By Staff
Eight corporate sponsors and two grants will produce an expanded, high-energy line-up of entertainment for this year's Dowagiac Fun Fest "Celebrate the Music," which is this community's largest summertime bash that features 45 hours of vocal and instrumental entertainment, sidewalk sales, carnival rides and midway, plus a new children's entertainment tent.
The three-day festival, which returns to the central business district July 28-30, is hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.
"Our sincere gratitude is extended to our eight corporate sponsors and to the St. Denys Foundation of Dowagiac and to the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, which have partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to bring the three-day festival to Dowagiac," said Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), who coordinated and raised funding for this year's event.
Corporate sponsors of the festival are: Drs. Charles Burling and Jonathan Gillesby, Creative Vinyl Signs, Felpausch Food Center, Franklin and Son, Leader Publications, Mennel Milling Co. of Michigan, Southwestern Michigan College and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.
For the fourth consecutive year, the July festival received an essential funding boost as recipient of a $7,000 fine arts grant from the St. Denys Foundation of Dowagiac, which provided partial funding for both the festival and the 11-week Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series, which Phillipson coordinates for the DDA.
She said this is the third year for Fun Fest to receive a grant from the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, headquartered in Buchanan, which will fund children's specialty entertainment through its contribution to the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
That $2,130 grant was made possible through the foundation's Youth Advisory Council and the Youth Endowments.
The 20-member vocal chorus of the Battle Creek Pops Ensemble returns Thursday evening at Beckwith Park at 7 p.m. and is followed by the big band sound of The Old Moonlighters from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
A local favorite, students from Miss Kathy's School of Dance and Positively Dance, open Thursday evening entertainment with their performance on Commercial Street from 5:30 to 6:30.
Phillipson said these same performers return for a second show that will be staged Saturday on Beeson Street from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
New this year, music enthusiasts will enjoy a jam-packed Friday evening of entertainment with vocal, instrumental and dance performances held at two downtown locations - Beckwith Park and also City Hall Park.
Phillipson said Friday evening's entertainment opens at an earlier time this year at 5 p.m. with Afro Jabe-Afrikan Village Drum and Dance Group, performing from 5 to 6:45 p.m. at Beckwith Park, followed by performances at 7 p.m. of the Kalamazoo Bag Pipe Band and its Highland Dance Group, with members of Sophisticated Swing rounding out the evening from 8:30 to 10 p.m.
Two blocks south on Front Street, the Christian vocal and instrumental group known as Seeds will perform at City Hall Park, beginning at 7 p.m.
In case of bad weather, the Christian music performance will be moved to Perk and Beans, 142 S. Front St.
Phillipson said Saturday evening entertainment is kicked off by another hometown favorite, Encore Dance Co., performing on Beeson Street from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the 25-member Lake Effect Jazz Big Band at the Haggin-Wimberley Bandstand.
During the three-day summertime bash, music enthusiasts will also enjoy performances that feature Caribbean music of the Reggae Boyz and the vocal and instrumental music of Roots Rock Society on Thursday afternoon; rock and roll music of The Blisters on Friday afternoon; and the country/Western music of Due Process on Saturday afternoon.
Among performers appearing at the new Children's Entertainment Tent on Depot Drive will be: Jo Hobo the Magical Clown; magicians Michael McGivern and Ronald McDonald; Steven's Marionette Show, which presents Beauty and the Beast; the Deep Fried Pickle Project as seen on the PBS Kids channel; ventriloquist Stephanie Johnson and children's storyteller Susan Harrison.
Families with young children will also want to see the performance of magician John Dudley at Dowagiac District Library.
Youngsters will also enjoy the on-site, interactive children's workshops, presented by The Curious Kids Museum of St. Joseph and the Potawatomi Zoo from South Bend, Ind.
Dowagiac Fun Fest also brings to the Grand Old City the amusement rides and midway of Family Fun Tyme; Starwalk children's games; the Vertical Challenge Climbing Wall; summer sidewalk sales with community, commercial and craft booths; a festival food court; the 31st anniversary of Steve's 5K and 10K Run, 5K Walk and its Children's Fun Run; and Mini Grand Prix racing.
Dowagiac Fun Fest is one of seven seasonal festivals and promotions hosted each year by the Chamber of Commerce.
To receive a schedule of events or to book a booth at Fun Fest, call the Chamber of Commerce at 269/782-8212.