Press Release
Liberty Township’s Tradition Carries On in Sulphur Springs
On July 25 and 26, the quiet village of Sulphur Springs will come alive once again with the sounds of live music, the smell of slow-roasted meat, and the hum of neighbors catching up over pie and bratwurst. It’s the 40th anniversary of the Liberty Township Firemen’s Festival, and organizers are hoping for a big turnout to mark the milestone.
This isn’t your average summer festival—it’s the last remaining two-day volunteer firemen’s festival in the state of Ohio. What’s kept it going while others have faded? According to firefighter and longtime volunteer Chris Eicher, it comes down to one word: community.
“Without all of the help that we receive from everyone who steps up year after year to help us do everything from serving to coming and buying dinner, we could not do what we do without our supporters,” Eicher said.
A Community Tradition Since 1983
The event traces its roots back to 1983, when the Sulphur Springs Sesquicentennial celebration brought residents together for food and beer under the direction of the local fire department. After skipping a year, the full-fledged festival officially launched in 1985 and hasn’t missed a beat since—not even in 2020, when so many events were called off due to the pandemic.
That year, the festival adapted with a drive-thru model, and the community responded in force.
“People turned out in droves and showed their support and we served just as much as we would have during a normal year,” Eicher recalled.
Each summer, around 2,000 to 3,000 visitors flock to the event—weather permitting—from surrounding towns and counties. And it takes a small army to pull it off: about 100 volunteers step in to cook, serve, and clean up.
“When they say it takes a village to put on an event, that is an understatement,” Eicher said. “Everything right down to cutting the pies and portioning out the sides is done by volunteers who come out every year to help us.”
What’s on the Grill?
Food is front and center at the festival, with the fire department members themselves handling all the cooking. From slow-roasting beef and pork, to grilling bratwurst, cooking corn, and preparing sides like pickled beets, baked beans, and jalapeño eggs—it’s all hands on deck.
A big part of that effort is coordinated by Tonya Geiger, the festival’s kitchen manager.
“Without her we could not do this event,” Eicher said. “She handles all of the preparations, oversees the majority of the cooking, and organizes the volunteers who work the serving line.”
Crowd favorites include Carle’s Bratwurst, Troyer’s pies, Bob’s famous jalapeño eggs, and the signature slow-roasted meat sandwiches. Longtime visitors may remember when the event featured Stineman’s ice cream, made by hit-and-miss engines. After Stineman’s retired, organizers kept things local and now bring in Mark’s Homemade Ice Cream for the weekend.
Music and More
Live music will fill the air both nights of the festival. Local favorite One Foot in the Grave—featuring a drummer who once served on the fire department—takes the stage at 8 p.m. Friday. On Saturday night, singer-songwriter Matthew Cotter will perform starting at 9 p.m.
And if you’re feeling lucky, stick around Saturday night for the gun raffle drawing at 10 p.m.
A Festival Full of Memories
With four decades under its belt, the Liberty Township Firemen’s Festival has no shortage of stories. Chief Rick Harley summed it up simply:
“We have more memories than we can count from the 40 years of doing this festival.”
Eicher recalled one year when a rainstorm rolled in right before dinner.
“We figured we would take a huge hit on attendance,” he said. “Much to our surprise, as soon as the rain stopped, we had a wave of people come walking down the road ready to get in line. They had all been waiting nearby for the weather to break.”
For many, the festival has grown from a fundraiser into something more lasting.
“What sets us apart are the people,” Eicher said. “It has turned into more of a community reunion, allowing people of all ages to come back to the area and reconnect over the history of our community.”
Why You Should Go
If you’ve never been to the festival, Eicher has a delicious reason why you should:
“We serve the best slow-roasted beef and pork sandwiches you will find, and you’ll never know how good they are unless you stop out.”
Where the Money Goes
While the festival is a beloved community tradition, it also serves a critical purpose for the Liberty Township Fire Department. The money raised goes directly toward purchasing equipment that cannot be covered by levy funds. Most recently, festival proceeds helped pay the local portion of a grant used to buy new battery-operated vehicle extraction tools, a skid unit for the department’s brush truck (the component responsible for pumping water), and portable light towers for the engine and tanker.
“These are things we couldn’t get without the extra support from the community,” Eicher said. “Every dinner bought, every raffle ticket sold—it all adds up to real improvements for our department and how we serve the people who live here.”
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