Muncie hosting singing competition

There’s a new event slated for this year’s Fire Up DWNTWN in Muncie.

A singing competition, DWNTWN IDOL, has been added to this year’s lineup for the summer festival Sept. 21. The competition will run from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Ball State University stage at the corner of Walnut and Main streets in Muncie. Competitors may sing in one of three event categories: group performance, soloists 18 years old or younger and soloists 18 years old or older. Winners will be selected from each category, and one will be crowned DWNTWN IDOL by the audience. The overall winner will receive $500 and a trophy.

Competitors may choose from more than 60,000 songs on KaraFun in karaoke style before Sept. 9. Walk-ups will be welcome as time allows. To sign up, visit downtownmuncie.org/fireup. To learn more, email Cheryl Crowder at [email protected].

Water seminar

Let’s talk watersheds.

Upper Wabash River Basin Commission is hosting a seminar at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Wells County Commerce & Visitors Centre, 211 W. Water St., Bluffton. The event will feature discussion about ground water, aquifers and regional water systems. 

Speakers include research geologist Ginger Davis of Indiana University and Jack Wittman, vice president and principal water resources hydrologist for environmental and water resource consulting firm INTERA.

Open house set

Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Water will host a discussion about the state’s water resources from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Emery Lee Building in Alexandria.

The free event will feature DNR representatives sharing information regarding their work in floodplain management, floodplain mapping, water resource assessment and availability, water rights and use, dam and levee safety, watershed stewardship, floodway and lake permits and compliance. Those who attend will have the opportunity to ask questions of the experts on hand.

For more information, visit dnr.IN.gov.

Festival is Sept. 7

The Swiss Heritage Festival at Swiss Heritage Village in Berne is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7.

The event will include games, building tours, reenactors, artisans, crafts and food vendors. The Hauenstein cider press will be in operation at 1 p.m., and both apple butter and cider will be available.

Swiss Heritage Village is located at 1200 Swissway Road, Berne.

Shows scheduled

Charles W. Brown Planetarium has a variety of shows scheduled for the fall semester.

Shows continue this weekend and go through December.

Offerings include:

Living Worlds — A journey through space and time to discover how life makes earth livable — 5 p.m. today, Aug. 30 and Aug. 31

Summer Skies Live — Learn how to navigate the night sky — 6:30 p.m. today, Aug. 30 and Aug. 31

Kitz the Cat’s SuperMoon Adventure — Three cats work together to clean up space junk — 3:30 p.m. today, Aug. 31, and Sept. 14 and 21

Big Astronomy — A journey to three world-class observatories — 5 p.m. Fridays, Sept. 13 and 20, and Saturdays, Sept. 14 and 21

We Are Stars — Explore the secrets of cosmic chemistry — 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Sept. 13 and 20, and Saturdays, Sept. 14 and 21

Leadership event set

Ball State University’s Fall 2024 Excellence in Leadership Speaking Series will feature superyacht captain Kelly J. Gordon.

The BSU graduate will speak at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Pruis Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

“Captain Gordon’s journey from Ball State University to the high seas exemplifies the powerful impact of a Ball State education," said Olivia Vecchiolli, assistant director for first-year transition and leadership programs in Ball State’s Office of Student Life, in a press release. "We are thrilled to welcome her back to inspire our campus community by sharing her insights on leadership, and professional and personal growth.”