Criterium races were among a series of events that took place in Winona Lake during the summer’s Fat & Skinny Tire Fest. Similar races are happening Friday night around the courthouse in downtown Warsaw as part of the First Friday celebration. (Photo by Stacey Page0

This month’s First Friday event in downtown Warsaw is focusing on Health, Wealth and Diversity.

The fun begins at 5 p.m. with the Criterium Bike Races taking place in the half-mile loop around the courthouse square until 9 p.m. This is the fifth year for the bike race, which is part of the Indiana Kentucky Cup Series. There will be a kids race and a pre-race ride open to all skill levels that will leave Trailhouse Bicycle Shop in Winona Lake.

Another First Friday event encourages everyone to get involved in building sculptures from recycled materials. Bring your clean bottles, cans and grocery bags and help build something fun. That event takes place in the alley between the St. Regis Club and Warsaw City Hall.

Friday night’s activities also feature health screenings, wealth screenings, and Rex’s motorcycle show and beer tent for breast cancer awareness.

Entertainment for the night begins at 5:30 p.m. on the Center Street stage with Latino Dancers. At 6 p.m. Chinese Children will perform, followed by the Taiko Drum Group at 6:15 p.m., the Ruby Jazar belly dancers at 7 p.m. and the InClognito Dancers will round out the entertainment from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Trusty the Flight Trainer and his friends from the upcoming Pixar movie “Planes” are going to be downtown promoting the Warsaw Flying Club. Come and have your picture taken with Trusty, enter to win free tickets to see Pixar’s Planes on Aug. 9, buy Trusty shirts, and even get special deals on introductory flights and Discovery flights.

Also on Friday night, the Warsaw Parks Department is hosting a Family Carnival in Central Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy children’s entertainment, games, activities, face painting, a dunk tank and more.

Sign up the kids for Penguin Point’s Big Wheel Race that will be held in conjunction with the carnival. 

Transportation will be available for those wanting to visit both the First Friday events downtown and the Family Carnival.

First Friday is made possible by the Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation and the city of Warsaw.