CHARLESTOWN —
Craft, art and food booths, carnival rides and entertainment are coming to Charlestown’s city square this weekend.
It’s time for the 12th annual Founder’s Day celebration that commemorates the founding of the city by Charles Biggs on June 29, 1808.
Charlestown’s Beautification Committee puts on the event and for the second year the bulk of the celebration will be focused in the city’s square.
“We decided to do it again [there] this year because of all of the positive feedback,” said Donna Coomer, co-chair of the Charlestown Beautification Committee. “It was all just right here.”
The event moved to the city square last year while sewer work was under way in Greenway Park. But moving it there provided easier access for people attending the event, Coomer said.
“It seems to tie it all together,” said Ted Little, co-chair of the Charlestown Beautification Committee on keeping the events in the square. “Once we moved it there, we felt it was a more tight-knit setup.”
The festival is funded by the beautification committee, the city and through sponsorships.
“One of the things I’m real proud of this year ... [is the] great job of increasing local sponsors from last year,” Little said. “It nearly doubled from last year.”
Any surplus money from the sponsors goes to the beautification committee to use in its efforts around Charlestown, Coomer explained. Although the festival has already held some of it’s early events, the celebration doesn’t get into full swing until this weekend.
Carnival rides started Thursday in Greenway Park, and today festivities kick into full gear. In addition to carnival rides, food vendors and arts and crafts booths that will be open today and Saturday, Charlestown’s city square will host live entertainment.
Little said two of last year’s big draws will be back playing in the square this year. The Louisville Crashers are set to play tonight and The Monarchs are playing Saturday night before the city’s fireworks show.
“It was a smash last year with the groups we had in,” he said.
Little estimated that each night about 5,000 people came to the festival last year.
Coomer said the weather definitely cooperated last year and while the temperatures are expected to be a little higher this year, she thinks attendance will still be good.
“We expect the same crowd,” she said.
For those who want to take a short walk to Greenway Park there will be carnival rides, and the Backyard Classics, a classic car show, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the 4-H Fairgrounds along Ind. 62.
Also, Saturday morning a parade will run along Market Street, with former jockey Pat Day serving as the grand marshal. Nicole Keith-Morrison, a Charlestown teacher who was struck by a vehicle near the high school in April, will serve as an honorary grand marshal.
Coomer said a new attraction that will be set up on the square this year is a mobile video game theater. The video game trailer will offer multiplayer gaming, with enough room for 16 players to play against one another, in vibrating seats on a variety of gaming systems.
“It’s a great festival for the citizens of Charlestown. I certainly look forward to it,” Little said.
Entertainment News
Related Photos
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The City of Charlestown annual Founders Day celebration runs Friday and Saturday on the city square and Greenway Park. The Hula Hoop contest is 2 p.m. Saturday on the city square. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
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The Charlestown Founders Day watermelon eating contest is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on the city square. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
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The City of Charlestown annual Founders Day parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Discussion
Finding fun: Full slate of Founder’s Day events begins today as Charlestown celebrates 12th annual event
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