The popularity of the interactive “All Dolled Up” children’s workshop for little girls at Dowagiac Summer in the City has ballooned this year into two events, one for girls and their favorite dolls, and a second event geared for boys that will be hosted by Dowagiac firefighters.

Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) who coordinated this year’s summertime bash, said she is pleased to welcome the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant and the Dowagiac Fire Department as the host of the two interactive workshops that will be presented at next week’s festival.

Held at the Children’s Entertainment Tent on Commercial Street, little girls are invited Saturday, July 30, to bring their favorite doll with them, as they attend this interactive craft workshop with Miss Dowagiac Gabrielle Dorman and members of the Miss Dowagiac court.

The event gets underway at 1 p.m. and has been coordinated by Phillipson and Deb Cuthbert, co-owner of Manor Mini Mart, who is a former pageant director.  Both women serve on the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant Executive Committee.

Children who attend the free activity will be able to meet Miss Dowagiac and have their pictures taken with her, as they also make a keepsake photo frame.  Participants of the princess-themed event will receive tiaras, courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce and the festival, and will also be able to enter a free drawing that will award Barbie Mini Kingdom dolls  to two winners.

Similar in nature, Phillipson said Dowagiac fire personnel will host an interactive children’s program on Friday, July 29, beginning at 1 p.m. at the children’s entertainment tent, entitled “Heroes Among Us.”

While the program is geared for young boys, Deputy Fire Chief Guy Evans said girls are also welcome to attend.  Children can meet some of Dowagiac’s fire personnel, who work to keep the community safe, and will also be able to climb aboard the ladder truck.  He said participants will receive from the fire department a gift bag that will include such items as a coloring book, fire hat and badge.

Both programs will be held beneath the children’s entertainment tent on Commercial Street and are open free of charge to children and their parents.

In addition to the two interactive events, the children’s entertainment tent will also present hands-on activities by the Curious Kids Museum of St. Joseph, which will present daily programming from 11:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The three-day festival, which is now in its 26th year,  was underwritten by a $10,000 fine arts grant that was awarded to the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority from St. Denys Foundation of Dowagiac and 26 corporate and activity sponsors that include Dr. Charles Burling & Dr. Jon Gillesby, Creative Vinyl Signs, Edward Jones and the Office of Kim MacGregor, Family Fare, Frontier Communications, LADD, Leader Publications, Lyons Industries, Dr. Alan Montgomery and Southwestern Michigan College.

Youngsters will also enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo, riding the festival train and horse-drawn wagon rides.  There’s also a climbing rock wall and dunk tank, remote-controlled NASCAR racing, the inflatable party castle and obstacle course, and Children’s Clothesline Art.

Dowagiac Summer in the City also features more than 45 hours of vocal, instrumental and dance exhibitions and the acclaimed Steve’s Run of Southwestern Michigan College.  For a complete schedule of events, visit www.DowagiacChamber.com