The Ethnic Festival was a popular event that took place each summer for over 20 years on Michigan Street in downtown South Bend. As this circa 1985 photograph shows, there was hardly an open space to be found as crowds milled through the festivity. The view in the picture looks southeast toward the corner of Michigan and Jefferson. The State Theatre is visible. Also shown is Robertson’s, when it had moved into the one-time J.C. Penney building from 209 S. Michigan, its long-time location across the street. Established in 1974, the Ethnic Festival was transformed into and renamed Summer in the City in the mid-1990s, moving to Howard Park at that time. Donated by the South Bend Tribune.