Summer Fun in the Ville
The Barnesville community kept summer fun going as it celebrated its second Fun in the Ville on Thursday.
The Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce started the Fun in the Ville tradition four years ago and now celebrates the events during the summer. Last month’s theme to kick off the celebrations was “Super Sidewalk Sale.” Thursday’s theme was “Summer Fun,” while the Aug. 7 theme will be “Back to School.” Each event takes place from 4-7 p.m. at the parking lot at 130 W. Main St.
The events are free to the public with the exception of the food trucks that included Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream, Woodfired Pizza and Cowgirl Country Fixins.
Belmont County Tourism Council awarded the GAP grant to the chamber to host the Fun in the Ville events. Sponsorship from businesses in the community also play a role for the chamber to host the celebrations.
Although Thursday was full of cloudy and rainy weather, that didn’t stop the community from enjoying the fun with inflatable slides, balloon artist Johanna Rockwell, bag smash mobile rage room, food and a foam pit. The Barnesville Future Farmers of America were also at the event doing chicken bingo.
Chamber of Commerce director Jill Hissom said the chamber came up with the idea four years ago when it wanted to do something for the community, trying to draw in some traffic downtown and to the local businesses.
“We see so many people bring food from the other locations down here to eat,” she said. “So I think it helps everyone. It gets traffic in our community.”
Susan and Wayne Lapham have sponsored the DJ and will sponsor all of the events this summer for the chamber. Hissom said it is very nice of them to sponsor it.
The Chamber of Commerce is looking for businesses, organizations and families to sign up for the inflatable relay race for the next Fun in the Ville for back to school.
“People are down here. The kids are playing together,” Hissom said. “You might see someone that you haven’t seen since last year, or maybe someone that you haven’t seen in many years, but everyone likes to come down.”
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