Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD - In the past, bad weather hampered Milford Fest and activities had to be canceled.
This year, the Milford Fest organizers moved the festival from the Saturday before Memorial Day to June 29. However, with the theme being patriotism, the spirit of Memorial Day will carry on.
The communitywide event will begin with a flag-raising. Former Syracuse Police Department Officer Jim Felkner, who suffered a stroke within the past year, will do the honors. After the flag-raising, a ceremony will be held to honor Milford's volunteer Emergency Medical Service and fire department. Local police officer Tim Miller, who was injured previously by a drunken driver, will be given a special award.
For the rest of the day, many activities for the whole family are planned.
The car show will be held on the south end of Main Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. New to the show this year is the display of antique tractors. Maple Leaf Farms and Jenkins' NAPA are co-sponsoring the car show.
Participants in the cutie contest must have either parent(s) or grandparent(s) with a Milford address. The contest is at 10:30 a.m., but all participants must be registered by June 28. Forms are available at the town hall for the cutie contest, as well as any event that requires preregistration. Maple Leaf Farms is the cutie contest sponsor.
Ronald McDonald will visit during the intermission of the cutie contest.
The sack race will be at 3:30 p.m. and the scavenger hunt is at 3 p.m.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department will be on hand with a child safety booth. The Kosciusko County K-9 unit will give a demonstration at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., there will be a martial arts self-defense demonstration.
Chore-Time Brock is sponsoring the 5K run and 3K fun walk this year in conjunction with its 50th anniversary. Registration is at the CTB conference center June 29 at 8:30 a.m. and the races begin at 9 a.m. The first 150 registrants will receive free shirts.
At 4 p.m. downtown, there will be a chili cook-off and a bake-off.
The Wawasee High School volleyball team is sponsoring a dunk tank. One of the people scheduled to sit in the dunk tank is Indiana Miss Basketball Shanna Zolman.
In addition, there will be a raffle with one of the raffle prizes being a Zolman-autographed basketball. Another prize will be a vinyl picnic table donated by Royal Crown Limited.
Free bingo will be held in the morning in the old Sharps' Hardware building.
At 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Milford Community Building, Kosciusko County Historical Society member Donna Angle will give a presentation and slide show on Milford's history.
For the first time, an "open jam session" will be held for musicians to show off their musical talent. Any singer or band wanting to participate must preregister for a slot. There is no charge and only a microphone will be provided.
At noon, the Indianapolis-based Christian band Praise Team will perform. At 4 p.m., Word of Truth singers will perform.
The Little 500 will be at noon and no preregistration is required. The Little 500 features battery-powered kids' cars.
Also at noon is the National City Bank Kiddie Tractor Pull on Main Street.
During most of the day, the Elkhart County Garden Tractor Pull demonstration will be going on.
All day town-wide garage sales will be held. Street vendors will sell a variety of foods. The Milford Public Library will host a book sale.
Concluding the Milford Fest events will be a street dance with DJ Jeremy VanLue from 7 to 10 p.m. on Main Street. The dance is free for all.
For more information, call 574-658-9242 or 574-658-3346.
