State Theater’s “Movie Magic on Main” Will Feature Golf Carts, Hot Dogs, Flushed and Shuman Band
Volunteers of the Barnesville State Theater Company are busy planning the group’s second annual one-day downtown festival to raise funds to restore the century old movie house.
“Movie Magic on Main – Golf Cart Cruise-In” will take center stage on West Main Street, next Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As part of the festivities, Barnesville Mayor Jake Hershberger will read an official Proclamation at 11:45 a.m. honoring the event and ongoing efforts to return the theater to productive use.
At last year’s inaugural event, Jacobsburg native and ULHS grad Colton McKivitz, offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, drew Barnesville’s Mike Spiczenki’s ticket for the grand prize of a golf cart.
This year, picking up on the golf cart theme, the group is encouraging local golf cart owners who are often seen zipping around town, to decorate their buggies “in their favorite movie theme”. Decorated carts will be on display along West Main Street. For a $20 entry fee and an imagination, owners will have an opportunity to win one of three top prizes. Winners will be selected by the popular vote of festival attendees!
Back this year by popular demand at noon is the State Theater Company’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Rumor has it that last year’s champ, Hank Johnson, 2024 BHS grad who represented the Kiwanis Club last year, may be home from military training to defend his crown!
Johnson downed 11 hot dogs to claim the title. Other contestants last year were Micah Fuchs, Clint Abbott, Blake Kirk, Roger Johnson and Mayor Jake Hershberger.
Come downtown and find out who wins the 2025 Hot Dog Eating Contest!
For the youngsters, festival planners have a variety of games planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
And for the older crowd, Barnesville native Sam Shuman and The Shuman Band will perform on the stage in the West Main Street parking lot beginning at 1 p.m.
Shuman, author of “The Rural Raconteur,” a humorous collection of stories and exploits of his family and many others in Barnesville’s past, will also autograph copies of the locally lauded book.
July 21 Update: A second band has been added to the Saturday lineup. The Barnesville band, Flushed, will perform on stage from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Max Miller and Luke Taylor initially formed Flushed in 2019 when they were just young teenagers. However, it wasn’t until the summer of ’23 that Gage Blon joined the band, completing the trio. Over time, their sound evolved as they were influenced by artists such as Jeff Buckley and Nirvana. The band, all hailing from Barnesville, Ohio, in the southeastern part of the state, eventually solidified their lineup.
While Flushed’s music often carries the nostalgic vibe of 90s alternative rock bands, they don’t shy away from exploring other genres.
Food truck options include two Barnesville favorites –Martha’s and Two Stack Bar-B-Que.
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