WARSAW — A significant sprucing up of the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds is nearly complete. 

Mike Loher, who heads up the ML Community Impact Alliance, announced plans for a series of improvements a few weeks ago and said much of the work is now done, thanks to in-kind donations and community support totaling nearly $100,000.

All of that is happening ahead of Kosciusko Freedom Fest, a celebration of America's 250th birthday, which arrives in less than two weeks. 

Supporting the upgrades has been led by the relatively new alliance.

Support has come from various groups, including Core Mechanical, which fabricated, powder-coated, and installed all the new handrails in the grandstand, and Super Seal, which seal-coated and striped the main drive, Loher said.

Freedom Fest arrives June 5, 6, and 7, with most of the events at the fairgrounds. 

Activities will include historical reenactments, patriotic celebrations, a concert, and a parade.

All events, except for the concert, are free. The Freedom Fest website calendar also lists rlated events acoss the county leading up to the Fourth of July weekend.

Loher talked with News Now Warsaw while another man was spreading limestone on Saturday morning.

“We have got over 500 tons of limestone donated and did a lot of driveway repairs and then also asphalt millings,” Loher said. “We've redone the west driveway, the east driveway through the 4H … I'd say about 98% of the drives out here have been repaired.”

Volunteers have also done a lot of mowing. They regraded the track and also seeded areas near the track. Other areas have also been cleaned up.

"It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than it was,” Loher said.

He said participants in the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office J-CAP program and those associated with Serenity House have helped out.

About 30 vendors have been lined up, and organizers are no longer accepting applications. Vendors include some of the longtime tenants of the fairgrounds, he said.

He also said plans are coming together for the veterans' ceremony, which will include a massive US flag on display and an Air Force flyover that will happen early Saturday afternoon on June 6.

He said that working to secure an air force base needed for the flyover was a bit of a challenge.

"There are a lot of crazy things going on in the world right now, and a lot of our military guys are out doing their thing. So it was a little bit of a struggle to find an air base that was able to participate,” he said.

With less than two weeks before the start, Loher sounded optimistic about local plans to celebrate the country’s birthday, which will culminate nationally on the Fourth of July.

“I'm feeling really good. Things are starting to come together nicely,” he said.

He said they're seeking more parade applicants.

The parade starts at 10 a.m., June 6.

"We're going to start the parade on West Center Street out by the street department. It'll continue on Center Street through downtown Warsaw, and then it'll turn on Bronson Street and come right into the main (fairgrounds) entrance, Loher said.

Plans by Loher to oversee the three-day event began before he broke his wrist a few months ago. He says it's been a blessing and a curse as the event grows slower.

The injury has healed more slowly than expected.

“Obviously, with my broken arm, I've not been able to do a lot. But other than to orchestrate the different groups.

No slowing down, though.

“It's go-time. There are a lot of things happening,” he said.

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WARSAW — America will celebrate its 250th birthday next year and a local celebration spanning three days is in the works in Kosciusko County.

A group known as the Freedom Fest Committee announced on Wednesday that Kosciusko County will host Freedom Fest, a "once-in-a-generation celebration of America’s 250th birthday," on the weekend of June 5–7.

The event will take place at various locations in Kosciusko County.

Freedom Fest will feature a star-studded headline concert, a regional parade, a veterans and first responders tribute, historic reenactments, vendors, car, truck and tractor shows, as well as a focus on Kosciusko County Agriculture, Orthopedics, and other industries.

There will be family-friendly activities, along with faith and heritage gatherings.

"This is more than a concert or a parade — it's a county-wide and beyond act of gratitude and celebration," said Mike Loher, of the Freedom Fest Committee.

"We’re bringing all Americans together to honor our nation’s founding, its defenders, and the freedoms that define our way of life," he added.

The committee will oversee all logistics, organization, and fundraising, with local businesses, service organizations, and civic groups already pledging support.

To learn more and get involved in sponsorships, contact Loher at Mike@seven25events.com.

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WARSAW — On Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m., Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts will present Love Notes, a special candlelight concert featuring the Symphony of the Lakes String Quartet.

Designed for the perfect Valentine’s Day date night, the concert will feature timeless classical pieces in the first half and string arrangements of popular contemporary love songs in the second half.

Audiences can expect to hear music by artists such as Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, and Tori Kelly. The stage will be illuminated with candles surrounding the quartet, bringing the widely popular candlelight concert phenomenon to Warsaw. Guests are invited to enjoy champagne in the lobby before the performance.

Symphony of the Lakes concertmaster, Shana Brath, shared her enthusiasm for the event. “Our quartet has had such a wonderful time preparing to share this program of chamber music that spans the eras,” says Brath. “From Romantic masters like Schubert to Gershwin and Alicia Keys, the audience is in for a rare treat this Valentine’s Day”.

Tickets for Love Notes are available now and can be purchased at wagonwheelcenter.org or by calling the box office at (574) 267-8041.

About Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts: Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Warsaw, Indiana.

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WARSAW — If you like the music of Elvis, check out Friday night's concert featuring Elvis impersonator Quinten Flagg.

His show is part o the summer concert series organized by Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department.

The start time at the Lucerne Ampltheater is 7 p.m.

Performances made possible by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and the
Indiana Arts Commission — a state agency. Additional sponsorship is provided by 107.3 WRSW, Willie 103.5, and News Now Warsaw.

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