About 25 people attended the downtown Warsaw business district meeting at HopLore Thursday, Aug. 25. The group will meet again on Oct. 27 at city hall. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Warsaw’s monthly downtown festival is on the verge of moving to a different date.

Rob Parker, the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce CEO and Main Street Warsaw executive director, threw out the idea of shifting to a Third Friday format during a downtown business district meeting Thursday, Aug. 25,  at HopLore Brewing on West Market Street.

While nothing’s been decided, Parker said it’s being considered because too many recurring holidays fall on the first Friday of the month, which officials determined have limited attendance at First Fridays.

Another annual conflict turned out to be Warsaw Community High School’s graduation ceremony, Parker said.

The trend became so obvious in recent years that a change is merited.

“We need to find another way,” Parker said.

Parker said they are seeking more input before making a decision.

He also said Main Street Warsaw would like to have food-centered events on the first Friday of the month. That could include food trucks and other eateries.

About 25 people attended Thursday’s meeting, including numerous stakeholders.

Two organizers of Milford’s Food Truck gatherings, which fall on the third Friday, attended the meeting and questioned whether the changes in Warsaw would overlap too much with those in Milford.

Parker downplayed any potential negative effect, saying Warsaw’s First Fridays don’t normally emphasize the role of food trucks.

Parker said he believes the third Friday of each month could work better than ones on the second or fourth Friday of each month.

City Council Member Cindy Dobbins, who owns a store in downtown Warsaw, issued a challenge asking that downtown businesses remain open during the early evening hours of the monthly festival.

The Friday festival concept is a good opportunity for those who work days and want to do some shopping in the downtown, she said.

“We need to challenge ourselves as merchants to stay open at least until 7-7:30,” Dobbins said.

Parker agreed. “We gotta work together to make that happen.”

Upcoming downtown events include Taste of Kosciusko at First Friday on Sept. 2.

BrewFest returns on Sept. 24.

First Friday on Oct. 7 will feature “Chili for Charity.”

The Halloween Spooktacular will be Oct. 28.

Main Street Warsaw plans on hosting public meetings about the downtown. The next meeting is set for 8 a.m. on Oct. 27 at Warsaw City Hall. The meetings are intended for stakeholders, but the public is welcome to attend.

Look for another related story about Thursday’s meeting later today on InkFreeNews.com.