Tomorrow is the first day of the 40th annual Bell Tower Festival in Jefferson and this year’s theme is “Retro with a Twist.”

All of the festivities begin in the evening with the new Kids Zone that’s from 5 to 7pm. Chair Pete Russell talks about everything that kids can take advantage of on State Street, near Lincoln Way.

“It’s inflatables, and there’s an obstacle course, and there’s a baseball throwing event, there’s quite a few different ones. There’s games for the kids to play, to get on, and try, and just have some fun. It’s all free, it’s just as long as the moms and the dads want to stand around and let them play.”     

The bags tournament with the Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department begins at 6pm on Lincoln Way, south of the Greene County Courthouse. That’s also when the Bell Tower Brew Station opens at the corner of Chestnut Street and Lincoln Way, along with the kids mini tractor pull at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens.

The opening ceremonies, which includes the Bell Tower of Fame Award, begins at 6:30, followed by musical entertainment with Hawk McIntyre at 7:30 and Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos at 9 on the Plaza Stage.

Raccoon Valley Radio’s Big Red Radio will also be there broadcasting live from 3 to 7pm tomorrow and from 9am to 6pm on Saturday. We will also play music and make public address announcements as needed. To hear more about the Bell Tower Festival with Russell, listen to tomorrow’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.