Manchester Street Festival this Saturday

Image provided by: gaetanlee under a CC 2.0 License.

The Annual Manchester Street Festival will be held this Saturday, August 2nd from 9am to 7pm. The Run Manchester race will start at 8am, and continue until 10:30am (see the map here). The 7th Annual Run Manchester features a 1 mile fun run that is FREE and open to all ages. The registration fee for either is $30 ($20 student rate). The 5K and 10K will start together following the Fun Run. Register online here.

Events for the Street Festival include a Vintage Car Show, Bed Races, Farmers Market & Craft Show, Kids Korner, Juried Art Fair, "Block of Health" offering free health classes in Wurster Park, Beer Tent at the Tap and Live Music All Day. New this year will be the Fireman’s Challenge, a Kids Bike Race, a Driving Simulator, and a Climbing Wall. The much-loved Duck Race will flow along the river, starting at the Dairy Queen. There will be a special appearance by Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Dive Team.  (See a map of the events here.)

See our previous article on the musical line-up.

Schedule of Events and Music

8:00am ... Run Manchester (Awards at 10:30 AM)

9:00am ... Block of Health (ends 3 PM)

9:00am ... Festival Marketplace (ends 5 PM)

9:00am ... Fine Arts Show (ends 5 PM)

9:00am ... Kids Korner (ends 3 PM)

9:00am ... Live Music at the Gazebo (Ends 3 PM)

9:00am ... Live Music at the Mill Porch (last performance starts at 7:30 PM)

9:00am ... Vintage Car Show (awards at 2:30 PM)

Noon ... Bounce House by the Bridge (ends 7 PM)

Noon ... Dunk Tank (near the Bridge) sponsored by Boy Scout Troop #426
..............(schedule of Dunk Tank Appearances to be announced)

Noon ... Michigan Sheriff’s Association driving simulator and a seat-belt convincer
..............(ends 7 PM)

1:30pm ... Fireman’s Challenge (at the Bridge)

3:00pm ... Bed Races (judged by our local Clergy)

4:00pm ... Kid’s Bike Race (register between Clinton & Washington streets)

4:00pm ... 26’ Rock Climbing Wall (ends 7 PM)

5:00pm ... Duck Race (at the Bridge) Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce

** Activities Close at 7pm – Live Music Until 8:30pm ** Beer Tent and Live Music continues until Midnight** 

For more information about the event in general or about the run contact Amelia Woods at woodsie668@aol.com or Jill Corwin at jcorwin@tds.net.

For more information about the Festival Marketplace or non-profit booths contact Sharon Curtis at sharonoldscurtis@gmail.com.

For more information about the Juried Art Fair contact Dee Miles at dee@thewildacorn.com.

For more information about the music contact Mike Austin at 115houseconcerts@gmail.com or Aileen Rohwer at aileen@culturalaststrings.org.

For more information about the Kids Korner contact at Carl Curtis carlcurtis@gmail.com.

For more information about the Live Performances contact Kari Newman at knewman@reinhartrealtors.com.

For more information about Bed Races contact Ron Milkey at ron@premiercontracting.com.

For more information about the Kids Bike Race contact Sandra Wiitala at swiit@comcast.net.

For more information about the Vintage Car Show contact Lester Koch via the The Manchester Men’s Club.

For more information about the Duck Races contact Rose Cousineau, president of The Chamber of Commerce, at manchester@hometownpharmcy.com.

For more information about Event Publicity contact Jen Alber at jenslistings@gmail.com.

For more information about the Block of Health contact Kathy Benedict at kbneonfrog@yahoo.com. 

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by Fritz Swanson

Fritz Swanson has written for The Believer, the Christian Science Monitor, Print Magazine, McSweeney's, Esopus, LSA Magazine, and The Mid-American Review. He serves as a trustee on the Manchester District Library Board. He's the designer and publisher of The Manchester Mirror.

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