Cassopolis is celebrating summer in Michiana once again with its annual Pioneer Days Festival.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24, in downtown Cassopolis. Local businesses and vendors will have booths set up at the event to sell products and promote businesses. Many food vendors will sell a variety of food at the event, including a taco truck, elephant ears and fried Oreos. There will also be a children’s play area, which will include bounce houses, a rock climbing wall and a dunk tank.

A beer garden will be serving drinks from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the day of the event. Live music from local musician Rick Drews will begin at 5 p.m. in the beer garden, which will be located by the VFW. From 7 to 10 p.m., band Rum Boogie will play.

“It’s an important event because it’s one of the only festivals that we have in Cassopolis,” said Main Street Committee member Heather Carter. “It brings people in and brings the community together.”

Despite what is implied by the title of the event, the festival has nothing to do with pioneers. Instead, Pioneer Days got its name because it is held the day before Pioneer/Log Cabin Day, a state holiday taking place on Sunday, June 25.

“We do our event in conjunction with [Pioneer Day] to just make it a full weekend,” Carter said. “It also helps people remember some of the heritage and the history of Cassopolis, with there being a log cabin [in Cassopolis].”

In addition to promoting local business and serving as a reminder of the history of the village, Pioneer Days is meant to celebrate those who live and work in the community, Carter said.

“It helps us to show a thank-you to the community for their support throughout the year,” Carter said.

With the support of the community, this year’s festival is projected to be as successful as previous years.

“Our goal is to always bring people into town so that they can see Cassopolis and see what we do have offer,” Carter said.

The Main Street Committee expressed gratitude to all the local vendors who made the event, particularly the children’s area, possible.

So far, the event has raised $4,945 in donations.

The Bergman Vet Clinic donated $200. The Cassopolis Vigilant donated $250. The Chamber of Commerce donated $100. Reverend Johnson donated $325. The First Church of God donated $225. GW Jones donated $250. Janel Industries donated $160. K&M Machine Fabricating, Inc. donated $325. Kemner Lot donated $250. LaGrow Consulting donated $225. Stone Lake Mini Mart donated $100. McGrew Assessing donated $100. Niles Credit Union donated $200. Northstar Landscaping donated $100. Pathfinders Networks donated $500. Porkys donated $225. Postle Aluminum donated $250. Stone Lake Family Adventures donated $250. Waste Management donated $160. Wightman & Associates donated $250. Dowagiac Credit Union donated $100. Village Floral donated $100. Cass Dental donated $150. Schwntek donated $150. C. Wimberly donated $150.

For more information about the event, contact Carter at heatherc@casscoa.org.