The Bell Tower Festival begins tomorrow and there’s lots for everyone to enjoy.

The vendor booths kick off the activities at 3pm around the downtown square in Jefferson, followed by the Bound Around Inflatables. Jefferson Matters: Main Street invites everyone to vote for their favorite sculptures for the Ring Out for Art contest.

The community barbecue meal with hamburgers and ribeye steaks being served by the Greene County Education Association is from 5 to 7pm on the south side of the courthouse. The Thomas Jefferson Gardens Education and Welcome Center open house is from 5 to 6:30pm. The opening ceremonies will then take place at 6:30pm. The Game Changing Performance Games start at 7pm at 708 North Cedar Street. There will also be two performances Friday evening including “Johnny Guitar: The Musical” at History Boy Theatre Company at 7pm and a Ulysses S. Grant performance by Pete Grady from Marshalltown at the Jefferson Elks Lodge at 7:30pm.

The evening wraps up with The Back 9! performing in the beverage garden from 9:30pm to midnight and star gazing at the corner of Lincoln Way and Wilson Avenue.

Additionally, we will be broadcasting live from our new Big Red Radio from 3 to 7pm Friday. Raccoon Valley Radio recently purchased a second Big Red Radio to provide even more coverage of area events. Our other Big Red Radio will be featured Friday night at Guthrie Center Main Street’s 50115 Fest from 4 to 6pm.

Other activities on Friday include an art show at the Greene County Historical Museum from 8am to 9pm and bell tower tours will take place from 10am to 9pm.