A merry mix of Fourth of July fun is on tap during a four-day celebration in Gary.
Plenty of food, carnival rides and even professional wrestling are part of the eighth annual Market City Fair, located at the Market City Flea Market, 4121 Cleveland St.
Admission is free.
Running July 2 to 5, the 2015 fair is being touted as an improved version.
“It’ll be bigger than last year — bigger and better,” said Jerwan Jones, general manager of the Market City Flea Market.
Jones predicted a sizable turnout of people.
“We’re going to be expecting over 20,000,” he said. “We’re going to have a fireworks show July 4 at dusk.”
Serving as the basic anchor for the festivities is a giant, traveling outdoor amusement park.
“Last year we finally landed North American Midway Entertainment,” said Jones, noting the summer-fun company is returning this year.
“They do the Lake County Fair, Porter County Fair,” said Jones, pointing to two local, long-running entertainment traditions in Northwest Indiana.
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North American Midway Entertainment is based in Farmland, Ind., and provides rides, food and games to fairs and festivals in 20 states and several Canadian provinces.
Jones said the Market City Fair essentially started as “a small carnival,” but has “upgraded” to a modern-midway event.
The diversity of offerings has swelled.
“We have SmashMouth Pro Wrestling,” Jones said.
The audacious wrestlers can be seen 7 p.m. July 2. There is no charge.
As far as food fare, the Market City Fair menu will traipse from barbecued meat and tacos to elephant ears and hoagies.
Domino’s also will be dishing a pizza-eating contest at 7 p.m. July 3, Jones said.
At 1 p.m. July 4, Gospel Fest will take place.
Altovise Ferguson of Gary will sing “Something Out of Nothing” — a spiritually infused work that was produced by Pharis Evans Jr., a music business veteran.
“It’s a storytelling song,” Ferguson, 38, said. “It’s really a powerful song.”
The vocalist said the composition can be purchased on CD at her performance and will be available on iTunes Fourth of July weekend.
The Market City Flea Market is owned by Embassies of Christ Kingdom Ministries of Gary.
Jones said the Fourth of July-weekend fair is intended to be restorative and foster community pride.
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance reporter.
Market City Fair
Where: 4121 Cleveland St., Gary
When: 5-11 p.m. July 2-3 and 1-11 p.m. July 4-5
Admission: Free
Information: 219-887-3522 or http://www.marketcityfair.com