MUNCIE, Ind. — Get Fired Up as Muncie Downtown Development Partnership hosts an all- day summer street fest to attract the entire Muncie community and surrounding areas.

Chris will be doing two painting demonstrations Aug. 6 downtown at 3 p.m. and & 7 p.m., on Walnut Street outside his studio. The studio & gallery will also be open to the public to visit and purchase paintings.

“What began as just an idea to bring back elements of past iconic events led to six months of planning, fundraising and partnerships to bring the event to fruition,” said Cheryl Crowder, event director for Muncie Downtown DevelopmentPartnership. “Now we are excited to invite everyone to downtown Muncie on August 6th for Fire Up DWNTWN, presented by Ivy Tech, Muncie.

Packed with engaging, thematic activities, music, attractions and featuring a special shape hot air balloon glow show and hot air balloon fly over, this event will be fun for the entire family. “There will be literally something for everyone,” Crowder said. The event site opens at 1 p.m. Aug. 6, 2022 in the streets of downtown Muncie.

Food and drink will be plentiful, including blazing barbecue ribs, downtown restaurant favorites and a variety of food vendors. Downtown merchants and other vendors will offer smokin hot deals and activities.

The HotSpot children’s area on Walnut Street will feature hot air balloon twinkle baskets with burners, a lava slide, a mechanical pig, a children’s train, and many other interactive activities. Craft vendors, raku pottery, forgers, iron workers, hot pepper eating contests presented by Pink Leaf and other displays will canvass the downtown sidewalks.

Musical entertainment will be featured throughout the day on the Canan Commons stage and the Ivy Tech Plaza at Charles and High Streets. Freaky Tiki Friday returns that day with Doc Peterson and friends in the parking lot next to Casa Del Sol. The Muncie Police and Muncie Firefighters will compete in rib eating contests, water ball contests and in a new feature for downtown, an MRAP Pull (teams will fire-up their muscles to pull a 14-ton military vehicle).

Then–the feature attractions begin in the early evening as 7 hot air balloons fly over Canan Commons and 10 special shape hot air balloons inflate in various parking lots and areas around Canan Commons. At dusk, ten special shape hot air balloons will perform a 90-minute illumination show to music with the event culminating in fireworks by Great Grizzly/Boomers Factory Direct Fireworks. The special shape hot air balloons average 50 feet in width and up to 100 feet in height. Balloon characters will include Chris P Bacon the pig, Peanut the inverted elephant, Finley the fish, Little D a Dracula and many others. Tethered rides will be offered in Canan Commons from 7–10 p.m. at $20 per person.