The “$2 Tour of the Village” returns Saturday, Aug. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m. on University Avenue between Calvert and Dill Streets.
Not only is admission free to this event, but the first 100 people through the gates will be given a $2 bill to spend on awesome $2 items from Village businesses (an Art Mart goodie bag or a $2 t-shirt from Screenbroidery, just to name a few).
This event, now in its fourth year, is hosted by the Riverside/Normal City Neighborhood Association (RNC), the Muncie Action Plan and Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement, with additional support from Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ball Brothers Foundation, Tribune Showprint and Muncie Map Co.
“We wanted to create a fun festival for incoming freshman and returning students to experience all that the Village has to offer,” said Heather Williams, Associate Director for Community Engagement at Ball State University and Program Manager for Building Better Neighborhoods. “We also hope that Muncie residents will stop by and enjoy the $2 samples, vendors, music, and entertainment.”
More than 25 vendor and organization booths will line the street, and Guardian Brewing Co. will have a tent in the middle of all the action selling their local brews. There will be grassy areas with comfy seating and lawn games, a bungee run, dunk tank shenanigans (for charity), mechanical bull riding, and a giant water battle (with “balloons” and squirt guns).
Two stages will offer non-stop entertainment. On the West Stage, the area’s must-see bands will perform – Bashville Boys (bluegrass), Foxxy (rock), and Los Galaxy (funk/jazz). On the East Stage, you’ll find performers including Ball State University’s Code Red Dancers, University Singers, and the Shamaniacs Drum Troupe.
The first 500 attendees will receive $2 Tour Guides with Passports. Those with passports can have them stamped at certain Village businesses. Once the passports are filled, you will be eligible to win lots of great prizes!
“The Village is a special place, a historic commercial corridor for the Riverside/Normal City neighborhood and a gathering space for students where a lot of memories are made off-campus,” Williams said. “We want to continue to build on and support the unique culture and character of the Village and the $2 Tour is an opportunity to do just that!”
For more information, visit the $2 Tour of the Village Facebook event or muncieneighborhoods.org.
$2 Tour Schedule
East Stage
4 – Code Red Dance Team
4:30 – Harmony Dance Studio
5 – Belly Dancers
5:30 – Shamaniacs Drum Troupe
6 – Bob’s Balloons
6:30 – Water Battle
7 – University Singers
West Stage
4 – Bashville Boys
5 – Foxxy
7 – Los Galaxy
Dunk Tank Schedule
4 – Richard Ivy, Deputy Mayor
4:30 – Jeff Robinson, Muncie City Council President
5 – Jeff Stanley, Chief Deputy
5:30 – Nathan Sloan, Chief, Muncie Police Department
6 – George Foley Jr., Muncie Parks Program Director