Celebrate with us on Saturday, April 12th at Noon as we sing Happy Birthday to our friendly giant!

CELINA, OH – (4-11-25) Mercer County is celebrating a unique milestone, and everyone is invited. Join us at the Mercer County Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 12th at 12:00 PM as we sing Happy Birthday to Nelson, the beloved wooden Sasquatch sculpture, who turns one year old this month.

Nelson, a larger-than-life wooden carving, was created during the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse by the talented Bear Hollow Wood Carvers. The project involved 9 carvers from 5 different states and took 5.5 days to complete. Nelson is the second carving in a developing trail of giants, with the first, Otis, located at Patoka Lake in Indiana.

Otis

 

Measuring 27 feet tall and 18 feet across from shoulder to shoulder, Nelson has a foot size of 7 feet long—equivalent to a shoe size of 98. His structure includes 300 feet of treated 2x4s and 5,000 board feet of poplar wood. His head alone weighs between 600 and 700 pounds. The base of the sculpture incorporates a tractor and plow, symbolizing Mercer County’s deep agricultural heritage.

Nelson

To celebrate his first birthday, Nelson will be wearing a new birthday sash, proudly sponsored by the Greater Grand Lake Visitors Region. The public is encouraged to attend the noon sing-along and help us mark this special occasion.

 

In addition to Saturday’s public celebration, a full weekend of activities will be taking place during Nelson’s Birthday Bash, exclusively for campers staying at the fairgrounds. Campers can enjoy a weekend filled with fun, including a full event schedule and Nelson’s Lucky Shot Bingo on Saturday evening.

 

Additional public events happening Saturday include Nelson’s Vendor Market in the Junior Fair Building from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and the Mercer County Farmers Market in the Multi-Purpose Building from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

 

For the full weekend schedule and more updates, please visit the Mercer County Fairgrounds Facebook page.

 

We look forward to celebrating with the community and honoring the first birthday of our favorite wooden icon.