The annual Chandler Celebration Days festival by the Chandler Lions Club will include a Talent Show, 8K Run/Walk and Kids Dash, Parade, and food and activities.

To kick things off, there will be a Talent Show on Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Chandler Community Center. Youth of all ages are invited to shine in the spotlight by competing in one of five categories: dance, tumbling, vocal, instrumental, and novelty. Trophies will be awarded to top scorers in each category for two age divisions: junior (12 and younger) and senior (13-18). The Talent Show is being sponsored by LNB Community Bank. General information, rules, and Talent Show entry forms are available online here, via Facebook, or by calling 812-604-7969. The Chandler Lions Club will be selling concessions.

The Second Annual Chandler Day 8K will get things going at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning at Faith Free Will Baptist Church. This challenging course includes rolling hills through the countryside north of Chandler. At 7:35 a.m., the 1-Mile walk will begin. Every participant receives a commemorative race shirt. Prizes will be awarded to men and women in the top three finishes in 9 different age categories. There will be a Free Kid’s Dash at 9 a.m. Race registration and information may be found online here or via Facebook.

The “Spirit of Chandler” Parade will begin at 11 a.m. This year’s theme is Harvest, and the Grand Marshal of the Parade is John Guthrie. Entries are still being accepted; click here for the Parade Application. Please call Tonya Wester at 812-204-1324 for further information. The Parade starts at the Chandler Town Hall on East Jefferson Avenue, and travels west to State Street, south (crossing Hwy. 62) to Washington Avenue, and east to the entrance at the Chandler Sports Park and Community Center, where the Parade ends.

Food booths will open at the Chandler Community Center as the Parade begins at 11 a.m. Local nonprofit organizations sell food items to help fundraise for their programming and projects, so it’s a great way to enjoy a meal while supporting good things in our community. At the conclusion of the Parade (around noon), visitors can enjoy free inflatables and the Car Show, which features street rods, antique cars, and tractors at the Community Center. There will also be games, live entertainment, a free photo booth for kids, a Silent Auction, and BINGO available throughout the event. Children and adults alike typically enjoy the Paper Airplane Throwing Contest (beginning at 2 p.m.) and the Spaghetti Eating Contest (beginning at 3 p.m.). Please contact Jody Call at 812-842-0221 with any questions or for additional information.

Chandler Celebration Days is sponsored by the Chandler Lions Club, Chandler Park Board, the Town of Chandler, and many of our generous local businesses and churches.