With the sour economy, Sidewalk Sale Days in Batesville will be “a great time to look for bargains,” says Melissa Tucker, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Many shops located downtown and at Cross County Plaza, Saratoga Drive and other retail areas will offer specials Friday and Saturday, July 10-11.

Even the Batesville Area Historical Society is jumping on the bandwagon with a garage sale those two days from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the vacant lot at the northeast corner of George and Walnut streets. If its rainy, the sale will be inside a vacant storefront on George Street behind the Sherman House.

Proceeds benefit its new museum, 15 W. George St., which will be open for touring. Nothing is on display yet, but with the renovation almost completed, “people can take a look at the nice fireplaces and finished floors and painting,” says member Ham Struewing.

Residents hunting for fresh produce can stop at the Batesville Farmers’ Market on George Street between Main and Sycamore streets that Saturday. To perk up early shoppers, coffee, juice and sweet rolls will be sold.

How many producers will be there? “It will be full,” predicts market master Patty Reding. “We will have sweet corn in,” plus peaches, early summer apples, green beans, new potatoes, zucchini, baked goods, and maybe tomatoes, raspberries and lots of other surprises.

Those who want their food already prepared and also who would like to help out local nonprofit groups have many options during SummerFest.

Batesville Music Boosters will offer hamburgers, cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork barbecue and grilled chicken breast sandwiches, summer salad with grilled chicken, chips, a variety of desserts and cold drinks at lunchtime Friday in a tent in the parking lot just east of Batesville’s Village Green, member Linda Koon reveals (please see box for specifics). All proceeds benefit Batesville Community School Corp. vocal and instrumental programs.

Batesville Fire & Rescue volunteers will dish up Friday dinners that include fried fish sandwiches, baked beans and coleslaw. Those sandwiches and hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be sold separately, too. A beer garden that also stocks alcoholic coolers will be open until midnight both nights.

For the first time, the firefighters’ auxiliary is planning a pie auction that is open to the public – both in the baking and bidding. Proceeds go to Safe Passage, the five-county domestic violence shelter based in Batesville. “We wanted to do something to give back to the public,” explains member Mara Fletcher. “In the recession, the nonprofit organizations are the ones that suffer the most.”

Pie bakers may pick up registration forms at Crafts & Occasions or MainSource Bank or fill them out when pies are dropped off at 4:30-5 p.m. Auctioneer Bob Wessel will begin the bidding on the nonrefrigerated delicacies. For details, persons may call Fletcher at 212-0300 or Jeannie Gutzwiller at 934-4418.

The Batesville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3183 Honor Guard will serve smoked pork chop dinners for $8 that include scalloped potatoes, green beans, applesauce and a roll. The vets also will offer hamburgers, brats and metts, reports member Denis Schutte.

Tom and Carolyn Laker will sell their fresh corn on the cob both evenings. “Everybody loves that!” Tucker raves.

Those with a sweet tooth can order homemade root beer floats Saturday night from a Lil’ Charlie’s stand or funnel cakes, snow cones and cotton candy any time from a carnival vendor.

Because of a conflict with a national car show, the city’s cruise-in won’t happen this summer, but “it’s going to be back in the future,” the chamber director vows.