RACINE — The schedule for Racine’s first Party in the Park has been finalized with something for everyone, including a performance by country music star Joe Diffie on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Admission and parking at the “party” are free.

Organizers of the festival have made sure there are activities for children, teens, athletes, car lovers, food lovers, bikers, parade watchers, country music fans and fans of The Ohio State University Buckeye football.

A complete itinerary for the “party” is as follows: 8 a.m., 5 K run registration across from Kountry Kitchen; 9 a.m., 5 K run starts at the corner of Third and Main Streets; 9:45 a.m., flag raising at Southern High School; 10 a.m., parade at Southern High School followed by unveiling of logos of the Southern, Meigs and Eastern Local School Districts and scenes of Racine on the Gatling, Ohio LLC beltline that crosses Ohio 124; 11 a.m., chicken barbecue at Racine Fire Department; noon, poker run, bikes out at Southern High School; parade awards at Star Mill Park.

Also at noon at Star Mill Park, the inflatable playground opens up with not only inflatables for small children but inflatables for teens including a bungee inflatable as well as others that feature competitive themes. A climbing rock wall will also be available. There will be tickets sold to use the inflatables but all money will stay in the Racine community with tickets taken by the Carmel-Sutton UMC and Racine First Baptist Church youth groups.

At 12:15 p.m., the Riverside Cloggers are at Star Mill Park; 1 p.m., car show and antique tractor show at the old fire station. Also at 12:15 p.m. the Gatling Yellowbush Coal Mine tours begin and leave from Star Mill Park. In addition, music will begin at 12:15 p.m. with a performance by Route 33 on a new, portable stage placed in the park for the day.

At 2 p.m., the kiddie tractor pull begins at the basketball court and Radio One takes the stage to perform; 3 p.m., the River City Players will perform at the park; at 4 p.m., Radio One makes a repeat performance; 5 p.m., a repeat performance by Route 33; the tractor and car show awards at the old fire department; Gatling mine tours end for the day.

At 6:30 p.m., Joe Diffie takes the stage at Star Mill Park. After Diffie’s performance, the OSU football game against USC will be projected onto a screen on the old Star Mill Park stage.

In addition to activities, crafters are invited to attend and can reserve a spot by calling Maxine Rose at 949-2210. For information on the car and tractor shows call 949-2217 and for any other questions call 949-2296.

There is no alcohol permitted in the park and those who attend are encouraged to bring lawnchairs for seating. Parking is free and there will be designated parking areas and shuttles provided.

The party is put on by corporate sponsors and there will be 500 T-shirts given out on the day of the party on a first-come, first-served basis. The Party in the Park is meant to be Racine’s premiere festival and build off of the annual Cruisin’ Saturday Night Car Show sponsored by Hill’s Classic Cars, Home National Bank and Gatling, Ohio LLC.

More on Party in the Park and its parade, which organizers hope will be the biggest the village has seen, will appear in next week’s The Daily Sentinel.