BUCYRUS – Bucyrus area businesses are gearing up for their 11th annual South of the Square Block Rally.

This year’s community event is set for Friday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shines Art Park downtown, just south of Washington Square, with plenty of food, games, door prizes, raffle drawings, and children’s activities on tap.

“We’ve noticed from the past it does bring a lot of kids to the downtown area, and they definitely have a good time,” said Melissa Miller of Mizik Miller & Company Inc., who is organizing this year’s block rally for the third year in a row.

Miller said that so far, about 30 local businesses are participating in the rally, which took a hiatus last year due to restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Proceeds are being given to the Governor’s Imagination Library of Crawford County.

Those attending, she said, are being asked to make a donation to the non-profit organization, which provides free books to children under the age of five. In return, they will get a hotdog or bratwurst sandwich, chips, a cookie, and a beverage.

Miller said businesses that sponsor the event – typically held the last Friday of June – will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the community.

Many, she said, have also agreed to donate door prizes and raffle items.

From 12 to 1 p.m. that day, favorite cartoon characters in costume will return to the streets to meet and greet youngsters, Miller said. As an added treat, she said, Mark’s Homemade Ice Cream will be available in the company’s familiar red firetruck.

Miller said Mizik Miller, which started the rally with just a small cook-out on the street the first year, is donating a child’s raffle basket. Other sponsoring businesses are planning to set up games and have promotional giveaways, she said.

“It’s a way for local businesses to get together and at the same time get the community to help support a local non-profit organization,” Miller said. “We’re just trying to give back to the community. That’s our main goal.”

Proceeds benefit a different non-profit organization each year, she said. The Imagination Library’s mission, she said, is to promote early childhood literacy with books, ensuring that every student entering kindergarten is ready to read – and succeed.