Thirteen proposed events which would be held on Saturdays over the summer and fall in Chesterton were presented to the Business Initiative Committee of the Chesterton Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitors Center.

The events range from a folk festival on May 31, including music, dance and a Taste of Chesterton with ethnic foods, to a historical day on Oct. 18.

None of the events were formally accepted at Wednesday’s meeting. Instead, committee input and public input is being sought to prioritize specific events that would be organized for the 2008 year, said committee member Machelle Blount.

The goal of the events is to provide patrons of the popular European Market a reason to stay in Chesterton on Saturday and visit other businesses in town, not only in the downtown area but also along Indian Boundary Road, the Coffee Creek area and other parts of Chesterton. All events would be spaced out, organizers said, to coincide with the European Market.

“We have so much potential that we really do need to develop it,” Blount said.

The European Market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, beginning May 31 and lasting through the end of October.

According to Blount, the complete list of proposed events are:

May 31, Folk Festival; June 14, Old Fashioned Day; June 21, Town-Wide Yard Sale; June 28, Car Show; July 12, Walk and Run for Charity; July 19, Pet Parade; Aug. 2, Gallery Walk; Aug. 9, Flea Market in the park; Aug. 16, Family Day; Aug. 23, Training Day; Sept. 13, Salute to OZ; Oct. 4, Harvest Day; Oct. 18, Historical Day.

The proposed events, of which only a portion may be picked to hold in 2008, was a result of the Events Committee’s work. The committee produced an ambitious list of ideas that include entertainment, food, artists’ galleries, museum participation and pet contests.

The committee is seeking public input on those events. Send comments, with Chesterton events in the subject block, by e-mail to: info@nwihb.com.

The committee also discussed selecting officers at an upcoming meeting and received an update on strategic-planning sessions that are now being held weekly. The group also heard a presentation to have an information booth, or kiosk, installed at the intersection of Calumet and Broadway.

The Business Initiative Committee’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 26 at the Buell Memorial Visitors Center, just off SR 49 at U.S. Highway 20. Business owners and members of the public are invited to attend.

Posted 3/14/2008