Carnival rides and 4-H classes will be in full-swing at the Isabella County Youth and Farm Fair next week.

The fair opens Monday evening at the Isabella County Fairgrounds, located at 500 N. Mission Road north of Mount Pleasant, with “Isabella’s Best Talent Show” at 7 p.

Downtown Mount Pleasant will host six different events this weekend for the inaugural Downtown Mount Pleasant Street Festival.

Michelle Sponseller, downtown development director for Mount Pleasant, said the festival, which begins Thursday and ends Sunday, is combining the 56th annual Sidewalk sales, fourth annual downtown Arts and Crafts show, and second “Chalk It” exhibition with new programs.

Music will be heard tonight in the northern half of Central Michigan University’s campus.

Sponsored by University Events and 104.3 WCZY, “Music in the Mall” is a free, four-concert music series that begins at 7 p.m. today at Warriner Mall.

“This is one way of us giving back to the community,” said Keith Voeks, assistant director of University Events.

Those who don’t have air conditioning this scorching summer need not fear, there are plenty of ways to stay cool during the summer in Mount Pleasant.

Tubing down the Chippewa River is one way residents can enjoy the summer heat. Mike Anderson, manager of Chippewa River Outfitters, said the company offers single tubes for $11 and double tubes for $20.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the Brian Vander Ark concert Thursday evening in downtown Mount Pleasant.

Vander Ark, who is most famous for singing lead vocals for The Verve Pipe, will be playing at 7 p.m. Thursday in front of Max and Emily’s Bakery Cafe, 125 E.

General Motors filed for bankruptcy on Monday following weeks of speculation that the company would be forced to.

GM filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a court in Manhattan and stated that it would close 14 more American factories, including seven in Michigan, cutting 21,000 jobs altogether and 9,000 jobs in the state alone.