Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2018 PIKE PUBLISHING 3A INSIDE WHAT'S AROUND: 4A Gibson County Overview 5A Pike County Overview 6A Surrounding Area Overview 8A Tri-State Map 11A 2018 Event Calendar 3C Tri-State Camping 5C Golf Courses 4E Kids' Puzzle & Activity Page 7E Online Resources FESTIVALS: 11A Fort Branch Community Fest 12A Haubstadt Sommerfest 13A Gibson County 4-H Fair 14A Otwell Ruritan 4th of July 14A Pike County 4-H Fair 5B Owensville Watermelon Fest 6B Oakland City Sweet Corn Fest 7B Zoar Mosquito Festival 3D Winslow VFD Summerfest 6D Golden Heritage Days 6D Winslow Fall Festival 7D Buffalo Trace Festival FEATURE STORIES: 1B Tri-State Speedway 1C Pike State Forest 6C Clog the Patoka 1D French Lick/West Baden 1E Lincoln Boyhood Memorial 6E Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame SPECIALTY GUIDES: 4D Dining Guide 8D Antique Guide EXPLORE! let 's Welcome to Backyard Adventures 2018! This extensive collection of local attractions and activities has been the premier guide to southwest- ern Indiana's festivals, tourist spots, and everything there is to do in summer since 2011. This is Back- yard Adventures' eighth year, and there's more adventure to discover every year. Backyard Adventures focuses on the local won- ders of southwestern Indiana, especially in Pike and Gibson counties. Almost every small town is full of hidden gems, and Backyard Adventures gives you the information you need to pick out your favorites. Whether you're trying out something new in your hometown, or you just happen to be in the area and want to experience some true local flavor, you'll more than likely be pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do around here. While our guide is centered around Pike and Gibson counties, we've got the scoop on summer fun anywhere from French Lick to Mt. Carmel, Ill., to Henderson, Ky. Small-town festivals and attractions are not just a unique slice of life, they're often a vertebra in the backbone of the local economy. That means while you're having fun in the sun—eating bratwurst and homemade ice cream, watching the glow-in-the-dark parade, or shopping at the flea market—your fistful of dollars is making our community a better place, whether that's through a scholarship for a student, a new bench at the park, or any other number of civic endeavors. So, wherever you may travel this summer, take some time on your way out of town to stop and smell what's cooking just around the corner. There are plenty of adventures in your own backyard, and Backyard Adventures will give you a head start in your own summer journey. We promise you'll find something fun—maybe even something unforgettable—within the pages of the 2018 edition of Backyard Adventures, and we bet you'll find it close to home.

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