First Friday, Downtown Days in Warsaw This Weekend
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
First Friday is this Friday in downtown Warsaw, and Saturday is Downtown Days.
First Friday is from 5 to 9 p.m. and has been dubbed “Shrine The Night Away.”
The event will feature the Mizpah Shrine Parade at 8:30 p.m. Jack Anglin, Clunette, will serve as the grand marshal of the parade.
The parade will commence at the corner of Market and Columbia streets and head east on Market Street to HighâStreet. The parade will then turn north on High Street, then west on Center Street back to Columbia Street. The best viewing areas will be on Market and Center streets between Lake and Indiana streets.
First Friday will include a dunk tank featuring city and county officials. Proceeds from the dunk tank will help support Shriners Hospital For Children. Special Mizpah Shrine activity booklets will be available to children ages 12 and under while supplies last.
Downtown merchants will kick off Friday’s events with sidewalk sales and “in-store” specials. Attendees can enjoy Mexican food, barbecue, fish, corn dogs, funnel cakes, cupcakes and Italian ice. Downtown restaurants also will offer meal specials.
Several non-profit and for-profit general vendors will be stationed throughout the downtown area.
Owen’s on West Center Street will feature kids’ activities in its parking lot from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in conjunction with downtown activities.
As part of First Friday, there will be a three-point basketball shootout, sponsored by Fellowship Missions.
There also will be pony rides, painting and other children’s activities. The First Friday Warsaw Facebook page will itemize activities featured at individual stores.
Entertainment at the intersection of Center and Market streets will include:
Caudill’s Black Belt Academy at 5 p.m.; Giverny Girls at 5:30 p.m.; John Begley’s Magic Show at 6 p.m.; Boppin’ Bob’s Boxing Academy at 7 p.m.; and Ruby Jazayre and Sisters of the Nile Belly Dancers at 7 p.m.
The Penguin Point and Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club will sponsor the 31st Annual Big Wheel Race Saturday at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Center Street in downtown Warsaw, and the competition is open to boys and girls between ages 4 and 7.
Registration forms are available at all Penguin Points, and at the Warsaw Community Development Corp. office. The first 100 entries will receive a free t-shirt. and grand prize winners will receive a new bicycle and trophy.
Merchant sidewalk sales continue Saturday, and a Kids’ Zone on South BuffaloâStreet will feature children’s activities from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Activities also will include small carnival rides, face painting and games. Sonshine Entertainment will perform a magic show and demonstrate balloon artistry from 12:30 to 2 p.m. At 2 p.m., Adam Strieby’s BMXâStunt Show will take to the downtown streets.
One of the highlights of the day will be the Fifth Annual Downtown Classic Criterium Saturday. The event is organized by the KCV Cycling Club. Children in age groups 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 may compete in free kids’ races.
Kids must bring their own bikes (no training wheels) and helmets, and each age group will take one lap around a six-block track. Staging for the races will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn. Races will start promptly at 3 p.m.
Multi-category races will commence at 3:30 p.m., and the final race will be at 7:30 p.m. There is a total purse of $3,850, and registration is available at www.truesport.com or www.warsawcdc.org
Rex’s Rendezvous will sponsor a cancer fundraiser and band and beverage tent from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Some of the highlights will include an auction, battle of the bands, motorcycle show, hog roast and a demo by the local “Derby Girls.”
First Friday bags will be sold for $10. The bags will give people special discounts at the participating downtown merchants listed on the bag.
Information is available during First Friday at the First Christian Church information center.
