NILES — Racers and walkers alike may have been sweaty and tired as they crossed the Niles Lighted Bridge Dash finish line Friday night, but many were dazzling.

That is because the Lighted Bridge Dash encouraged participants to wear bright clothes and glow-in-the-dark items. Some wore Christmas lights. Others displayed glow-in-the-dark paint designs created by Order & Chaos Tattoo Emporium staff.

The race was part of a larger event, the inaugural Niles Summer Festival, hosted by the Niles Parks Board and Niles DDA Main Street.

Many of the events hosted in coordination with the festival are not new to Niles, but this is the first time all have come together.

“We have all these activities on different times during the summer, parks board chair Heather Bosch said, mimicking what she thought when planning the festival. “If we would just bring them together and try to support local entities or local events all in one weekend, then maybe people who didn’t know, for instance, that there was a community picnic or didn’t know there was a community art day or didn’t know there was a lighted Bridge Bash Dash, we bring it all together.”

All events centered around Riverfront Park. On Friday, it featured a Fraternal Order of Eagles Beer Tent, a DDA Main Street community picnic and movie showing, a performance by local band Left 99 and the Lighted Bridge Dash.

Saturday featured three FOE events: a beer tent, a pancake breakfast and a corn and sausage roast.

It also featured a car show, a performance by 5th and Syc and the third annual John Lidecker Community Art Days.

Bosch said Lidecker himself hosted the event for many years before he passed away. Now, the event is host in his honor.

“He was a big pillar and a local artist of our community,” she said. “He also had trash cleanups and picked up trash and was always trying to promote Niles being better.”

Other events were hosted in coordination with the event. The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project hosted its open house Saturday and Sunday. The Ruff & Tumble Dog Park brought agility equipment to its park.

Businesses like the Brass Eye, Iron Shoe Distillery and Healthy Habits offered deals.

“The idea was just to support Niles,” Bosch said.