Backyard Adventures

12C PIKE PUBLISHING BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2017 PIKE COUNTY 4-H FAIR JULY 9-15 The Pike County 4-H Fair has really big news this year. They will offer unlimited free amusement rides for all ages on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. "It is a really big deal," said Fair Board President Kelly Cook. She said Indianapolis Power and Light and the Pike County Farm Bu- reau both donated $5,000, and a long list of smaller donors made the free rides possible for this year. Cook said the Fair Board is hopeful free rides will bring excitement back to the 4-H Fair. "It is a new and exciting addition to the fair this year." She said it used to be a big family event to take the family to the fair, even for non 4-H families, to see the midway and ride the rides. "The price of the unlimited arm bands had gotten so high, I think that has driven people away. If you have several children families just couldn't afford to buy them. We hope having free, unlimited rides for all ages will help bring families back to the fair." Cook said the 4-H Motto is To Make the Best Better. "As we considered how to make the 4-H Fair better in 2017, we recognized the need to improve on quality events and quality carnival rides for our community." She said they reached out to the com- munity to help. IPL and Farm Bureau stepped up with donations of $5,000 each, while a long list of donors came through to help the 4-H Council reach their goal of having enough to offer free rides. This year's fair is scheduled to run from Sunday, July 9 to Saturday, July 15. The fair will start on Sunday evening as always with a parade down Main St. Petersburg at 6 p.m. and out to Hor- nady Park and the fairgrounds. Opening ceremonies start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a commu- nity-side church service put on by the Pike County Ministerial Fellowship . It will include a performance by Cochren and Co. featuring Michael Cochren. Monday night will feature the Little Miss and Mister Pageant followed by the Junior Miss Pageant. Tuesday will feature the Miss Teen Pike County and Miss Pike County pageants. Wednesday night will be the 4-H Family fun night with the Hill Billy Water slide and other games. The mud corral racing is at 7 p.m. on Thursday and the first night the free, unlimited rides will be offered on the midway. A demolition derby returns to the fair for the first time in several years on Fri- day night. It is also the 4-H Livestock Auction and another night for free rides on the midway. Saturday will feature events all day long starting early with the youth fish- ing tourney from 9 to 11 a.m. at Prides Creek. An antique tractor show and classic car show is set to start at 9 a.m.. The Super Cross motorcycle races begin at 7 p.m. with live practice begin- ning at 4 p.m. DAVIESS COUNTY, KY., LIONS CLUB FAIR July 26-July 29 Philpot, Daviess County, Ky. Daviess County, Ky., Fairgrounds. SANDY LEE WATKINS SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL July 26-July 29 Henderson, Henderson County, Ky. A live music event where Nashville's top songwriters perform. Enjoy live music, featuring local and well-known Nashville songwriter, Kerry Kurt Phillips, and all of his friends. Approximately 30 of Nashville's best songwriters performing their songs in downtown Henderson for 4 consecutive nights! Others outings and workshops will be scheduled throughout the event. Hear the songs that you hear on the radio, by the writ- ers who wrote them in their purest form, and the stories behind them! . OWENSVILLE WATERMELON FESTIVAL July 27-July 29 Owensville, Gibson County Downtown Owensville. Pageants, food, rides, a parade and a 5K walk celebrate watermelon and the town's heritage. LAWRENCE CO. JR. FAIR July 29-August 4 Sumner, Lawrence County, Ill. Annual fair held at fairgrounds. FRANKLIN STREET BAZAAR July 29 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Enjoy local produce, arts and crafts. Every Saturday through September. MT. CARMEL, ILL., AG DAYS August 2-August 5 Mt. Carmel, Wabash County, Ill. Annual event in downtown Mt. Carmel, Ill. OLD SETTLERS FESTIVAL August 3-August 5 Odon, Daviess County Annual event at the Odon City Park. JASPER STRASSENFEST August 3-August 6 Jasper, Dubois County Brats, lederhosen, polka music and parades- just some of what you will experience at the annual Strassenfest in downtown Jasper. OAKLAND CITY SWEET CORN FESTIVAL August 3-August 5 Oakland City, Gibson County Annual festival put on by the Lions Club. GERMANIA MAENNERCHOR'S VOLKSFEST August 3 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Germania Maennerchor is bringing back its annual Volksfest. FIRST FRIDAYS August 4 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Haynie's Corner Art District - Enjoy art, live music, street performers - 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit downtownevv.com. ZOAR MOSQUITO FESTIVAL August 4-August 6 Zoar, Dubois County/Pike County line The festival will be held at Zoar United Meth- odist church and its picnic grounds. The loca- tion is on Old Road 64 two miles west of State Road 161. It includes: country store, flea market, soft drink pitch, artisans demonstra- tions, and its famous STATIONARY parade. For more information, call 812-536 -2920. WATERMELON FESTIVAL AND GREAT AMERICAN GRILL-OFF August 4-August 5 Vincennes, Knox County Celebrate our community's rich agricul- ture and fabulous watermelons at the an- nual Knox County 'Watermelon Festival' and 'Great American Grill-Off' Saturday, August 1, on Patrick Henry Drive of the George Rog- ers Clark National Historical Park. INDIANA STATE FAIR August 4-August 20 Indianapolis, Marion County Annual Indiana State Fair held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. SMOKEY THE BEAR'S 73RD BIRTHDAY BASH August 5 Patoka Lake, Dubois/Orange Counties Kids' crafts, games and activities. Enjoy a presentation by local firefighters, cake, priz- es, pictures with the bear himself and more! . FRANKLIN STREET BAZAAR August 5 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Enjoy local produce, arts and crafts. Every Saturday through September. ANNUAL BLUEGRASS IN THE PARK FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL August 11-August 12 Henderson, Henderson County, Ky. Audubon Mill Park, 101 North Water Street, Henderson. One of the largest free bluegrass festivals in the nation, this event features live bluegrass music, sporting events, children's activities and delicious festival food. COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES August 12 Washington, Daviess County The Buckinghams. HOLY FAMILY CARDBOARD BOAT REGATTA August 12 Jasper, Dubois County Annual event benefits Holy Family Catholic Church. All boats are made of cardboard. For more information, visit www.theregatta.org/ or call 812-482-6866. BREAKFAST IN THE PARK August 12 Henderson, Henderson County, Ky. Audubon Mill Park, 101 North Water Street, Henderson. All you can eat pancakes, sau- sage, eggs and coffee in the park. TWILIGHT TOUR August 12 West Baden, Orange County 7 p.m. EDT. Costumed interpreters repre- senting famous guests and early twentieth century luminaries convey the history of the West Baden Springs Hotel and its era. The past comes to life during this unique event. Reservations required. FRANKLIN STREET BAZAAR August 12 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Enjoy local produce, arts and crafts. Every Saturday through September. BLACK CREEK FESTIVAL August 18-August 19 Sandborn, Knox County Festival, Downtown Sandborn. ST. ANTHONY FIREMEN'S FEST AND CAR SHOW August 19 St. Anthony, Dubois County Come join in on the fun-filled activities dur- ing St. Anthony's annual fest. The St. Antho- ny Firemen's Car and Motorcycle Show will include approximately 150 cars and 50 mo- torcycles. For information, call 812-326 -2491. HEAD FOR THE HILLS TRIATHLON (PATOKA LAKE) August 19 Patoka Lake, Dubois/Orange Counties. 3rd Annual Patoka Lake Triathlon at the beach to raise money for Patoka's Education- al Raptor program. FRANKLIN STREET BAZAAR August 19 Evansville, Vanderburgh County Enjoy local produce, arts and crafts. Every Saturday through September. The annual Gibson County Fair always features a whole week of family fun. This year, that translates into seven days of fair fun and plenty of rides, cotton candy, farm animals, all kinds of exhibits and plenty of nightly Grand- stand action. The annual week of summer fun kicks off Sunday, July 9, and runs through Saturday, July 15, at the Gibson County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are located along North Embree Street on the north side of Princeton, near Princeton Commu- nity High School. With more than 60 acres of space, the fairgrounds feature numerous merchant and exhibit build- ings, several stages, a large Pavilion, the Grandstands and ample amounts of parking—all within minutes of U.S. 41 and downtown Princeton. Highlights include: truck and trac- tor pulls, drag racing, mud volleyball, motocross, pageants, hog wrestling, live music, and, of course, great food and rides every night. Friday, July 14 at 8 p.m. is the fair's biggest event, the Toyota concert featur- ing William Michael Morgan, perhaps best known for his songs "I Met a Girl," "Missing," and "I Know Who He Is." Admission to the grounds is $7 daily, and all grandstand events are free. A full list can be found online at www. gibsoncountyfair.com. GIBSON COUNTY 4-H Fairgoers are also encouraged to tour the 4-H Building and check out the work completed by the county's youth, who are students in grades 3 through 12. The Gibson County Fair Board provides the facilities at the fairgrounds so 4-H members can showcase their exhibits. The Pavilion serves as the livestock exhibit hall and show arena for everything from rabbits to sheep to goats to horses during the fair. GIBSON COUNTY 4-H FAIR JULY 9-15 CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE > JULY-AUGUST 2017 ■ EVENT CALENDAR

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