Canal Days Midway and Community Contests Open the Weekend
Kalida, OH · September 18, 2026
Passing morning showers won't dampen spirits today as the region gears up for a packed weekend of fall festivals and outdoor traditions.
The Lead
Just down the road, Delphos Canal Days hits full stride today, drawing crowds from across Putnam and Allen counties for one of the region’s signature late-summer traditions. After Thursday evening’s Toast to the Town kickoff, the festival midway opens wide this afternoon along Main Street with rides, games, and food vendors dishing out fairground favorites.
At 6:00 PM tonight, local companies take the spotlight for the annual Battle of the Businesses, bringing spirited, good-humored competition to the main grounds before live evening music fills the social tent. The celebration continues straight through the weekend, featuring Saturday’s street entertainment and Sunday afternoon’s grand parade, along with a morning 5K race mapped directly along the historic Miami-Erie Canal towpath.
Organizers have set Sunday's final drawings for 5:00 PM, concluding four days of canal corridor community festivities.
Local Pulse
Kalida High Marching Band Competes Saturday Schools High school musicians travel to Bowling Green State University Saturday for their regional OMEA marching band competition showcase.
County Libraries Launch Live Animal Series Community Naturalists with Indiana Wild bring live educational animal encounters to Continental and Ottawa library branches tomorrow morning.
Today's Outlook
- High 74°F · Low 62°F — Rain (30% chance of precipitation)
- Keep a light rain jacket handy for spotty showers and mild afternoon temperatures.
What's On Around Town
Today
Planning Commission Hearing Ottawa Municipal Building (136 N Oak St), Ottawa, 8:30 AM · Free Public morning meeting reviewing downtown commercial site requests and regional planning updates.
Elton John Tribute Concert 50 North (339 E Melrose Ave), Findlay, 5:00–7:00 PM · Free Live tribute performance on the patio featuring classic pop-rock favorite songs.
Rock Night with Elektrick Mayhem Lucky’s Tavern and Grill (221 Crystal Ave), Findlay, 8:00 PM Classic anthems and hard rock favorites kicking off the area weekend.
Tomorrow
- Oktoberfest Ottawa Rex Pavilion (100 E Main St), Ottawa, 2:00–10:00 PM · Free
- Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles Defiance Auditorium (319 Wayne Ave), Defiance, 7:00 PM · Paid
Sunday
- 25th Annual Antique Truck Show Paulding County Fairgrounds (801 Fairground Dr), Paulding, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM · Free
- Henry County Historical Society Open House Dr. John Bloomfield Home (134 E Washington St), Napoleon, 1:00–4:00 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- 201 East Main Street Built as the Kalida Methodist Church, this brick hall found a new calling in 1970 when the Kalida Lions Club bought the property and deeded it for just $10 to establish the Putnam County Historical Society Museum.
Kalida Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.