10                   7th Annual Spring Fling Festival  - 8:30am – 9pm Riverfront Park
—The Four Flags & the Niles Garden Clubs join together this year for a huge Plant Sales from
     8:30 am-12:30 pm  
---IDDFAR 5k Run/Walk-registration @ 10am/race@ 11am call 684-8126 for more information
---Youth Performing Arts-Enjoy the talents of area Youth throughout the day 

 22                 Niles Bensidoun French Market    9am -2pm 3^rd Season for our Niles French     Market, a Bensidoun USA Market, in Downtown Niles.  This season, Market will be open Thursdays & Saturdays, beginning May 22^nd and running through October 4^th  ~ Indulge yourself and enjoy best this area has to offer at our market.   This is not a  Traditional Farmers Market, but a European style Open-air Market showcasing the finest  that our local artisans,  small businesses and farmers have to offer…fruits, vegetables,  flowers, candles, handcrafted jewelry, artwork, pottery, handmade soaps and lotions,  fresh bread, pastries and more.   Bensidoun USA has markets in France, Chicago, New York and Niles.  
          

24        Niles Bensidoun French Market   9am -2pm  3^rd  Season for our Niles French Market, a  Bensidoun USA Market, in Downtown Niles, but the 1^st year for a Saturday market  – running through October 4^th .  Every Saturday market will focus on a different artisan  medium.   

              Wood 5-24    6-21    7-19    8-16    9-13       Fiber   5-31      6-28    7-26    8-23    9-20

              Glass 6-7      7-2      8-4      8-30      9-27     Metal   6-14      7-12    8-9      9-6     10-04

31                Pregnancy Care Center Life Walk- call 684-1896 for details

June

 5-8                   6th Annual Niles Bluegrass Festival  Riverfront Park Amphitheater - Regions largest Bluegrass Festival - Big Name Touring Acts World Class Entertainment - Pickers Tent - Workshops -  Fiddle and Banjo Contest Entertainment on 2 Stages Food, Arts & Crafts, Children’s Activities, and Camping. Located along the beautiful banks of the St. Joseph river in historic downtown Niles, MI  www.nilesbluegrass.com

 21                    The Niles Masonic Lodge is having a BLOOD DRIVE at the Lodge, 227 1/2 Main St on the third floor.  This is thru Michiana Blood Bank which serves LakeLand Hospitals.

27- 28               Art In Motion – 3^rd year juried interactive art event starting Friday, June 27th  with a Family Fun Street Dance from 4-8pm and continuing Saturday June 28th from 9am -   5pm in  downtown Niles .  The finest and most unique wood, glass, clay, ceramic, painting, metal, photography, fiber and fabrics, folk art and other creations by artisans from Niles and surrounding  areas.   Artisans will be located different downtown venues, where the public, free of charge, can go to see the works of the accepted artists, and be able to watch artisans at work.  Watch Potters, Lamp work Glass artists, Stained Glass Artists, Wood Turners and others ply their craft.   A community art exhibit will showcase the works of all the artists that applied.   In addition, there will be street entertainment, from face painting to caricaturists to balloon artists. Sign up for seminars to learn things like Ballroom Dancing and Jewelry Making. Special events at the Niles district Library-including Paper Airplane & Mobile Making. The public is invited to participate in our Chalk the Walk Sidewalk Art Competition- all ages!

2008 ~ PROFESSIONAL 4-MAN SAND SCUPLTING COMPETITION

  Watch as professional sculptors create 6'x 8' x 8' Sand Sculptures on the streets of Downtown Niles!!!  
Family/Amateur Competition $20 entry fee gets you a SandCastle Making kit and space & sand to build.
687-4332 for more info.

         
        

             Weekly Summer Concerts @ Riverfront Park Amphitheater in Niles 

                              3 (three) nights a week  / June 11 thru Aug 24:

                                Wed @ 7pm -8pm      Thurs@ 7:00pm 9pm       

                                 Sun @ 6:00 opening act / 7:00 headliner


July

1-7                 Celebrate your Independents Week  by Supporting Local Independent Businesses-

                                                     Spend Your Money Where Your House Is!

20                     Niles Burn Run www.nilesburnrun.com

July/August

31/1-2-3            Riverfest –Mr. & Ms Riverfest Contest, Raft Parade, Dragon Boats, Car Show, Music, Crafts, and Food  www.nilesriverfest.net

08-09-10                   US      12 Heritage Route Garage Sale- Michigan’s Longest Garage Sale   Everyone loves a good garage sale, and residents of Southwest Michigan will have a golden opportunity on August 10-12 when all of US Highway 12 from New Buffalo to Detroit is one massive garage sale. On Main Street in Downtown Niles, together with our antique & retail shops, we invite the whole community to rent a piece of sidewalk and join in the fun!             www.nilesmainstreet.org

 French Market Dates:

Thursdays 5/22  5/29  6/5  6/12  6/19  6/26  7/3  7/10  7/17  7/24  7/31  8/7  8/14  8/21  8/28  9/4  9/10  9/18  9/25  10/2

Saturdays 5/24  5/31  6/7  6/14  6/21  6/28  7/5  7/12  7/19  7/26  8/2  8/09 8/16  8/23  8/30  9/6  9/13  9/20  9/27  10/4

September 

25-28                 Apple Festival  www.fourflagsapplefestival.org   Saturday,September 28 @ 1:30pm  Grand Parade Starts in Downtown Niles

October

25                     Niles District Library Costume Contest &  Downtown Safe Trick or Treat 
www.nileslibrary.com

November

1-2                    Pre-Holiday Downtown Open House –Get a jump on the season and start shopping early!      Gift Wrapping Available.

23                    Decorate Downtown for the Holiday Homecoming Celebration

29                     Downtown Holiday Homecoming Lighting of the Tree, Carriage Rides, Entertainment & Shopping!                                       

December 

6                      Breakfast with Rudolph & Friends- All You Can Eat Pancakes & Sausage  with Holiday Friends

                        Lighting of the Amtrak Depot   684-2022 for details

4-11-18             Visit with Santa & Friends  5-7:30pm

 
January 2009

16-17-18  5th Annual Hunter Ice Festival   World Class Ice Carvers – Hunter Ice Cream – Tasting Tent – Fire & Ice - Kid’s Fun & More!