Old Settlers begins tonight (Wednesday) on the courthouse square, with rides and amusements, entertainment, art show, local organizations' booth fair, and plenty of food.

The annual festival continues Thursday through Saturday. The Rendezvous encampment is held at Canal Park and continues through Sunday.

Rides and amusements are from 5 to 10 p.m. tonight and Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 11 on Saturday. Wristband will be honored from noon to 5 on Saturday, and there will be a bicycle giveaway at 3 p.m.

The Delphi Chamber of Commerce has lined up entertainment each evening on the courthouse east lawn. More than one act is planned each night, so bringing lawn chairs is suggested.

The Delphi Art Club's annual art show will be held in the courthouse throughout Old Settlers, including evenings and on Saturday beginning at noon. Visitors can cast their vote for People's Choice awards. There will be a raffle for a painting donated by Robert Sales.

The Carroll County Historical Society Museum on the ground floor of the courthouse will be open the same hours as the art show. The museum also sponsors free children's games (with prizes), old-time craft demonstrations and displays, and musical entertainment. Some activities are inside the museum, but most are held on the south lawn.

Children's games will be offered Friday night and on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. Crafts will be Friday night and from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The museum's musical entertainment will include the Dulcimer Gathering from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and Banjo Nutz from 5 to 6 p.m., both on Saturday on the south lawn.

Smiles Unlimited will do face painting tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the courthouse gazebo.

Delphi Preservation Society has special programs planned for Friday night in the third floor Circuit Courtroom and Saturday night in the Delphi Opera House, plus Opera House tours each evening, and historic Delphi trolley tours on Saturday afternoon. (See related story.)

Other events planned for Saturday are the annual Golf Open at the Carroll County Country Club, beginning at 8 a.m., Freedom Run (motorcycle ride) with registration at 9:30 a.m. at The Freedom Center, the Canine Cavalcade at 10:30 a.m. at Riley Park, and antique cars and tractor display from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Regions Bank parking lot.

See page 6A for a complete schedule of entertainment, special dinners, and other activities.