NAPPANEE — People from around the region descended upon Nappanee on Saturday, July 14, to enjoy a special day of activities held throughout the small Elkhart County city. It was the third day of the town’s annual “Embrace the Pace Days,” which coincided with its monthly “Second Saturday” activities that always proves to be a big draw for locals and visitors alike.

Activities began on Thursday with free city-wide garage sales, which appeared in the front yards and driveways of homes both in and out of the town’s limits. However, most of the activities were focused on Saturday when many people took advantage of their day off work to enjoy what the town had to showcase.

From 1-4 p.m., visitors were able to enjoy the inaugural Nappanee Art Walk, which was promoted as “an afternoon filled with local creative talent spread throughout our vibrant town.” Guests had an opportunity to stroll through many locally owned and operated shops, including those located downtown, in Coppes Commons and at various other locales throughout the city and countryside.

There were many activities for kids, including chalk drawing at the Nappanee Center and a “decorate a van with spray paint” opportunity on the east side of town. Adults also had an opportunity to visit several vendors spread out in the downtown pavilion, as well as in the parking lot at Coppes Commons.

In the afternoon, motorcycle riders gathered for the eighth annual “Crusin’ for the Club” 70 mile bike run, which was sponsored by the local Boys & Girls Club.

The evening concluded with the Nappanee Fire Department’s annual fundraiser, a popular Jonah Fish Fry, which has been a local favorite in the community for many years. People also had the opportunity to enjoy music by 2010 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion Ted Yoder, a Goshen musician whose Facebook Live video of his performance of the Tears For Fears hit sone “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” which went viral in 2016 and experienced 53 million views in four days.