Have Rain? See the Train.

Rain needn't spoil Three Rivers Festival fun, but it may call for a detour to the History Center on Barr Street, where the Three Rivers and Indiana Northern Train Association Exhibit is being held through Sunday. Association president Blane Ryan was kind enough to give me a piece by piece tour of the group's extensive model train set, which includes a scale representation of trains and buildings in downtown Monroeville. My favorite was a train the association dubs the "Three Rivers Special," consisting of a Bratwurst car followed by Coca Cola cars followed by beer cars. One members of the association showed me pictures of the Nickle Plate Railroad running over Clinton Street back when it had passenger service in the 1950's. Next time you cross under the Clinton Street railroad bridge, try to imagine all the people who boarded trains at these paddocks, which still exist today!



At Sprint Food Alley I tried a delicious sample blueberry roll from Audrey's Pumpkin & Gourmet Rolls, a company owned by Chris Priebe of Mansfield, Indiana (right, in the orange hat). Chris was making his second appearance at the festival, and found time to chat with a fellow vendor and friend of his Steve Greshan, of Miss Piggy's out of Seymore, Indiana. The two cross paths several times each summer on the festival circuit they tell me, and they've found Fort Wayne to be one of their more enjoyable stops. Steve, who has seen the festival grow over the past 20 years, was happy to see family events like the Bed Race return this year, "entertaining community involvement" he said.



After talking with the friendly folks at the Mizpah Shriner's exhibit trailer at Headwaters Park, I feel I have a better understanding of what the Shriners do. Shriner Dave Yarde (pictured) will give you a brief tour of the exhibit and show you where Shriners Hospitals are helping kids across the country. He'll also give you the story behind those mysterious looking Shriners fez caps. Check out the Shriners at the festival, or see them Friday night at 8 pm, for the Shriners parade downtown.

Lastly, today was the opening of the Two Men and a Truck Marketplace. Follow your nose to the smell of incense on the west side of Headwaters, where you'll find arts, jewelry, kitchen accessories, and "The Secret of the Amazon," a fruity elixir said to cure all your aches and pains.(not to be missed!)