WANT TO GO?
What: 12th annual Heritage of Flight Festival
Where: New Carlisle, Main Street
When: 2-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2
Admission: Free
More info: www.heritageofflight.com/index.html
Need a lift this weekend? Take a flight without leaving the ground.
The 12th annual Heritage of Flight Festival may have the only parade that features planes that taxi down the street without going up and become part of the festivities.
That’s just part of the Festival that combines entertainment, food and special events starting Friday, Sept. 30, and running through Sunday, Oct. 2, in downtown New Carlisle.
Saturday’s 11 a.m. parade will see 22-30 makes of aircraft joining the popular Shriners on their various cars and motorcycles that are a hit with the kids, said festival committee president Mike Lowrey.
Events that day will start with the annual 5k run and walk.
The festival officially opens at 2 p.m. Friday with the real action starting at 4 p.m. with the annual cruise-in where as many as 900 cars will be in one place.
“The cruise-in is always the best crowd draw,” Lowrey said. “It’s almost a kind of reunion on Main Street with people who haven’t seen each other in a while or some seeing their friends and neighbors.”
A new event introduced last year was the Blessing of the Badges ceremony recognizing first responders and military personnel that got a positive crowd reaction.
It returns at 3 p.m. Sunday on the main stage and will again honor community heroes accompanied by bagpipe music and two flyover passes from a CareFlight aircraft.
Lowrey likes to emphasize attendees don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy Heritage of Flight. For example, artist Dan Foster will do free caricature portraits 4-7 p.m. Friday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday.
Kids can enjoy rides and the National Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull for three age groups at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The bigger people can also enjoy their own race, the Jim Slanker Memorial Chair Races at 1 p.m. with cash prizes for the top finishers. Lowrey said it’s a crowd pleaser for competitors and the attendees.
All those workouts can build up an appetite and there will be no shortage of food choices. Food trailers will include Nacho Pig with several pork products and Deep Fried Heaven, with a selection of fried foods.
Rudy’s Smokehouse will offer barbecue, and there will be funnel cakes and hot mini donuts for afterward.
Classic rock and roll, blue grass and show tunes will be part of the entertainment over the event.
About the Author