Photo Provided The 33rd annual Chautauqua Homecoming Days Festival is taking place Saturday and Sunday, July 8-9, at Epworth Park in Bethesda. Fun times in a beautiful setting are planned.

BETHESDA — The village and Epworth Park are celebrating the 33rd annual Chautauqua Homecoming Days Festival on Saturday and Sunday, July 8-9, marking a historic period of American culture and offering fun times for all.

The event is always held the first weekend after July 4.

Steve Avdakov, board member at Epworth Park, said Friday that work was underway to prepare for the festivities.

“The park really comes alive with a lot of people,” Avdakov said. “I think the festival’s going to be great. It looks like the weather’s going to be cooperative. We’re getting back to normal with the pandemic being over, so we’re looking forward to a great weekend.”

He said the history of the festival is tied into the history of the park and the surrounding area. Avdakov said the festival has its roots in Methodist camp meetings of the 1870s.

“Chautauqua eventually started 1891, and the park had had continuous Chautauqua events until 1942,” he said, adding that World War II may have curtailed festivals at that time. “This we have now is kind of a recreation of that original festival. This is the 33rd year since it’s been restarted.

“The original Chautauqua had lectures, music, cultural events. It typically lasted two weeks and there were some significant people who came to Epworth Park during Chautauqua,” he said.

Past guest lists included former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, state governors and then-future president William McKinley.

“A lot of notable people attended the original Chautauqua events. What we have now is kind of an interpretation.”

Events begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and continue through the day with a concert at 8 p.m. Highlights include a fishing tournament, a parade, 37 vendors and two concerts. The white elephant sale is another draw.

“I think it’s one of the area’s unique gems,” Avdakov said. “We’re starting to reach out and raise awareness to what a special place it is.”

A historical reenactor portraying Abraham Lincoln will be walking the grounds, as will local banjo player and former president of Ohio University Eastern Rich Greenlee.

Sunday’s events will begin at 10:45 a.m. with a church service and conclude with a concert at 3 p.m. In addition, there will be a car show and a lasagna dinner.

The car show is sponsored by the Bethesda-Belmont-Morristown Rotary Club from noon to 4 p.m. at the corner of Lake and Virginia streets. Registration is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dash plaques will be awarded to the first 75 registered. It is an open event, and a trophy will be awarded for each decade from 1920-2020, along with awards for Best Convertible, Best Truck, Best Rat Rod, Best Import, Best Motorcycle, Best Special Interest and President’s Choice. Judging is by nonprofessionals.

Participants include Epworth Park cottage owners, the village of Bethesda, the area Masonic lodge and the Rotary Club.

“It’s really a community event,” Avdakov said. “Everyone comes together to kind of celebrate the history of this place.

“It’s going to be a great kind of followup to July 4. It’s that same kind of spirit. It’s very patriotic and very historic American, kind of paying homage to American history of the late 19th and early 20th century. It’s a unique historic environment as well.”

Good stewardship of the area is a priority. Avdakov pointed out many of the cottages were built in the 1880s and 1890s. A three-story hotel once stood by the lake. The board is in the early stages of having the park listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of the significance of the Chautauqua Festivals, as well as the unique architecture.

He said the visually distinct environment is a draw.

“The park is pretty intact. The architecture. There are wonderful trees there. I think the reason the Chautauqua site was established there was because of the garden of oak trees,” he said. “We have real old growth oak trees that tower over the park and really add to the character of the place.”

Marla Kent, treasurer of the Epworth Park board, said close to 1,000 people usually come to the festival. Kent said the festival has largely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdowns and restrictions.

“That hurt us the past couple years, but we’re hoping to get more people out like we’ve had in the past,” she said.

She said most of the attendees are local, but organizers are trying to get the word out and initiatives such as a place on the National Register may help.

“We’re trying to get historically on the books,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place, and it’s hidden among a bunch of oak trees, so it’s just a beautiful place to come. … Come stroll the park, it’s a wonderful place to step back in time.”

On Friday, Dirk Davis, village administrator for Bethesda, said preparations were underway and organizers were looking forward to a successful event.

“Right now, I can tell you that we’re going to have more vendors. They’re spread out all over the Cottage Park area. It’s all being set up right now, and we’re waiting for good weather, and we’re waiting for the people to come. We’ve got a fishing tournament on Saturday, there’s a good parade and a car show Sunday, beside all the eats and things,” he said. “We just can’t wait for everybody to come out and have a good time.”