May
May 24th Niles Bensidoun French Market 9am -2pm 2nd Season for our Niles French Market, a Bensidoun USA Market, in Downtown Niles. This season, Market will be open Thursdays & Saturdays, beginning May 24th and running through October 6th. ~ 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 offerfruits, 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.
www.nilesmainstreet.org
May 26th Niles Bensidoun French Market 9am -2pm 2nd Season for our Niles French Market, a Bensidoun USA Market, in Downtown Niles, but the 1st year for a Saturday market running through October 6th. Every Saturday market will focus on a different artisan medium. www.nilesmainstreet.org
Wood 5-26 6-23 7-21 8-18 9-15 Fiber 6-2 6-30 7-28 8-25 9-22
Glass 6-6 7-7 8-4 9-1 9-29 Metal 6-16 7-14 8-11 9-8 10-13
May/June
31-3 5th 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, Childrens Activities, and Camping. Located along the beautiful banks of the St. Joseph river in historic downtown Niles, MI www.nilesbluegrass.com
June
June 22- 23 June 22- 23 Art In Motion 2nd year juried interactive art event starting Friday June 22nd with a Block Party from 6-9pm and continuing Saturday June 23rd from 10am - 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!
Our Headline Act will be a group of women from Kalamazoo that perform under the named Aerial Angels. Part of the "New Circus / Cirque" tradition, the Aerial Angels are high-flying female circus artists performing feats of grace, beauty, and strength on the aerial hoop and aerial silk, acrobatics, fire-eating, and crack bullwhip target-taking. 4 FREE performances @ 12:15pm/1:30pm/2:45pm/ 4pm www.angelsintheair.com
June 23 Masonic Temple and Michigan Community Blood Center Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Testing Masonic Temple 227 East Main Street 10am -2pm
June 23-24 Archaeology Open House at Fort Saint Joseph! Bond Street City Park 9am-- 5pm. The public is welcome to attend an event featuring Open Excavations, Outdoor Museum, Artifacts on Display and a Living History Village. This event is free and will feature archaeologists excavating; informational lectures; demonstrations of life in New France; crafts and activities available for youth; and recently uncovered artifacts. Raffles, items for sale and informational tables. Sponsoring organizations are the City of Niles and Western Michigan University. For directions to the event please see the Fort St. Joseph Museum website: http://www.ci.niles.mi.us/Living/Museum.htm. Questions? Call Carol Bainbridge, Museum Director at 269-683-4702, or email Public Outreach Coordinator, LisaMarie at: lisamariemal@yahoo.com.
Weekly Summer Concerts @ Riverfront Park Amphitheater in
Niles 3 (three) nights a week / June 1 thru Aug 30:
Wed @ 7pm -8pm ~ Thurs@ 7:00pm 9pm
Sun @ 6:00 opening act / 7:00 headliner
click 2007 Summer Concert tab for schedule
July
20 Release of 7th & last Harry Potter Book Join us downtown to await the arrival Niles District Library 9am -8pm Majereks Hallmark Readers World 8pm midnight Food, Fun, Prizes, Music & More!
August
2-5 Riverfest Mr. & Ms. Riverfest Contest, Raft Parade, Dragon Boats, Car Show, Music, Crafts, and Food www.nilesriverfest.net
10-11-12 Heritage Route Garage Sale- Michigans 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 5/24 5/31 6/7 6/14 6/21 6/28 7/5 7/12 7/19 7/26 8/2 8/9 8/16 8/23 8/30 9/6 9/12 9/20 9/27 10/4
Saturdays 5/26 6/2 6/9 6/16 6/23 6/30 7/7 7/14 7/21 7/28 8/4 8/11 8/18 8/25 9/1 9/8 9/15 9/22 9/29 10/6
Upcoming Events:
September
8-9 Color Our World with Quilts-a Quilt Show sponsored by Niles Piecemakers Guild. View over 100 quilts, ship with vendors and browse the boutique. Participate in silent auction and raffle. Refreshments will be available. Door Prizes. Admission $3 St. Johns United Church of Christ 6th & Sycamore, Niles MI
14/15 Niles Haunted House www.haunted.org Open weekends through Halloween Mayflower Road off Niles Buchana Road visit website for details.
27-30 Apple Festival www.fourflagsapplefestival.org Saturday,September 30
@ 1:30pm Grand Parade Starts in Downtown Niles
October
13 Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan Monster Mash Raise Money for your Favorite Non-Profit Organization or School! 5k Run 1k Runner's Costume Run 1k Scary Walk & Costume Contest at the Niles Haunted House Grounds. Call the Volunteer Center for more info 269-683-5464 www.volunteerswmi.org
27 Downtown Safe Trick or Treat & Costume Contest / Special Saturday Marketweather permitting
November
2-3 Pre-Holiday Downtown Open House Get a jump on the season and
start shopping early! Gift Wrapping Available.
9 Veteran's Day Observance at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Monument
18 Decorate downtown for the Holiday Homecoming Celebration
24 Downtown Holiday Homecoming Lighting of the Tree, Carriage Rides,
Entertainment & Shopping!
December
1 Breakfast with Rudolph & Friends- All You Can Eat Pancakes & Sausage
with Holiday Friends
6 -13 -20 Visit with Santa & Friends 5-7:30pm
January 2008
18-19-20 4th Annual Hunter Ice Festival World Class Ice Carvers Hunter Ice
Cream Tasting Tent Fire & Ice - Kids Fun & More!
