St. Denys Foundation for the 10th consecutive year has awarded to the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority a $10,000 fine arts grant to help fund entertainment and related costs of this community’s largest and oldest summertime gala.

As the forerunner of Dowagiac’s Summer in the City Festival marks its 26th year this July, its present-day bright and colorful celestial image will be shining bright as remote-controlled NASCAR racing is among the new business-sponsored activities of the July 28-30 celebration.

First known as Ridiculous Days and then Fun Fest, in 2009 the three-day festival sported for the first time its new name with celestial logo.  The cheerful and mystical face, inflamed in brilliant color, was perhaps also intended to depict the hot, muggy temperatures that generally fall upon this mid-summer celebration.

Hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, the festival that opens in the downtown on Thursday, July 28, offers more than $15,000 of entertainment and activities for the family, along with Steve’s 5K and 10K Run and this community’s Sizzlin’ Hot Sidewalk Days, said Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Chamber of Commerce and the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

“Through the years, while its name has changed, the festival’s major underwriter, St. Denys Foundation, has remained a constant and a steadfast supporter, and continues to be an essential aspect to the continuation of Dowagiac’s longest-running summertime gala.”

As the DDA and Chamber of Commerce program director, Phillipson handles grant writing and raises the monies needed to fund the presentation of vocal, instrumental and specialty entertainment, and the interactive children’s workshops.  She also oversees event scheduling for the summertime celebration, as well as its advertising and advance publicity.

“Our sincere gratitude is extended to St. Denys Foundation of Dowagiac, and to our 10 corporate festival sponsors and to our 16 activity sponsors, which have partnered with us to bring this celebration to our central business district,” Phillipson said.

Previously, St. Denys had also funded the DDA’s 12-week Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series, which Phillipson also oversees, that is today underwritten by Huntington Bank.

New this year, the 2011 celebration welcomes to its corporate sponsorship line up Edward Jones and its Office of Kim MacGregor, Family Fare, Frontier Communications and LADD.

Returning corporate sponsors include Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby, Creative Vinyl Signs, Leader Publications, Lyons Industries, Dr. Alan Montgomery, Southwestern Michigan College and the City of Dowagiac, which provides essential in-kind support services.

This year’s gala also features another 16 activity sponsors that include John and Curt’s Brake & Alignment, and Jim D’s Body Shop that have teamed up to co-sponsor the new remote-controlled NASCAR racing; Dowagiac District Library that is underwriting Joel Tacey’s Tip Top Entertainment on Thursday; Forest Glen Assisted Living that is underwriting Friday evening’s Ice Cream Social; and Cass County Council on Aging that is hosting the music of Al Mott Friday afternoon, outside the site of the new Dowagiac Senior Center by Twistee’s.

Frame of Mind Custom Framing & Art Gallery is hosting three festival events, featuring working artisan Joshua Jessup, who specializes in chainmaille and leather tooling; book signing by award-winning children’s author Cheri Hallwood and her illustrator; plus Children’s Clothesline Art.  One of Dowagiac’s newest downtown merchants, The Gift of Namaste’, will host psychic readings on Saturday and the new-folk music of Trae Marie Tillis on Friday and Saturday.

Event and activity sponsors also include the Dowagiac Department of Public Safety, which will be joined by area law enforcement agencies to present this year’s expanded Safety Corner at Front and Main streets, as it blends fun with interactive educational events Thursday and Friday.  The Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant and Dowagiac fire personnel will both host interactive events for young girls and boys at the children’s entertainment tent.

Dowagiac Band Boosters returns as the host of children’s games at Beckwith Park, as Dowagiac Fine Arts Boosters presents Rubbery Ducky Races.

Children’s inflatables will again be presented by Judd Lumber Building Supply & Rental Center as Leader Publications joins the festival line-up as the host of this year’s dunk tank and Vincent J. Jewelers presents digging for diamonds.

The host of the festival’s longest-running and largest event, Steve’s Run, is again presented Saturday morning by Southwestern Michigan College.

Dowagiac’s Summer in the City features three full days of vocal, instrumental and dance performances, horse-drawn wagon and train rides, outdoor food vendors, a children’s entertainment tent featuring the Curious Kids Museum, pony rides and petting zoo, and summer sidewalk sales of specialty shops that feature booths of craftsmen, artisans and community organizations.