DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac’s Summer in the City, which will run from July 19 to 21, is jam packed with excitement for young families as Star Attractions rolls out a Children’s Carnival, featuring rides, inflatables, carnival games and favorite festival foods, said organizers.

The expanded three-day summertime gala kicks off at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19, with the new Children’s Carnival and is topped off that evening with a special two-hour concert at 7 p.m. by former American Idol contender Jared Knox and the Hagar Bombs.

The 33rd annual festival of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce swings into full gear downtown on Friday and Saturday, as Vertical Edge Entertainment presents a Climbing Wall and Zip Line on Front Street.  Day-visitors will also enjoy children’s games presented by Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, along with a trackless train, dunk tank, pedal cars, rubber ducky race, music and dance and sidewalk sales, featuring the booths of artisans and community organizations.  Events conclude Sunday with ACTION’s Community Praise Jam at 2 p.m. on Beeson Street.

Summer in the City was underwritten this year by Chemical Bank, Clark Chapel / Starks Family Funeral Homes, Creative Vinyl Signs, Deck the Halls, Dowagiac Family Dentistry, Dowsett Chiropractic Health Center, Kim MacGregor’s Office of Edward Jones, Family Fare, Four Winds Casino, Lyons Industries, Olympia Books, Saylor’s Front Street Pizzeria, Southwest Vision Center, Southwestern Michigan College, Wightman and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.

Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Chamber of Commerce and DDA, said festival organizers are pleased to present the new Children’s Carnival, which will be staged at the corner of Division and Railroad streets on the grounds of the former industrial building, known as Big Gray.  Families with young children will enjoy rides, children’s inflatables, carnival foods and games.  The carnival runs until 9 p.m. daily, opening at 2 p.m. Thursday, noon on Friday and at 11 a.m. Saturday.

On Friday, young families will want to visit the downtown, Phillipson said, where the Kalamazoo Air Zoo will be a featured attraction from 1 to 3 p.m. on Beeson Street.  Presented by the Dowagiac District Library, children will create beautiful music, while investigating the science of sound.

Matt Weston, library director, said children will experience the vibrations that cause sound waves, using tuning forks, rubber bands and thunder tubes.

“They can practice their pitch, volume and rhythm with musical water glasses, drums and Boomwhackers,” Weston said. 

The interactive workshop wraps up as they then use these sound effects in a musical movie.

Phillipson said on Friday children’s events also feature the popular Princess Party & Parade, hosted by the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant at noon on Beeson Street and a Donut Dangle presented from 11 to 1 p.m. by the Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac.

Children will also enjoy riding the trackless train, presented by Arden Withers that roams the full festival site Friday and Saturday, and pedal car rides on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., presented by Crystal Springs Camp & Retreat on Beeson Street.

Festival highlights also include Friday night’s concert from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. by Nashville singer-songwriter Kari Lynch and the Summer on Tap craft brew event, hosted by Sister Lakes Brewing Company.  The Taste of Dowagiac, featuring this community’s favorite restaurants, takes place Saturday.

To reserve sidewalk booth space for commercial and community groups or to receive a full schedule of events, call the Chamber at (269) 782-8212 or visit DowagiacChamber.com.