By Judy Reed

Main Street in Cedar Springs was hopping last Saturday when the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce held their second annual Community Celebration.

They had more than double the vendors this year (60-plus) and more people strolling through downtown Cedar Springs and making purchases.

“We are very happy with the way it turned out,” said Shawn Kiphart, President of the Chamber. “Our feedback from vendors was excellent. Everyone seemed happy.”

Visitors could buy flowers, baked goods, fresh produce, crafts, jewelry, handbags, Alpaca wool, and much more. Nonprofits also took advantage of the day. The Cedar Springs Library had a used book sale, The Lions Club collected used eyeglasses, and the Red Flannel Festival sold souvenirs. The Fire Department did a car wash as a fundraiser.

Face painting and balloon animals helped to keep kids entertained.

There were two bands—Oh Brother and Steal Gray—that performed on Ash Street, and the duo True Story performed in front of Curves and Cedar Chest. New this year was the dance shows, including the Zumba demonstration.

Kiphart said they already are planning to make some additions for next year. He said the celebrity dunk tank will be back next year, and they plan to do an inflatable park for the kids with festival style activities.

Coming up next for the Chamber is the Halloween Spooktacular, planned for October 31. New this year will be a haunted  schoolhouse put on by the Cedar Springs Historical Society at Morley Park, and the Chamber also plans to bring back the scavenger hunt done in years past.

Mark your calendars now for Mingle with Kris Kringle, to take place the first Saturday in December (December 7). They are currently working on scheduling a holiday parade to go along with the tree lighting festivities.

To keep up to date on Chamber activities, visit cedarspringsareachamber.org/ or like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CedarSpringsAreaChamberOfCommercecsacoc. There are also lots of photos there from the Celebration. Go check them out, or add some of your own.