SOUTH HAVEN | For the fourth straight year the South Haven Fire Department is thanking the community it serves by sponsoring a party full of food, music, fun and games.

"The festival is designed to be a thank you to the community. They've always been there for us," said Lt. Jim Holland, chairman of the event.

Holland said the event is not intended to be a fundraiser for the department. Proceeds earned will be used to offset the costs of hosting the festival and any remaining funds will go to the department's general and fire prevention funds.

The festival will run from 2 p.m. to midnight Friday and from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday at Haven Hollow Park on County Road 700 North just west of Ind. 149.

Holland said this year's festival will be bigger than in previous years featuring a dozen food vendors serving everything from hot dogs to pierogi to deep fried Oreos and some 30 nonfood vendors displaying a variety of arts, crafts and products.

New to this year's festival will be a firefighter muster competition slated to begin at noon Saturday. Two- to five-member teams of firefighters will compete in five different activities to show off their fire hose skills. Interested teams can register up to the time of the event. The cost is $75 for a five-person team. Proceeds go to Supporting Heroes, an organization which assists families of fallen emergency workers.

Also featured both days will be a variety of inexpensive children's games, four inflatable activities including an obstacle course and boxing ring, a separate teen area with a DJ, hourly 50/50 raffles and a gaming area. The department's new smoke trailer will be in operation both days and firefighters also will be giving away free smoke detectors Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, a fire apparatus parade will begin at 4 p.m. at U.S. 6 and McCool Road and will wind through the community. The beer tent will be open from 4 to midnight. The band Shuddup & Drive will perform at 7. On Saturday, the beer tent will be open from 2 p.m. to midnight with the band High Noon performing at 7.

Holland said there is still space for additional arts, crafts and business vendors to set up at the park. Anyone interested, or for more information, should call Holland at (219) 916-3917. Any group interested in helping sponsor the event also should contact Holland.