Village of Rio Grande’s 153rd Bean Dinner set for Aug. 10

The officers and committee of the Rio Grande Memorial Association would like to invite the public to the Village of Rio Grande’s 153rd Bean Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Bob Evans Farms shelter house.

Admission is $5 for ages 10 and older. All veterans, first responders and children age 9 and under will be admitted free.

The event includes food, entertainment and door prizes, which will be awarded every half-hour.

A bucket of beans will also be available for $8.

The annual bean dinner began in Rio Grande in 1870, two years after neighboring Vinton, Ohio held its first Grand Army of the Republic-sponsored celebration to honor Civil War veterans. The beans, hardtack and coffee were to serve as the village’s one-day sacrifice of eating and drinking what the soldiers were forced to survive on during breaks in the fighting.

The dinner now honors veterans of all American wars.

The Bean Dinner menu will be supplemented by other foods, such as cornbread, pies and soft drinks at an additional cost.

For more information, contact David Smalley at (740) 709-4971.

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