Fire Up DWNTWN

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2025 • 1–10 PM

Fire Up DWNTWN is the summer event you don’t dare miss. Packed with engaging activities and attractions for the whole family, this event will not only be fun, but over-the-top-hot! With a mixture of hot air balloons, spicy foods, smokin’ ribs, live music, games, contests, and more, the summer’s peak extravaganza can’t come soon enough.

PRESENTED BY

Thank You to everyone who helped make Fire Up DWNTWN a sizzling success!

A shout out to the sponsors, volunteers, community organizations, City of Muncie, City Police and Fire Departments, EMTs, Muncie Sanitary District, Muncie Redevelopment Commission, foundations, vendors, artists, attractions, downtown merchants, Downtown Development Board of Directors, and many more. Our community always shows up and shows out and for that we are always incredibly grateful.

Thank you.

🔥 NEW DATE 🔥 MORE SIZZLE 🔥

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

IVY TECH STAGE
AT CANAN COMMONS

Sponsored by Ivy Tech Muncie

1–2 • Replaced by Robots

2:15–3:15 • Free Joel

3:30–4:30 • Smoking Horses

4:45–5:30 • Greg Rhodes

5:45–6:30 • On the One

6:45–7:45 • Bill Myers and the Trash Collectors

FREAKY TIKI STAGE
200 BLOCK OF S WALNUT

1:30–2:30 • Long Haul Paul

2:45–3:45 • Lovesick Moan

4–5 • Foxxy

5:15–6:30 • Jake Hendershot

6:45–8:30 • Doc’s Little Chicago Band

CARDINAL COMMUNITY STAGE
AT WALNUT & MAIN

Sponsored by Ball State University

1–2 • DJ

2–2:30 • Police vs. Fire Rib Eating Contest
Sponsored by First Merchants Bank

2:45–3:15 • Hot Pepper Eating Contest
Sponsored by The Clubhouse Muncie

3:30–3:45 • Muncie Civic Theatre Performance

4–5 • Rock Star Bingo

6–8 • DWNTWN IDOL

HOT AIR BALLOONS

Subject to weather conditions

SPECIAL SHAPES • 6–10

Parrot Pete • Lofts at Roberts parking lot
Sponsored by Destination: Muncie

Chris P Bacon • Mark III parking lot
Sponsored by JohnTom’s BBQ

Finley the Fish • Canan Commons
Sponsored by The Star Press

Lil D • Canan Commons
Sponsored by Woof Boom

Ellie the Elephant • Old National Bank lot
Sponsored by Mad Sweet Freeze Dried Candy

Balloon Glow Show & Fly Over • at dusk
Sponsored by MITS

TETHERED RIDES • 6–10

$20 ticket • at The Clubhouse parking lot (Walnut & Main) and Canan Commons
Sponsored by The Clubhhouse Muncie and Intersection

TWINKLE BASKETS • at dusk

Get up close and feel the heat with balloon baskets at the Walnut roundabout
Sponsored by The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County and NASH FM

ACTIVITIES & SHOWS

12–6 • Get Revved Up Motorcycle Show
Adams Street
Sponsored by Architectural Restoration

1–10 • Liquid Fire Iron Pour
Howard Street
Sponsored by Destination: Muncie

1–10 • The Human Library
Charles Street

1–10 • Alley Dancing
Dave’s Alley

1–10 • Kid’s Area Activities: Toy Story Bounce, Fire Combo, Wall of Fire
Near Canan Commons

1–6 • Red Hot Children’s Express Train
Canan Commons
Sponsored by The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County

1–6 • Euro Bungee and Rock Wall
The Clubhouse parking lot (Walnut & Main)
Sponsored by The Clubhouse Muncie

1–6 • Just Jeepin’ Smokin’ Hot Cruise-In
Old National Bank parking lot
Sponsored by Lamar Advertising

1–6 • Street Survivor Show Off (Van Show)
Mark III parking lot

1–2 • Yard Games with EGTI
Canan Commons

3–6 • Aerial Annex performance
Canan Commons

3:15–3:45 • Water Balloon Fight: Police vs. Fire + Kids
Canan Commons

4:30–5 • Inflatable Costume Relay
Canan Commons

5:45–6:15 • Line Dancing
Canan Commons

8–10 • Fire Spinners and LED Dancers
DeFur Voran entry

Fireworks following the Balloon Glow Show
Sponsored by Meridian Health Services

DWNTWN BUSINESS EVENTS

1925 PubHouse • Specials: Jalapeno Margaritas, Fire Cracker Shrimp Tacos • 3:30–6 Happy Hour featuring Long Island Ice Tea

Downtown Nutrition • 10–6 • Fire Up Drink special

Fox & Sparrow • Cool temporary tattoos!

HeidiJHale • 4–6 • Delaware County Fair Queen and Court passing out tiaras

Ink Drinkers Anonymous • 2–4 Book signing by Emma Humfleet • Free popsicles and book give aways • 12–3 Rejuvenate Muncie with $5 B12 shots

Ivy Tech • 11–3 • Enrollment Event: Ignite Your Future

Kats Crystals and Curiosities • Tarot Reading and Geode Slicing

KidsPeace • Friendship Bracelets

Made in Muncie • Pottery Throwing Demo

Patterson Block • Euchre Tournament, free yoga by Sacred Steps, all businesses open and ready to serve you!

Perfect Fit Plus • Wine and Cheese event with tour of the Fire and Ice facility

Toys Forever • Lego Walk of Fire, Gumball Guessing game

Vera Mae’s Bistro • Peach Burbon BBQ Ribs and Bar Service

FOOD VENDORS

Pork Paradise
Tee Garden Concessions
The Clubhouse Muncie
Fresh Market Treats
Ribs Express
Indy BBQ
The Food Vault
Stix LLC
Three Bears Concessions
La Ptrona
Maucky's
The Sip Squad
The Barking Cow
Taqueria Cruz
Vera Mae’s Bistro
Danielle’s Popcorn
Git R Done
Everbowl
Red Trailer Shake Ups
A Team Concessions
Mad Sweet Treats
Iceberg Ice Cream
Chef Steve LLC
The Bearded Baker
Pitmaster Bluebird and Son
East Central Neighborhood
Porkopolis
GR8 Creations
Yard Bird
Legacy Village
Boulder Falls
Downtown Farm Stand
Dee's Creations

MUNCIE MAKERS MARKET VENDORS

Ashanti’s Garden
Batten’s Grateful Acres
Captain Clementine's
Casey’s Cakes
Coop’s Creations
Copper Viking
Crosby Family Art
Diamond Organics
Dizzles Drizzles
Dog Treats with Eros
Elizabethtown Farms
Enchanted Plants by Laurie
Gifted Gourmet
Goofy Gremlin Goods
JE Jewelry Works
Jewelry Creations by Chris Reum
Kari’s Essentials
Knotty Girl Creations
Ninos' Notes Custom Journals, Notebooks & More
Ohmugawd!
Pudgy Wizard Printing
QuakenMake Crafts
Round Rock Farm
Roxy Resin
ScrapCycle
Sparky’s Corner Greenhouse
Stargazing
SunRheas Jewelry
Thai Sbu
The 13th Stitch
The Cottage House
The Crafty Bee
The McHellyeah Workshop
The Pie Lady
Transformed By Shane

Special Shape Hot Air Balloon Glow & Balloon Baskets

Meet Parrot Pete, Finley the Fish, Lil D, Chris P Bacon, and Ellie the Elephant—larger than life hot air balloon characters—on the south end of DWNTWN and watch as they glow in an exciting evening show. Experience the heat up close as you pull the trigger on the flames of a hot air balloon basket.

Hot Air Balloon Tethered Rides

Purchase your ticket and reach for the sky! Take a tethered hot air balloon ride at Canan Commons or The Clubhouse Muncie parking lot and get a one-of-a-kind view of the festivities.

Sizzlin’ Spectacles

Don’t miss the Liquid Fire Iron Pour as metals artisans practice their ancient craft and check out the Jeep, motorcylce, and van cruise-ins. Enjoy plenty of fun activities for the kids and cheer on the police and fire teams in rib eating and water balloon contests. Finish off the night by taking in the fireworks display.

Live Music & Entertainment

Three stages are chocked full of fun. The Ivy Tech Stage at Canan Commons has live music all day long. The Ball State Cardinal Community Stage at Walnut & Main is hosting rib and hot pepper eating contests, DWNTWN IDOL, and more exciting events. The Freaky Tiki Stage on Walnut St brings the heat with even more local music faves.

Taste the Heat

Looking for some spice? We’ll have several food vendors serving up delectable ribs, delicious BBQ, and many more unique treats. Need to cool off? Stop in at one of our many fantastic restaurants DWNTWN and sample our local fare.

And So Much More…

Fire Up DWNTWN is the biggest event of the year. Shop with local vendors, get your thrill on the euro bungee and rock wall, and enjoy a variety of performances.

Interested in volunteering?

Volunteer Registration Form

NEW THIS YEAR!

DWNTWN IDOL

Bring your voice to Fire Up DWNTWN and show us what you got!
Join the live talent show on the Walnut & Main Street stage on Saturday, September 21 from 6–8 pm.

DWNTWN IDOL will be done in a karaoke format and contestants enter with their music selection from KaraFun by September 11.

A panel of three judges will choose the winner the top three participants. Trophies will be awarded for the top three and a CASH grand prize for the performer(s) chosen as DWNTWN IDOL.

Performers may also choose to accompany themselves on an acoustic guitar or electric piano. For ease of set up and transitions, these are the only 2 formats that will be considered. A monitor will NOT be provided, so you must know your lyrics. If lyric assistance is required, please bring your own iPad or phone.

Contestants will be contacted the week of September 16 with their performance time. Please be sure that you check your email. Details will be sent concerning greenroom, arrival time, parking details and general flow of the day.

If we do not fill enough spots in each category or we have a no show, walk ups will be accepted as time allows.