal Gams petting zoo on Sataurday, Aug. 22, at Markle Park during the Markle Wildcat Festival.

Bouncing boy


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Gage Crawford bounces down an inflatable slide on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Markle Park during the Markle Wildcat Festival.

Leading the way


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Chloe Amick (left) leads her heat during the pedal co-cart races on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Markle Park as part of the Markle Wildcat Festival.

Grouches wave to the crowd


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Markle's official grouches for 2015 wave to the crowd from atop a fire turck during the Markle Wildcat Festival Parade on Saturday, Aug. 22. The grouches, who were announced Friday night, Aug. 21, are (from left) Hal Mason, Carol Hohe, Duane Brumbaugh and Max Murchland. Each year, the town's residents select four grouches -- a nod to the community's claim that it's the "Home of 1,102 Happy People and 4 Grouches" -- in recognition of their service to the community.

Wildcat Festival kicks off Friday eve in Markle

Southbound 65 will play country music under the Markle Wildcat Festival tent on Saturday, Aug. 22, starting at 7 p.m. It’s the second free concert of the three-day festival.
Photo provided.

An action-packed Wildcat Festival kicks off Friday evening, Aug. 21, in Markle.

The three days of festivities will be held mainly at Markle Park and will debut some new thrills, including tethered hot air balloon rides and pedal go cart races.

There are all sizes of go carts, festival chair Tiffany Grant says, giving anyone age 7 through adult the chance to compete for cash prizes.

“I think my grandma’s going to do it, and she’s 88,” Grant says.

Extracation demo


Photo by Steve Clark.

The Markle Fire Department performs at extrication demonstration on a junk car during the Markle Wildcat Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23, in downtown Markle.

Taking a shot


Photo by Steve Clark.

Liz Daniels (right) flings a beanbag during the Markle Wildcat Festival Cornhole Tournament, held Saturday, Aug. 23, in downtown Markle.

Wildcat waterball


Photo by Scott Trauner.

Markle Volunteer Fire Department members (from left) Phoebe Harmon, Justine Eberle and Bob Rzasa concentrate on the target during the Wildcat Festival Waterball Contest against a team from Ossian. Children also had a chance to participate in the fun.

Weiner dog races


Photo by Scott Trauner.

Megan Karst (left) and Justin Stanley release their "weiner" dogs in one of Wildcat Festival Weiner Dog Races at Markle Park on Saturday, Aug. 23. The inaugural event drew three contestants.

Tough task


Photo by Scott Trauner.

Conner Mason, of Markle, works on lining up a Rubik's Cube during the Wildcat Festival Rubik's Cube Contest on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Markle Park.

Balloon fun


Photo by Scott Trauner.

Bubblicious the clown puts together a balloon animal at the Markle Park during the Wildcat Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23.