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Published: August 28, 2008 10:14 am
Festival returns for s’more fun
By R. DAVID MCLAUGHLIN
Correspondent
LIGONIER, Ind. — The Ligonier Marshmallow Festival opens Friday and extends through Monday.
The festival will provide music, contests, displays, rides, food and activities for every age and offers families a way to celebrate the final holiday weekend of the summer.
There’s also no admission charge.
Because of sponsorships from service clubs and local businesses, along with individual donations, most of the entertainment presentations are free as well.
The festival parade theme this year will be “Legends of Ligonier.”
Parade entries are due by Saturday. Call Lisa Hartsough for details at 636-3563).
Queen pageant
Starting at 5:30 p.m. today, contestants for the Ligonier Marshmallow Festival Queen will participate in the pageant at Stone’s Hill Community Church, located on U.S. 33 south of Ligonier.
Local girls in grades eight through 12 are eligible to participate. The public is invited to attend. There is no admission charge.
For additional details, contact Donna Funk at (260) 894-3978.
Marshmallow Bake-Off
Also among the most popular traditions is the Marshmallow Bake Off, scheduled for Saturday at noon in the Ligonier Fire Department. Entrants should call Margarita White at (260) 894-9016.
Bed races
Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Ligonier will once more sponsor the bed races at the Marshmallow Festival Monday morning. For entry details, contact Julie Buttgen at (260) 894-9922.
Car show
The Marshmallow Festival Car Show will be Sunday on Main Street, starting with 8 a.m. registration. Proceeds from the car show will go to the Ronald McDonald House, and Riley Hospital for Children. Call Dave Limerick at (260) 894-4626 for other information.
Visit the Festival Web site at www.themarshmallowfestival.com for other schedule and event details.
SCHEDULE
Friday evening
The festival activities on Friday night open with vintage baseball at 7:30 at Kenney Park.
Country music band Coca will also perform at Kenney Park from 8 to 10:30 p.m.
A teen dance is scheduled in the park from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
The park will also play host to a marshmallow roast from 8 to 10 p.m.
A new event, the Blue Light Parade sponsored by the Ligonier Fire Department, will go from Main Street to Kenney Park starting at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
The festival starts early Saturday with games and competition for people of all ages.
For the youngest festival visitors, the kids’ Marshmallow Games will take place on the library lawn at 9 a.m., with the competition open for children ages 3 to 12.
Merchants’ exhibits will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Third Street next to Lake City Bank Saturday through Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.
The opening ceremonies are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the Main Street Stage.
At 10:30 a.m. registration is scheduled for pedal tractor races and pulls at Fourth and Main streets for age groups 3 to 4, 5 to 6, teens and adults, and at Third and Main for entrants ages 7 to 8, 9 to 10 and 11 to 12. Competition will begin at noon at those locations.
At noon, the Marshmallow Bake-Off, sponsored by the Ligonier Advance-Leader, will show off marshmallow treats at the Ligonier Fire Station.
The rides of Anderson Amusement Co. will open at noon, and remain open until the festival closes.
Bingo is scheduled at American Legion Post 243 at 100 S. Main St. from noon to 8 p.m.
At 2 p.m., a euchre tournament will take place at Avalon Village on Lincolnway West. This will be a 10-round tournament with partners, and is open to all. Call Shannon Alexander at (260) 894-7131 for more information.
A bike rodeo will be at Ligonier Elementary from 3 to 5 p.m. Contact Brian Shearer at (260) 894-4616.
From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Two Many People will bring rock-and-roll to the Main Street Stage.
At 8 p.m., local favorite country band Shilo will complete the evening with its high energy sound from the Main Street Stage.
Sunday
Sunday morning will open with registration for the Marshmallow Festival Car Show, starting at 8 at Union and Main streets, followed by the car show (pre-1990 vehicles) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street. Contact Dave Limerick at (260) 894-4626 for more information.
Car show trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m. at the car show master of ceremony stand. The rain date and location for the Car Show will be Monday at Kenney Park.
Bingo at the American Legion on South Main Street will again be on the schedule from noon to 8 p.m., and rides will operate from noon until festival closing.
At 12:30 p.m. and again at 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m., Matt’s Family Fun Show, featuring magic and balloon artistry, will perform on the library lawn.
At 4 p.m., music by Mindy and the Fun Co. will be performed on the library lawn.
The Fords will bring their sounds of country, oldies and “always favorites” to the Main Street Stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Winding up the day from 8 to 10:30 p.m., The Legends, billed as America’s Favorite Musical Comedy Show, will bring their music and laughter to the Main Street Stage.
Monday
A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Ligonier Lions Club will open the final day of the festival at Gazebo Park from 7 to 9 a.m. The cost will be $2 per person.
At 9 a.m., music by Mindy and the Fun Co. will return to the library lawn.
From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the festival tradition bed races will be staged on Main Street. Call Julie Buttgen at (260) 894-9922 to enter or for other details.
Starting at 11:30 a.m., the festival talent show will take place on the Main Street stage.
Bingo at the American Legion on South Main Street will again be on the schedule from noon to 8 p.m.
Rides will open at noon as well, along with a Gazebo Park chicken barbecue sponsored by Ligonier Rotary.
The lineup for the grand parade will also begin at noon on Grand Street. The entry deadline for the parade is at 5 p.m. Saturday. Contact Lisa Hartsough at (260) 564-4706 for more information.
At 12:45 p.m., the Inclognito Cloggers will entertain on Main Street, finishing just before the grand parade begins at 2 p.m. on Main Street.
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