Brookville and Franklin County residents have been preparing for an event that is 200 years in the making and will culminate during the last two weekends in June.

The town’s bicentennial celebration is underway, according to chairperson George Gillman. “We kind of followed the format Batesville used” for its sesquicentennial.

“The best thing is there are a ton of events going on .... We were fortunate that there were resources available to fund these things.”

He points out that visitors will notice “a lot of old pictures on the sides of the buildings.” The 20-by-30-foot banners depict scenes from days gone by.

Friday-Saturday, June 20-21, “we will be closing down Main Street and putting a stage in the middle of the street .... Night Ranger, a band from the mid-’80s will perform Friday night” in a free concert.

Local restaurant employees will provide a taste of Brookville. “A kiddy area is at the corner of Seventh and Main (streets) at the Firestone parking lot.” There will be “various things for kids of all ages.”

“The Franklin County Community Foundation (members) are having a formal Heritage Ball at St. Michael’s” Hall June 21. “This sold out in a very short time .... A lot of people had their dresses or suits made for the early 1900s” time period.

June 27-28 festivities “merged with the Canoefest .... Most will be held on Fairfield Avenue by the Old Ball Park,” Gillman notes.

One of the highlights of this weekend occurs Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Bicentennial Parade comes down Main Street. “There are over 250 entries, a great variety .... It should not be missed,” the Brookville resident adds.

On the days Main Street is closed, parking is available at the Franklin County Fairgrounds and Franklin County High School. Shuttles will be available to take people back and forth from the parking lots to downtown.

He encourages the public to attend these bicentennial events because “it’s entertainment and free .... Back in 1958, they did such a good job” with the centennial. “Our first goal (with this celebration) was to do as well as they did in 1958.”

What is Gillman looking forward to? “For it to be a success and be over .... It’s been a lot of hard work .... I’m going to show up to every event if I can.”

Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com