Vertical Edge Entertainment is coming to Dowagiac Summer in the City July 21 and 22, providing families with two new attractions, a climbing wall and the Dixie Twister swing ride.  Families will also enjoy children’s games, a trackless train, inflatables, a dunk tank, pedal cars and a youth bags tournament.

The 32nd annual festival, which also features merchant sidewalk sales, is presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.

The family-friendly festival kicks off Thursday evening, July 20, with the concert by American Idol contender Jared Knox & the Hagar Bombs at Beckwith Park, beginning at 7 p.m.  Activities and sidewalk sales gear up Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, and conclude Sunday with ACTION’s Community Praise Jam at 2 p.m. at Beckwith Park.

This year’s festival has been underwritten by AK Montgomery, Burling & Gillesby DDS, Chemical Bank, Clark Chapel/Starks Family Funeral Homes, Creative Vinyl Signs, D. MottL Realty Group, Dowsett Chiropractic Health Center, Kim MacGregor’s Office of Edward Jones, Family Fare, Four Winds Casino, Lyons Industries, Olympia Books, Southwestern Michigan College, Wightman & Associates, Who Knew? Consignment and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.

Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Chamber of Commerce and DDA, said Vertical Edge Entertainment attractions, along with the dunk tank, presented by the City’s Department of Public Safety, will be situated on Commercial Street.   Located along Front Street, which will also be closed to through traffic, will be children’s games, presented by Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, Judd Lumber Company’s children’s inflatables and Wounded Minnow’s youth bags tournament.

Children will also enjoy riding the trackless train, presented by Arden Withers, which will roam the full festival site. From noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Crystal Springs Camp & Retreat will host pedal car rides.

Phillipson said Summer on Tap Friday evening will be presented by Sister Lakes Brewing Company at Beckwith Park, where Nashville’s Kari Lynch Band takes the stage from 7 to 10:30 p.m.  She said The Taste of Dowagiac is moving to Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. and will feature eight of Dowagiac’s popular dining spots.

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.  Phillipson said booth space is available for $30 per day.