By Michelle Kinsey—
MUNCIE, IN – “Life is filled with secrets. You can’t learn them all at once.”
But you can try to unravel several of them in one, mystery-filled night in downtown Muncie.
The quote is from the book “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown, the theme for this year’s Muncie Mystery during First Thursday in downtown Muncie on Sept. 4.
The annual mystery game, hosted by Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement, Ivy Tech Muncie, Downtown Development Partnership, and Muncie Civic Theatre, is free and open to all.
Participants this year will be asked to decode a downtown find.
Here’s what we know so far, according to “Professor Vincent Garland:”
“This is a call to action for the whole community to help me decode the symbols found on a mysterious artifact that was recently excavated from the middle of Walnut Street between Washington and Jackson streets. I’ve gathered some items from the local historical archives that seem to share similar symbology, as well as a few people who might be able to shed some light on the situation due to their proximity to the elements of the story or their general knowledge of Muncie’s past and current inner mechanisms.”
The “Da Vinci Code” theme is also tied to an upcoming Muncie Civic Theatre production.
“This year Muncie Mystery is promoting both ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ which will be on the theatre’s Mainstage Oct 3-12, and the second annual Muncie Civic Theatre Gala on Oct. 18!” according to Bianca Sulanke, one of the game’s organizers and a project specialist in the Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University.
Because of that, the Muncie Mystery game will “function a little differently this year, to better reflect the ‘DaVinci Code’ theme,” Sulanke added. “Participants will get to investigate characters and objects to decode the 10 symbols on a mysterious artifact, which is being created by a team of Ball State College of Architecture and Planning students as part of their Immersive learning class at MadJax. We love finding additional ways to connect our students with the community and the Downtown-specific symbols give us a chance to share and celebrate these iconic images.”
That means you will not find suspects or weapons this time around, but you will find “a rich narrative that blends true Muncie history with a fun fictional story and the opportunity to work out puzzles both mental and physical to solve the mystery!”
Sleuths will have an opportunity to talk to experts and unravel clues as they visit 10 locations downtown. Locations are the Delaware County Historical Society, Gordy Fine Art & Framing, Parlour Salon, Ink Drinkers Anonymous Bookstore, Pazols Jewelers, Ivy Rose Boutique, Heidi Hale, RoHo’s Martini Bar, The Record Parlor, and Destination Muncie.
The experts that investigators will encounter at the locations are Sister Mary Louise, a high-ranking nun with a no-nonsense attitude; Bruce Clark, a construction worker with the City of Muncie; Shelly Walters, a local historian with a flair for the dramatic; Dolores McKean, a wealthy art collector who specializes in architectural portraits, and Leslie Sharp, a former clerk at Pazols jewelry store. The clues include a map, a painting, a journal, a mirror, and a brick.
Participants can pick up a “Code Tracker” form and map at Canan Commons, Dave’s Alley, or Muncie Civic Theatre beginning at 5:30 p.m., then visit participating downtown businesses. Turn in your cracked codes at Muncie Civic by 7:30 p.m. because the big reveal is set for 8 p.m. on the Muncie Civic stage.
Investigators with correct answers will be entered into a drawing for great downtown prizes! You must be present at the reveal to win.
Cheryl Crowder, with Downtown Development Partnership, said she looks forward to the event each year.
“It’s incredible what we can accomplish when our community comes together,” she said. “This event is proof that great partnerships can make magic – and Muncie Mysteries – happen.”
For more about the event, go to www.munciedowntown.org.
Michelle Kinsey is Communications Manager in the Office of Community Engagement at
Ball State University.
