ELKHART — Elkhart is set to kick off several events on Friday night as part of the city's 150th birthday celebration.

Crews spent the day setting up for the event at several locations. Everything begins Friday at 7 p.m. and runs through Sunday. It will showcase the city's past, with an eye towards the future.

Local historian Paul Thomas is one of the many working on the city's sesquicentennial. He runs the 'Time Was' museum on his own and is well versed on Elkhart’s early years.

"Elkhart’s been very successful from the time it was a river town to the railroad town to the mobile home industry and pharmaceutical, and we've had successful athletics as well as band, we're very very strong in the band instruments," Thomas said.

He said a lot of people have signed to serve as volunteers for this event.

"It’s surprising how many people wanted to be in this sesquicentennial and how many people have called and give us their ideas and their suggestions,” Thomas said.

Many of the volunteers taking part in putting on this three-day celebration say it's a time to look back to the city's history, but also to look forward to the future.

"This is a prime example of people to reflect back on the past and to challenge others to tell them the story of where Elkhart was, has been, and at the same time, look forward to what the city can offer us,” said volunteer Ron Troyer. “We’ve come a long ways."

"I’m looking forward to the next 50 years," Thomas said.

A highlight of the event will be a parade that starts at 1 p.m. Saturday; 104 entries are taking part.