Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-08-11
.|ON|AS' FREE FAIR
BIG CELEBRATION
BEGINS AUGUST 18
THREE BIGGEST DAYS THIS
YEAR-AVIATOR WILLIAMS
WILL BE FEATURE

A lot of people are going to be
most wonderfully surprised Wednes-
day, August Is, when the gates open
at the fair. 1t looked like mighty
big undertaking to pull off fair at
which no admission charge would be
made, where aeroplane flights, horse
races, baseball games, balloon ascen-
sions, etc, would all be absolutely
free of charge, where would be gath
cred for exhibition the finest display
of horses, cattle, sheep and poultry
yer shown in western Michigan,
where an automobile show exhibiting
the new 1916 models of 15 or more
makes of the finest and most popular
cars now made would be one of the
special features of the mammoth ex-
hibition, where the whole three days
would be given over to good, clean
pleasure and entertainment, and
where no person would be asked to
spend one single cent if he or she
might not care to do so. 1t looked like
a mighty big undertaking, and it was,
too, but when the gates open Wednes-
day afternoon it will be there, and it
will all be due to the hustle and push
of ionia'S splendid organization Of
business men who haye stood solidiy
behind Mayor Green and the seversv
| committees having in charge this first
of Ionia's free fairs.
The opening event will be the grand
automobile parade on the afternoon
of Wednesday, August lS. Forming on
Washington street at 1 o'clock, the
parade will traverse the entire length
of the city between Yoemans and JEFF
ferson streets, passing through Main
streets, going thence to the fair
grounds and circling once around the
race track before disbanding. Special
plans have been arranged for the par
ade, and efforts are being made to
have every automobile owned in Ionia
county in line when the parade moves.
There are nearly 1900 automobiles
owned in lonia county. Supposing on
ly 900 of them turn out, think what
a sight it will be. Allowing 20 feet
of space to each car and running
single file, parade of ], 900 ears will
cover nearly four miles, Or if formed
in double column will cover nearly
two miles. And with every car hand
somely decorated, flags and banners
waving, and lead by q concert band
playing lively marching tunes, what
an inspiring sight such a parade will
be. Immediately following tho auto
mobile parade will occur the first of
the aeroplane flights, two of which
are to be given each day by Professor
Williams, the owner and driver of the
aeroplanes engaged for the fair. Prof
Williams has been making successful
fights for the past three years, at
many Of the large eastern fairs and
celebrations, and guarantees some
thrills for his audience at each flight.
Prof. Williams will also arrange to
carry passengers on special trips if
any desire to take adva ltage of the
opportunity. A novelty race, open to
everybody and under the supervision
of the committee on speed program,
a baseball game between Portland
and Lake Odessa and balloon ascen-
sion and parachute drop by Prof. E. R.
Hutchison, using four different par
achutes in making the one drop, are
other free events on the afternoon
program. And down in the big Chau-
tuqua tent will be Ionia'G first auto
mobile show, an event in itself worth
going miles to see, while in the stock
and poultry barns will be the finest
display of live stock and poultry ever
shown in Ionia county.
Wednesday,, the opening day, has
also been chosen as "Fraternal day"
and invitations are being sent by the
committee to every fraternal organic
alton in the entire county Of the big
making the first day one of the big
gest of the entire week. Special
events are being arranged for the en-
tertainment of all the fraternal bod
les, and plans are being perfected to
care for thousands of fraters and
their families.
Thursday is horse race day, with
three splendid races on the program.
A free-for-all, a 2:30 trot and q 2:30
pace, and these are in addition to the
aeroplane flights by Prof. Williams,
the baseball game, Belding VS.. the
Grand Rapids City League champions
and the balloon ascension and para
chute drop by Prof. Hutchison, using
the one drop.
Friday is the big day, Tie day when
the ionia mel chants give away 1916
model Ford automobile. That big
event is scheduled for 3 o'clock p. m.
and will be the crowning event of the
fair. Two more aeroplane flights by
Prof. Williams, balloon ascension
and parachute drop by Prof. Hutchi-
son, using six parachutes in making
the one drop are other events on the
Friday program.
OF course there will be midway"
What fair would be complete without
one. There will be all kind. of shows
on the midway" all kinds of candy
booths, popcorn and peanut stands,
ice cream parlors, moving picture
shows, merry-go-rounds, etc, and last
but not least a great big old-fashion-
ed 10c dance in, the pavilion on the
river front, where one can dance from
noon till midnight if he has the price.
Everything possible will be done
for the comfort and entertainment of
all who attend the fair, and every eff
fort will be made to have this first Of
Ionia's Free Fairs q splendid success.
adv.