N-B Slideshow: 2014 BFSF Opening night parade

Widely believed to be the official start of the Bluffton Free Street Fair, Tuesday's opening night parade featured sirens, dancers, bands and elected officials. (Photos by Barbara Barbieri, Dave Schultz and Jessica Williams)

N-B Video: Street Fair Band entertains all week

After setting up shop at Johnson and Washington streets following the opening night parade, the Street Fair Band entertains the crowd. (Video by Jessica Williams)

N-B Video: The 2014 BFSF opening parade

Widely believed to be the official start of the Bluffton Free Street Fair, Tuesday's opening night parade featured sirens, dancers, bands and elected officials. (Video by Jessica Williams)

Getting ready for the fair

Tuesday afternoon, chairs are already in place for the opening night parade. George and Jan Babcock, of Bluffton, have been coming to the Bluffton Free Street Fair for decades. Every year, they seek out seating near Market and Johson streets.

Tasty Treats: Fresh caramel apples are ready for picking Tuesday at the Bluffton Free Street Fair. (Photos by Matthew LeBlanc)

Shaffer, Plummer are 2014 Grand Marshals

The grand marshals of this year’s parade are a couple of former chiefs — Tammy Schaffer, who served for 10 years as the city’s police chief before retiring this summer, and Bob Plummer, whose seven-year run as the city’s fire chief ended last October.

Both are delighted to receive the honor of being named the co-grand marshals for the parade, but they’re also wondering — why me?

They’re also both looking forward to going to the fair and not being in charge.

Schaffer said she did her job for the city and doesn’t feel like she did anything “outstanding” for the honor.

“I don’t feel very deserving of it,” she said.

Nevertheless, she said, “I’m very honored. It will be nice to see (the fair) from a different perspective.”

Schaffer, who retired at the end of May, recalled the Bluffton Free Street Fair as a lot of work and pressure. And it was stressful.

“It will be nice to enjoy it,” she added.

For Plummer, the grand marshal offer surprised him. “It came right out of the blue,” he said. “I did not expect it at all.”

Plummer has retired to Florida, and was going to be back in Bluffton to visit family and to actually experience the Street Fair from a different point of view. “This will be the first Street Fair that I won’t have safety responsibilities at for a long time,” he said.

2014 BFSF opening night parade line up

 2014 BLUFFTON STREET FAIR
OPENING NIGHT PARADE LINEUP

(Units in bold face are floats and should line up on Main Street. Floats marked “A” are non-profit entries and floats marked “B” are commercial entries. Walking units should line up on side streets.)
— Main Street —
between South and Riley streets
• Bluffton Police Department/Wells County Sheriff
• Ossian Police Department
• Indiana State Police
• American Legion Color Guard
• Bluffton Fire Department
• Wells County EMS (3 vehicles)
• Chester Township Fire Department
• Liberty Center Fire Department
• Markle Fire Department
• Nottingham Township Fire Department
• Ossian Fire Department
• Poneto Fire Department
• Uniondale Fire Department
— West Riley Street —
• Rising Stars Baton Corps
— East Riley Street —
• City Officials
• County Officials (2 vehicles)
• Street Fair Band (on trailer)
• Street Fair Officials
•  Theme Banner
• Grand Marshal Banner (carried by Friends of the Shelter)
• Grand Marshals –  Tammy Schaffer and Bob Plummer
• American Legion Auxiliary (A)
• Wells County Chorus
• Liberty Center Baptist Church
• TinCaps Mascot
• Wells County Amateur Radio Club
— Main Street —
between Riley Street
and Central Avenue
• Wells County Public Library (2 units)
• Wells County 4-H Mounted Color Guard  (Line up on West Riley Street)
• River Terrace Estate (2 units)
• Bluffton Parks Department (A)
• Bluffton High School Band
• Itty Bitty Einsteins School (A)
• Anytime Fitness
• Tracy Markley — ColtMobile
• Anchor Room (B)
• Smokey the Bear/Indiana Department of Natural Resources
• Wells County Boy Scouts
— Main Street —
between Central and Wiley avenues
• Bi-County Services  (A) (2 units)
• Farm Credit Services of Mid-America
• Wells County Democrats (3 units)
• Creative Arts School of Ballet (A)
• Wells County Historical Society (A)
• Wells County Relay for Life
• Swiss City Dance and Fitness (2 units)
• Icy the Eagle (Komets)
• Mizpah Shrine Corvette Club
• Norwell High School Band
— Main Street —
between Wiley Avenue and Ohio Street
• Wells County Republicans (10 units)
• Ossian Church of the Nazarene (A)
• 238th  Cavalry Troop Indiana National Guard (2 units)
• Bev’s Calliope
• Wells County Girl Scouts (A)
• iAB Financial Bank
• Southern Wells High School Band
• Veterans for Earned Healthcare
• Sky Zone of Fort Wayne
• Markle Health and Rehabilitation (B) (2 units)
• Northern Indiana Road Riders
• Mountain Storm Martial Arts
• Suzy Cue’s Studio (B)

2014 Bluffton Free Street Fair Program

Theme: “When Dreams Come True” with Poor Jack Amusement

Tuesday, September 16

MORNING

9 a.m. Judging — Culinary & Needlework, Fine Arts & Crafts, City Building

AFTERNOON

2:30 Judging — Flowers & Agriculture, City Building

EVENING

6-7 p.m. Chad Michaels & “Brat Pack,” (Frank Sinatra type music), Main & Market

7 p.m. Grand Opening Parade, Grand Marshals Tammy Schaffer & Bob Plummer, Midway, (Parade Float Award Presentation after Parade), Stage on W. Washington

8 p.m. Street Fair Band, Johnson & Washington

9:30 Street Fair Band, Main & Market

Wednesday, September 17

$16 Wristbands on rides 5 p.m. to close

AFTERNOON

12-5:30 p.m. Antique and Classic Car Show, Along S. Main, (Line up & judging begins at noon — Awards 5:30 p.m.)

4 p.m. Street Fair Storytime with Clifford, Stage on W. Washington

EVENING

6 p.m. Antique and Classic Car Parade, Midway

6 p.m. Street Fair Band Concert, Kiddie land

6:30 Casey Biberstine Memorial Show (riders 10-18), 4-H Park

6:15 High School Band Parade, Midway

7-10 p.m. 60’s & 70’s Band “Eye Ain’t Lion,” Stage on W. Washington

7:30 Street Fair Band, Main & Washington

9 p.m. Street Fair Band, Market & Johnson

Thursday, September 18

$16 Wristbands on rides 5 p.m. to closing

EVENING

5:30 Wheels of Yesteryear, Midway

6 p.m. Industrial Parade, Midway

7 p.m. Good Time Charlie Show (riders 19 & over), 4-H Park

7-10 p.m. The Anchor Room & Pam & Eagle’s Dancin’ Feets (Exhibition/Open Dancing), Courthouse Plaza

6:30 Horse & Pony Awards, 4-H Park

7:30 High School Choral Contest (weather permitting), Stage on W. Washington

7:30 Street Fair Band, Market & Marion

9 p.m. Street Fair Band, Main & Market

Friday, September 19

$12 Wristbands on rides 1-5 p.m.

AFTERNOON

2 p.m. Street Fair Dixieland Band, Main & Market

3:30 Street Fair Dixieland Band, Market & Johnson

EVENING

6 p.m. Street Fair Band Concert, Kiddie area

7-9:30 Band “Harbor Lights,” “Doo Wop” music, Stage on W. Washington

7:30 Street Fair Band Concert, Market & Marion

9 p.m. Street Fair Band Concert, Main & Market

Saturday, September 20

$13 Wristbands on rides 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MORNING

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Creative Arts Festival, Water Street

11 a.m. Pony Pull, 4-H Park

Noon Heavyweight Horse Pulling, 4-H Park

Noon Dachshund (Wiener) Dog Race, $5 Registration Fee, donated to charity, W. Washington Street

12-7 p.m. Bluffton Parks & Recreation Art Bazaar, City Building

12-6 p.m. Mobile Reptile Zoo, W. Washington Street

AFTERNOON

12:30-1 p.m. “Mountain Storm” Demo, Courthouse Plaza

1-4 p.m. Danno the Clown, Washington Commons

2 p.m. Parade: Indianapolis Police Motorcycle Drill Team, Reverse parade route, Demonstration following parade, sponsored by Wells Co. Sheriff Dept. & Bluffton Police Dept., Cherry St. & Central St.

2-3:15 p.m. “Susie Cue Studio” Performance, Courthouse Plaza

3:30 Street Fair Dixieland Band, Courthouse Plaza

EVENING

6 p.m. Street Fair Band Concert, Courthouse Plaza

6-7 p.m.  Jamie Lewis “HWY 1” band, Stage on W. Washington

7-9 p.m. “Street Fair Idol,” Main Event, Stage on W. Washington

8:30 “Razz M’ Jazz” Dance Studio, Performance (during judges deliberations), Stage on W. Washington

8 p.m. Street Fair Band, Marion & Market

9 p.m. Street Fair Band, Main & Market

Bluffton Free Street Fair Officers:

President - Tom Elliott

Vice President - Joe Ayers

Vice President - Ted Ellis

Treasurer - Rob Caylor

Secretary - Melanie Durr

Street Fair Manager - Ted Smith