April 2, 2008

Downtown Delaware Celebrates ‘Mascot Madness’

Posing for pictures, shaking hands, and maybe even kissing a baby or two.

No, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama aren’t in town. Instead 10 local and central Ohio mascots will be out to garner votes of their own during this week’s First Friday event in downtown Delaware.

The mascots, including OWU’s Battling Bishop, will be walking the downtown from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday as part of the Main Street Delaware’s monthly event. Visitors will be able to meet the mascots and then vote for their favorite at Beehive Books, 25 N. Sandusky St.

People also will be able to enjoy extended hours at many stores and galleries, including OWU’s Ross Art Museum.

As part of the special event, Simple Indulgences will host a mask-making craft for children at the store’s new location, 31 N. Sandusky St. The Delaware City Fire Department also will have a fire engine on display downtown.

April’s “Mascot Madness” is sponsored by AEP Ohio, whose Louie the Lightning Bug will be among the mascots in attendance.

Photographers from Cubberly Studios Inc., 34 S. Sandusky St., and PhotoText, 15 ½ W. Winter St., will be on hand to capture candid moments as youngsters meet the mascots and enjoy the family-friendly evening. Images will be available to order on their Web sites.

First Friday events are organized by Main Street Delaware, a non-profit organization that seeks to beautify, revitalize, and preserve the city’s historic downtown. For more information, visit www.mainstreetdelaware.org.

– Cole Hatcher