This Frog Fest Near Cleveland Will Have You Hippity-Hopping For Joy This Summer
By Nikki Rhoades|Published June 03, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Once upon a time, there was a gambling man by the name of Jim Smiley. He captured a frog, named it Dan’l Webster, and trained the little guy to jump. He would bet against visitors, claiming that Dan’l Webster could jump further than any other frog in Calaveras County. Once stranger, intrigued by Smiley’s bet, fills Dan’l Webster with lead and captures his own frog to jump, successfully defeating the infamous gambler. This quirky story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, was written by Mark Twain in 1865, and it has impacted one Northeast Ohio community in an unusual way.
Valley City, also known as Liverpool Township, is a true diamond in the rough.
The village is located in Medina County along OH-303 and has a history stretching back all the way to 1810. Today Valley City is home to fewer than 5,000 residents, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in personality.
Summertime is a particularly exciting season in Valley City, and locals are already hopping with joy in anticipation for the annual Frog Jump.
At the time of its inception in 1962, the township was celebrating their 150th birthday and was hoping to introduce a memorable festivity that children could participate in.
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Since 1964, this celebration has been known as the official frog jumping championship of the state.
The competition was inspired by Twain’s story - which takes place in Calaveras County, California - and many Ohio contestants have gone on to compete in the largest contest over on the West Coast.
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Each year, hundreds of locals and visitors step into a makeshift arena to participate in the competition.
Some capture their own frogs, while others rent critters from the event staff. Either way, competitors hope to set a new record to go down in local history.
Don’t worry - the frogs are taken care of. They chill out in shady buckets during the event to keep them cool and protected from the summer heat. They are then released back into the waters of Mill Stream Park following their performance.
Even if you aren’t competing, there are tons of frog-themed festivities to enjoy.
