FESTIVAL NEARS — Adena Heritage Days Grand Marshal Raymond Jeskey and Queen Nancy Toto are among those preparing for the annual festival, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday around the village gazebo. -- Contributed

ADENA — Organizers have named the queen and grand marshal of the 23rd-annual Adena Heritage Days festival, set to take place Friday and Saturday.

Lynn McConnell, president of the event, said each year a new queen and grand marshal are selected to participate in the festivities. She said those that are selected to hold the titles are residents with strong ties to the community and who are current or former residents. This year’s honorees are Nancy Toto, who will reign as queen, and Raymond Louis Jeskey, who will be the grand marshal.

Toto and her husband of 62 years, Mitch, serve as members of the Adena High School Alumni Association. The couple married on Oct. 1, 1960, at the St. Casimir’s Church in Adena and share three children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Toto is a 30-year survivor of breast cancer — something that changed her outlook on life. She said her life’s goal is to touch as many lives as she possibly can, helping as many people as possible.

“My happiest moments are spent listening to others and being the best possible friend that I can be. I love life and want to experience it to the fullest,” she said.

Jeskey is a lifelong resident of the village and former mayor, holding the office from 2000-2013. During his first year as mayor, he helped establish the Adena Heritage Days Committee with the initial event being held in 2000. He said he wanted to “give a special thanks to the Adena Heritage Day Committee for this honor of grand marshal.”

McConnell said once she learned Jeskey had not yet held the title, she immediately offered him the role and he happily accepted.

McConnell said organizers are anticipating a “great” turnout this year with hundreds of people in attendance, some traveling a long distance.

The two-day event kicks off Friday with food trucks, vendors and a live performance by the Still Kickin Band from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, the parade begins at noon on West Main Street, where the queen and grand marshal will ride along handing out candy to onlookers. The Harrison Central Marching Band will participate in this year’s parade.

The schedule of events for Saturday includes:

• 11 a.m.: Duck race;

• 12:30 p.m.: presentation of flags, national anthem, and speakers;

• 1:45 p.m.: Young Buckeye Cheerleaders performance;

• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Inflatable entertainment by Bounce Boyz;

• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Josh Sokolowski will perform;

• 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Punching Ozwald Band will perform;

• 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Car show with registration from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.;

• 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Twice as Nice will perform.

McConnell said there will be plenty of fun and entertainment for the whole family.

She said “quite a few new vendors” will be joining this year’s festivities. She noted that it is “never too late” to join up as a vendor. Those interested in participating can call her at (740) 491-0248.

“We’ve got a lot of really good entertainment for this year, and it’s a good time for everyone. This is a time of year when people actually come home for this event and they look forward to it and they get to see people they haven’t seen for a whole year, or maybe they haven’t seen for longer. This might be their first time coming back home in a long time. I always say it’s like a big friends and family reunion,” she said.

McConnell said there is construction on Churchill Road from Harrisville. An alternative route posted on Harrison County Road 10, with directional signs into the village.