MUNCIE – What are you doing for dinner on Thursday, Sept. 21?

You are invited to join hundreds of your friends and neighbors for Muncie’s Fall Bridge Dinner on the Washington Street Bridge.

The free outdoor community event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Rain date will be Sept. 28.

Grab some food and beverages from local vendors – or bring your own – and take a seat at one of the large community tables on the historic bridge to enjoy great conversation, music, and the beautiful views of the White River.

Music will be provided by DJ Kendrick Shadoan from KLS Digital and food vendors will include The Downtown Farm Stand, Sea Salt & Cinnamon, Three Bears Concessions, Legacy Village West African Cuisine, Pitmaster Bluebird and Sons BBQ, AppeThai, and Neighborhood Pizza.

Vendors selling Muncie-focused items will include Muncie Map Co., Tribune Showprint, Ohmugawd!, Speak Munsee and 107 Block. Students from Burris Laboratory School will be creating the artistic centerpieces for the community tables.

More than 15 groups and organizations are involved in the planning and support of this annual dinner, and that includes a newcomer to the event, Canoe Country.

The Daleville-based outfitter will be providing the opportunity to get up close and personal with the White River on one of their kayaks.

The idea for a community dinner in an unusual location was inspired by Peter Kageyama, author of “For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places” and “Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places.” Peter spoke in Muncie on March 15, 2017, at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, and provided a new language for speaking about community and economic development – a language that includes words like beauty, passion, and fun.

In September 2017, the first Muncie Bridge Dinner was served on the Washington Street Bridge. More than a dozen organizations were involved in planning and supporting that first event. This will be the seventh dinner on the bridge.

And this will be a busy day in Muncie! We hope everyone who is attending the Muncie Central High School Homecoming Parade and Community Pep Rally at the high school will come by the bridge – right down the street – after these events.

There is also easy pedestrian and biking access from the White River Greenway to the Bridge Dinner, and parking is available within walking distance at Tuhey Park.

The Bridge Dinner is hosted by Muncie Action Plan, Shafer Leadership Academy, Ball State Office of Community Engagement, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ivy Tech Community College – Muncie, Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association, Old West End Neighborhood Association, Open Door Health Services, Polcz Volbrecht Homes at RE/MAX Real Estate Groups, Muncie Community Schools, Canoe Country, and Words with Jas.

Generous support for the event is provided by Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance, Muncie Central JROTC, Walls Furniture, and Woof Boom Radio.