Columbia City Connect

09/10/2026

Dream dress shopping is happening right here in downtown 💍✨ Miss Whitley County visited Columbia City Bridal & Private Boutique this week for their Wednesdays in Whitley County series. Take a peek inside this beautiful downtown bridal boutique 👀👰‍♀️

09/09/2026

Homecoming spirit has taken over downtown! 🏈📣🦅

Every year, CCHS students bring their creativity and Eagle pride to downtown storefronts by decorating the windows for Homecoming.

Take a stroll through downtown and check out the windows for yourself. You’ll find plenty of Columbia City pride along the way!

Go CCHS Eagles! 👏🏻💙🦅

09/08/2026

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

The Columbia City Connect Volunteer Network connects local organizations with people looking for ways to get involved in our community.

Whether you need volunteers for an upcoming event, an ongoing program, a community project or something in between, post your opportunity to our Volunteer Network and help spread the word!

And if you're looking for a way to give back, our Volunteer Network is a great place to find opportunities happening right here in our community.

Have an opportunity to share? Post it. Know someone looking to volunteer? Send them our way. Let's connect more people with ways to get involved! 🤝🏻

👇🏻🔗 Visit our Volunteer Network to post an opportunity or find one to join. Link in comments.

09/05/2026

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑯𝑶𝑻. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬 𝑶𝑵! 🎮🔥

It was a HOT one, but that didn’t stop Columbia City from showing up and having some fun! From the first arcade game to the final scene of The Princess Bride, last night was full of games, music, history, and plenty of memories.

We had 15 arcade games from The Arcade Rental bringing out the kid in everyone and we saw young and old battling it out! Board games were being played all evening, yard games were in full swing, and the downtown was buzzing with activity.

A huge thank you to The Arcade Rental and REMAX Integrity - Indiana for helping make Game On! a night of family fun downtown! 🕹️🎯

The Todd Harrold Trio set the tone for a night of fun downtown, giving us the perfect backdrop for Game On! 🎸🎶

Thank you to Nathan Bilger for leading the Historic Tour around the square and sharing stories, history and insight into our downtown.

🎥 And then it was time to settle in for Movie on the Square! Thank you to Mayor Ryan L. Daniel and City of Columbia City, Indiana for partnering with us once again to bring this summer tradition to downtown. The Princess Bride was the perfect way to end the night. 🍿 A BIG thank you to The Redeemer’s House for providing a FREE popcorn bar for movie-goers. What a sweet way to wrap up the evening!

And to everyone who braved the heat and joined us: THANK YOU! We love that you love First Fridays as much as we do.

Of course, none of this happens without our incredible volunteers and vendors who put in the hours planning, preparing and bring it all together for our community. You are what makes First Fridays so special. 💙

We’ll see you next month for the First Fridays finale!
🍁 FALL in Love with Downtown
📅 October 2
⏰ 6–9 PM
📍 Downtown Columbia City
__________

⭐️ Thank you to our incredible 2026 Sponsors! Your generous support helps make First Fridays possible ⭐️

Builders Mart, Inc., Bowen Health, Steel Dynamics Long Products Group Structural and Rail Division, ProFed Credit Union, Oakwood Mutual Insurance Company, Brightpoint, Flow-Tech Plumbing & Heating, Inc., Olivia Hinen - State Farm Agent, 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, The Romine Group, STAR Financial Bank, Scientific & Regulatory Consultants, Inc., TJ NOWAK Supply, Sailrite, Columbia City Iron & Metal, LLC, Allpro Towing and Recovery Columbia City IN, National Oil & Gas, Smith & Sons Funeral Homes, Columbia City Optometry, Coyote IT, 80/20 LLC, Micropulse, Inc., Next Generation Studio of Dance, Wearly Monuments, Schrader Real Estate & Auction

09/04/2026

𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬 𝑶𝑵, 𝑪𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑴𝑩𝑰𝑨 𝑪𝑰𝑻𝒀! 🕹️🎮

Tonight’s the night! Head downtown for First Fridays: Game On! from 6–9 PM for games, music, shopping, food, vendors, and plenty of fun for all ages.

Then Stick around for Movie on the Square featuring The Princess Bride! ⚔️👑 The FREE movie begins at 8:30 PM on the Courthouse Lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, settle in under the stars and enjoy this classic with friends and family.

See you on the Square! 🎲🏁🎯

09/03/2026

𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬...𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 👀

We’ve given our Business Resource portal a new layout that makes it easier to navigate, find what you’re looking for and connect with resources that can help you take your next step.

You’ll find helpful information for 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 throughout our community, including resources for:

🏢 Starting or growing your business
💰 Funding, grants & financing
📊 Local data & market information
📝 Permits, zoning & development
🏗️ Property improvements & historic tax credits
💡 FREE Business coaching, education & advising
🤝🏻 Local and regional business support organizations
…and more!

Explore the refreshed Business Resource page and see what resources could be helpful to you and your business. 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 👇🏻🔗

09/02/2026

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚, 𝑺𝒆𝒕, 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑶𝒏! 🎮🎲🏆 Join us this Friday, September 4 from 6–9 PM for First Fridays: Game On! Challenge a friend, test your skills, and see if you can level up your night!

🎮 PLAY THE CLASSICS
Take a trip down memory lane with classic arcade games from The Arcade Rental. Whether you’re chasing a high score or settling an old rivalry, there’s a game waiting for you!

🏎️ TAKE IT TO THE TRACK
Ready to put your racing skills to the test? Track Side Racing Simulators will be bringing a full-size racing simulator to downtown! Buckle up and see how you stack up against your competition.

🎲 CHALLENGE YOUR CREW
From board games to yard games, there will be plenty of ways to play! REMAX Integrity - Indiana will have yard games ready for you to challenge a worthy opponent.

🎶 TURN UP THE TUNES
The Todd Harrold Trio will be bringing a mix of soul, blues and rock to the Courthouse Square, setting the soundtrack for a night of games, fun and friendly competition.

🏛️ TAKE A TRIP THROUGH LOCAL HISTORY
At 7 PM, join us for a Historic Tour around the Courthouse Square and beyond. Learn about the places, people and events that helped shape Columbia City and Whitley County. The tour will begin at the First Fridays Information Table, located behind the band.

𝑫𝑶𝑾𝑵𝑻𝑶𝑾𝑵 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑷𝑺 𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑵 𝑳𝑨𝑻𝑬
Reinholt's Furniture & Mattresses - Columbia City
Sage + Stone
Vintage Blessed General Store
The Mercantile
Drift Health & Wellness, LLC
9GB Tech - Computer Repair Service & More
Running Around Screen Printing

𝑫𝑶𝑾𝑵𝑻𝑶𝑾𝑵 𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑺
Casa Balbina CC
Alley Scoops Ice Cream
1897 BBQ
The Square
Señor Fajitas
Tokyo
The Junction Cafe & Home Decor
Cibo Ristorante
Columbia City Elks Lodge #1417

🎬 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔... 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓!

Stick around for Movie on the Square featuring The Princess Bride! ⚔️👑 The FREE movie begins at 8:30 PM on the Courthouse Lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, settle in under the stars and enjoy this classic with friends and family. And what’s a movie without popcorn? The Redeemer’s House will be providing a popcorn bar! 🍿

𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏. 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒑. 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚. 𝑬𝒂𝒕. 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉. 𝑾𝒆’𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅! 🎮🏁🎶🎬

📅 Friday, September 4
⏰ First Fridays: 6–9 PM
📍 Downtown Columbia City
🎬 Movie on the Square: 8:30 PM

09/01/2026

A sidewalk sale stroll is calling your name! 🛍️

This Friday & Saturday, September 4 & 5, many downtown retail shops are bringing the deals outside for Downtown Sidewalk Sales!

Spend the day wandering downtown, popping by your favorite shops and discovering something new along the way. Then make a stop at one of our downtown restaurants for a delicious bite to eat, because shopping works up an appetite! 😉

For details on individual sales and specials, be sure to visit the social media pages of participating downtown businesses.

🛍️ Looking for bargains? Look no further! 🛍️

Mark your calendars for the Downtown Columbia City Sidewalk Sales! 🎉

📅 Friday & Saturday, September 4 & 5

Come downtown and shop local while scoring some great deals! 🛒✨

Please check each store’s social media pages for individual specials, participating hours, and sale details.

We’ll see you downtown! ❤️

08/31/2026

VENDOR OPPORTUNITY for Ladies Night Out 🛍️💃🏼

Our 9th Annual Ladies Night Out event is coming to downtown Columbia City on Friday, October 16 from 5–9 PM, and we’re inviting vendors to join us for an evening of shopping, fun and connection!

Vendor applications are now OPEN and we’re looking for vendors who fit the Ladies Night Out experience:

✨ Boutique Clothing
✨ Jewelry & Accessories
✨ Handmade & Crafted Goods
✨ Self-care & Beauty Products
✨ Specialty Dessert Vendors
✨ DIY Craft Stations
✨ Specialty Items

If your business is a great fit for a fun night out with the ladies, we’d love to have you join us! Details and registration can be found through the link in the comments. 👇🏻🔗

08/31/2026

Our courthouse square has seen a lot of history and there are plenty of stories hiding in plain sight. 𝑱𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔: 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑶𝒏! 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒓 around the courthouse square and beyond!

Take a guided walk through downtown and discover the people, places and history that helped shape Columbia City. You might even see some familiar places a little differently afterward. 👀

📅 Friday, September 4
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Meet at the First Fridays Information Table, behind the band

Thank you to the Whitley County Historical Museum for sharing the historical photo of the courthouse from their collection!