By Michelle Kinsey—
MUNCIE, IN– We’ve saved a seat for YOU!
You are invited to join hundreds of your friends and neighbors for Muncie’s Fall Bridge Dinner Thursday, Sept. 19, on the Washington Street Bridge.
The free outdoor community event will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Rain date will be Sept. 26.
Grab some food and beverages from local vendors – or bring your own – and take a seat at one of the large community tables on the historic bridge to enjoy great conversation, music, and the beautiful views of the White River.
Food vendors will include Neighborhood Pizza, Three Bears Concessions, LLC, Karma Kitchen, Yard Bird BBQ LLC, Legacy Village West African Cuisine, AppeThai, Payne’s Food Truck, and Downtown Farm Stand. Music to munch by will be provided by KLS Digital.
Vendors selling Muncie-focused items will include Ohmugawd! Students from Burris Laboratory School will be creating the artsy centerpieces for the community tables. Canoe Country, a Daleville-based outfitter, will offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with the White River on one of their kayaks.
More than a dozen groups and organizations are involved in the planning and support of this annual dinner.
“We’ve always been so excited to have the JROTC kids from Muncie Central High School come to help set up and tear down the tables,” said Krista Flynn, a Project Coordinator in the Office of Community Engagement. “Joining them this year will be Daisy and Brownie troops to help us with decorating those tables.”
The idea for a community dinner in an unusual location was inspired by Peter Kageyama, author of “For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places” and “Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places.” Peter spoke in Muncie on March 15, 2017, at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, and provided a new language for speaking about community and economic development – a language that includes words like beauty, passion, and fun.
In September 2017, the first Muncie Bridge Dinner was served on the Washington Street Bridge.
A shuttle will be available for Ball State University students from campus (Shafer Tower) to and from the event. There is also easy pedestrian and biking access from the White River Greenway to the Bridge Dinner, and parking is available within walking distance at Tuhey Park.
The Bridge Dinner is hosted by Muncie Action Plan, Shafer Leadership Academy, Ball State’s Office of Community Engagement, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ivy Tech Community College, Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association, Old West End Neighborhood Association, Polcz Volbrecht Homes at RE/MAX Real Estate Groups, Muncie Community Schools, Muncie Police Department, Canoe Country, and Words with Jas.
Generous support for the event is provided by Sherman and Marjorie Zeigler Foundation, Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Ball State University Office of Community Engagement, Shafer Leadership Academy, Ivy Tech Community College, Words with Jas, and Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association.
“At Shafer Leadership Academy, we believe in the power of bringing people together to foster connection and community,” said Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director of Shafer Leadership Academy. “The Muncie Bridge Dinner is a perfect opportunity to celebrate what makes Muncie special—its people, its culture, and its spirit of collaboration. We’re excited to be a part of this event and look forward to sharing a meal and meaningful conversations with friends and neighbors.”
For more information, go to http://www.muncieneighborhoods.org/bridgedinner/.
