The Spin Doctors concert was unexpectedly postponed at the last minute by the band, but with no Spark Fishers Festival last year, let’s not allow that to dampen our spirits as an expanded celebration gets underway tonight, Tuesday, June 22nd.

The Tuesday concert features The Midtown Madmen, showcasing music from the ’50s and ’60s, at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater.  This is a free concert.

Wednesday features the 5K run.  Use this link for more details.

Thursday is the  Car & Art Show, featuring vintage and modern cars alongside 30 local artists and artisans. This event is free, 6-9pm, at the Municipal Complex.

The festival gets into full gear Saturday with the street fair, 3pm-10pm, at the Municipal Complex.  Here is what to expect:

• Local food and drink, retail vendors, artisans, and more, along with the Dining Tent sponsored by Four Day Ray Brewing.
• Three entertainment stages featuring live performances throughout the day, including the main NPD AMP stage sponsored by Ed Martin Nissan and Ed Martin Toyota, the Community Stage sponsored by Aspen Creek Grill, and the Platform Stage.
• A Kids Zone with bounce houses, games, face painters, and more kid-friendly fun sponsored by DMC Insurance.
• Roots at Spark!Fishers, a teen zone featuring a mobile skate park and dance battles with 31Svn Street Dance Academy.
• Fishers Arts Council presents a new experience, Spark of Creativity. Find your creative Spark and try out introductory experiences in movement, music, fiber arts, and acrylic painting.
• Cool down at Heroes Hall in the City Hall Auditorium, presented by Folds of Honor, where we will honor our hometown heroes who have served our country and our community. Prepare a care package for a local hero, watch a video highlighting these hometown heroes, and check out special demonstrations from the Fishers Police

The Spark Festival Parade is back this year.  It begins Saturday at 6pm, starting on Lantern Road north to Municipal Drive then south to 116th Street.  The parade then veers west on 116th and makes a north turn on Holland Drive to Ellipse Parkway at Holland Park and ends.

If you want public address commentary with your parade, there will be two locations.  The first will be provided by my friend & local publisher Tom Britt at Municipal Drive and 116th Street.  I will be handling the PA duties for the crowd gathered at Holland Drive and Ellipse Parkway, near the entrance to Holland Park.

Finally, the fireworks display starts at 10pm.  They will launch at Holland Park, but it is recommended you view the show near City Hall at the Municipal Complex.  Holland Park itself will be closed to the public for safety reasons during the fireworks.

For suggestions on parking during the festival, use this link.

Now that the pandemic has lowered the threat level and allowed us to have our Fishers summer festival once again, let’s all make the best of it!