This Frog Fest Near Cleveland Will Have You Hippity-Hopping For Joy This Summer

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.

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.

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.

Officials watch as the frogs jump and measure the distance of their furthest leap.

Most competitors jump somewhere between 11 and 12 feet, but the furthest jump ever recorded was nearly 20 feet!

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.

Fair food, shopping, and oodles of frog-themed games keep attendees feeling festive.

This summer is sure to be one that will make you jump for joy!

This is one epic event you won't want to miss. Check in on the Frog Jump Facebook page to find out the date for this year's epic summertime event.

For more information about the Valley City Frog Jump, check out its Facebook page here.

This unique community near Cleveland has an unusual celebration that's unlike any other. Will you be competing this year?

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