The 2025 Bell Tower Festival begins tomorrow evening with a slate of activities.

Committee Chair Philip Heisterkamp says lots of festivities start at 5pm with a Festival Kick-Off Party which includes the opening of the brew station and select food vendors, live bingo, along with free inflatables and other family-fun games that are tied to this year’s theme of “Saddle Up.” Those include western shooting gallery and a rodeo roper. He talks about his favorite part of lining up different activities each year of the festival.

“I love trying to apply the theme in just new and creative ways. I’m excited to see some of the cowboy hats and the flannel t-shirts that we have out there on the square. And I’m excited just to keep bringing a twist to it and making it better. The goal, of course, is to have something for everyone.”     

He points out a new competition is a Cookie Bake-Off, where anyone can drop off 6-12 cookies from 6:45-7pm at the new grey event tent at the intersection of East Lincoln Way and North Wilson Avenue. He notes that the winner will receive a cash prize. To round out the night, there will be karaoke starting at 7:30pm. Heisterkamp explains that everything takes place around the downtown square, with everything free.

Heisterkamp reminds everyone that the streets around the square will be closed to traffic starting tomorrow morning at 6am and will remain closed through the Bell Tower Festival until Sunday morning. Click here to see the full lineup of all the activities and more information about the festival.