Amish volleyball tournaments are not the demonstration of amateur sports you might expect. They are well-organized, well-attended, and well-played. With girls teams, guys teams, and co-ed teams, all competing for the prize (which is usually donated to a local family in need), these tournaments are great fun to watch.

Last weekend the Berlin Lions hosted an all-day event at the park. Beginning at 8 am, under cloudy grey skies and a misting drizzle the kids started congregating at the seven nets that were stretched end-to-end across the grassy areas of the park. With a skill that could have earned a few scholarships, had any of them been college-bound, the players pounded the ball back and forth, undetered by the chilly weather. With the final eliminations finished the winners were named around 3:00pm. After playing all day, a dozen or so kids started yet another game. . .just for fun.

Music performed by favorite local artists was planned from 5:00 to 8:00, along with the Lions BBQ’d chicken and Lion Doug’s most amazing beans. He had been working on them for hours, stirring a large cast iron pot over an open fire and adding a little of this and a little of that until he was satisfied with the taste.

The clouds continued to threaten rain so the stage was moved from the outdoor flatbed to the picnic pavilion. It turned out to be a perfect evening. No hot sun and almost no rain. The crowds brought their own lawn chairs and blankets. Some sat at picnic tables scattered about. Kids played on the nearby swings. And everyone got a chance, once again, to experience what it is about living in Holmes County that makes it one of a kind.