By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
With Thursday’s launch of spring only hours away, dates for numerous spring-summer events – and a few others – in Decatur were unveiled Tuesday night to city council.
Community Coordinator Jamie Gephart brought a lengthy list of 12 event applications before council at its City Hall meeting. Many of the events ask various street closings, all of which were approved by council, with some changes possible later due to the installation of the roundabout at Five Points.
The Chamber of Commerce’s summer concert series will kick off Thursday, June 5, both the highly-anticipated Decatur Sculpture Tour and Connor Brite’s Wildflowers benefit are set for Saturday, June 14, and the annual Fourth of July celebration will be held one day earlier than usual.
The sculpture unveiling and walk will be held throughout the downtown area, while the Wildflowers benefit, featuring four bands, will be staged on the Madison St. Plaza.
They were held on the same day last year for the first time.
The concert series on the plaza will continue each Thursday through through August 28. The following Thursday, Sept. 4, Adams Health Network will hold its annual seniors concert.
Since July 4 falls on a Friday, the Chamber will wrap the annual fireworks and veterans’ recognition together with the Thursday, July 3, concert, all to be held at Riverside Center.
Some of the street closings will be affected by the work on the installation of a roundabout at Five Points. First Street, for instance, is normally closed in the area by the plaza during concerts, but that will not be possible if the roundabout construction is going on at the time.
“I just think we can’t have (a portion of) First St. closed during that time,” Mayor Dan Rickord said.
All food vendors then would have to set up in the city parking lot off First St.
Following are the dates approved Tuesday:
* Summer Concert Series, each Thursday, June 5 through August 28.
* Sculpture Unveiling & Tour, Saturday, June 14, downtown and on the plaza., 3-5 p.m. July 3 reception at The HIVE.
* Connor Brite’s Wildflowers benefit concert, Saturday, June 14, 6-10 p.m., plaza.
* Downtown Decatur Day, Saturday, June 21, sponsored by Decatur Main Street, plaza.
* Fourth of July celebration, Thursday, July 3, Riverside Center, starting at 6 p.m.
* Germanfest, Saturday, August 16, 5-10 p.m., plaza.
* Kekiongafest, Friday through Sunday, August 22-23-24, Riverside Center.
* Motor Sports Festival, Thursday, August 28, downtown.
* Highland Games, Saturday Oct. 4, Riverside Center.
* Callithumpian Parade, Monday, Oct. 27, downtown area, starting 6:59 p.m.
* Christmas Tree Lighting, Friday, Nov. 21, 4-8 p.m.
One other application approved was for a graduation on the plaza on Saturday, May 31.
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