HENDRICKS COUNTY FLYER
D2 | Saturday, June 20, 2015
www.flyergroup.com
Summer fun that is close to home Summer is prime vacation season when travelers take trips to every corner of the world. While faraway destinations abound, those looking for fun can also find enjoyable activities much closer to home. Many communities come alive during the warmer weather, hosting an array of locally driven events. People looking for a day of entertainment or an evening of excitement may be able to find an event that’s just a short car ride away. Pick up a local newspaper or log on to your town’s official website to browse a listing of events in your community this summer. Here are a few events you’re bound to find. • Carnivals and fun fairs — Open land or empty parking lots can be transformed into bustling carnivals in a matter of days. Carnivals or fairs may be sponsored by private businesses or local religious organizations looking to raise funds. Some fairs are established by the county and attract participants from near and far. Carnivals often boast a wide array of entertainment, from amusement park-style rides to
Upcoming events in the area Farmers’ Markets Avon Tuesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 22 Brownsburg Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 24 Danville Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon through Sept. 19 Pittsboro Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon July 4 through Aug. 29 Plainfield Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 23
games of chance to music. • Summer concert series — Summer concerts series typically begin when the weather warms up, and music may not stop playing until Labor Day. Concerts may range from more intimate affairs that attract a few dozen people to a town square to larger events at beaches and boardwalks that draw thousands of visitors. • Food festivals — Various towns close down their Main Streets from time to time to accommodate food festivals that feature a variety of cuisines. Some food festivals may feature one
ingredient, such as garlic or cheese, while others may delve deeper and offer broader menus. Food festivals allow visitors to sample many different treats and may serve to advertise for neighborhood eating establishments. • Street fairs — Street fairs also may close down thoroughfares in town. These events usually bring together a variety of vendors selling their wares in an open market setting. You can make a day of touring all of the vendor booths and buying handmade items from local artisans. • Outdoor movies — Local parks frequently host summer movie nights when participants can view a movie on the big screen while under the stars. This can be an informal way to get the entire family together for a fun flick. Films are typically family-friendly and schedules are available well in advance. Bring a blanket and some snacks and enjoy an inexpensive evening together. Many people need not travel far for a little summertime fun, as many communities host fun events throughout the warmer months.
FAIR FUN: Along with summer comes carnivals, fairs and other family-friendly events.
Other events July 3 3 4 4 9 11 11 11-12 17-19 24-26 18 18 18 18 19-25 23 24 24-25 25 31
Stock Car Series Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg First Friday Cruise-In Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square Family 4th Fest Danville Community High School Pittsboro Town Freedom Parade Town of Pittsboro Indianapolis Symphony in the Park Martin Amphitheater in Ellis Park, Danville Rural Routes to Main Street Cultural Trail Second Saturdays Various Locations Danville Handmade Market Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square Rusty Wallace Driving Experience Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg Lend Me a Tenor Longstreet Playhouse, Danville Lend Me a Tenor Longstreet Playhouse, Danville Cruisin’ In Coatesville Car Show & Street Fair Downtown Coatesville Quarter-Mile Classic Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg Festival of the Arts Arbuckle Acres Park, Brownsburg Summer Sounds on the Square Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square Hendricks County 4-H Fair Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex, Danville JD Byrider 100 - USAC Silver Crown Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg ARCA Racing Series with ARCA/CRA Super Series Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg Reflected Light - A Midsummer Art Exhibition 2014 Bread of Life Ministries, Avon The Art of Jazz Festival Avon Town Hall Park, Avon Stock Car Series Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg
August 1 Mud Soap Run - 5K Obstacle Course Ellis Park, Danville 1 First Friday Cruise-In Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 8 Rural Routes to Main Street Second Saturdays Various Locations 8 Danville Handmade Market Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 16 Avon WWII Memorial Car Show Avon Town Park 22 Summer Sounds on the Square Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 22-23 Rusty Wallace Driving Experience Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg 25 The Big Go Block Party Brownsburg Town Hall September 2-7 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg 4 First Friday Cruise-In Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 5-7 40th Annual North Salem Old Fashion Days Downtown North Salem 12 The Avon Balloon Glow Hendricks Regional Health YMCA, Avon 12 Rural Routes to Main Street Cultural Trail Second Saturdays Various Locations 12 4th Annual Hendricks County Half Marathon Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 12-13 Fair on the Square Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 12- Nov. 1 Prairie Maze at McCloud Nature Park McCloud Nature Park, North Salem 18 Gala for the Arts Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds & Conference Complex, Danville 18- 19 St. Malachy Country Fair St. Malachy Church, Brownsburg 19 Summer Sounds on the Square Historic Downtown Danville Courthouse Square 19-20 Rusty Wallace Racing Experience Lucas Oil Raceway, Brownsburg 25- Oct. 31 Beasley’s Corn Maze Beasley’s Orchard, Danville 26 Avon Community Heritage Festival Washington Township Community Park, Avon
HENDRICKS COUNTY FLYER
www.flyergroup.com
Saturday, June 20, 2015 | D3
Hendricks County Rib-Fest back with new activities By Steven Penn steven.penn@flyergroup.com
The long-running RibFest will return to Avon June 27 and this year there are some new activities. The Hendricks County Rib-Fest is put on by the Avon Chamber of Commerce and will take place on the grounds of Kingsway Christian Church, 7981 E. County Road 100 N., Avon. It has been around for 11 years now. The event will begin at 4 p.m. and admission is free. There will be a $5 parking fee and all food must be purchased. Organizers of the event hope some new activities will help grow this year’s crowd. One of the new activities is the 5K Rib Run and the Quarter Slab Rib Run for children. Organizers also turned to the Avon High School DECA Club for
help with the event. The event will feature a Millennial Park, which will cater to the teenage crowd. The area will include games and a disc jockey. The festival will also carry a heavy social media presence, with a media board by the main stage and several festival hashtags. “We are in our 11th year, but we know a lot of folks in Hendricks and the surrounding counties have never been to Rib-Fest, so we are always looking to draw new folks in while trying to make sure it doesn’t get stale for those who attend every year,” Tom Downard, Avon Chamber executive director, said. “We are excited about our plans for teens to have their own area to hang out. The DECA students had so many great ideas that we couldn’t do them all this year, but hope to add to it
FILE PHOTOS
GOOD EATS: A vendor a last year’s Rib-fest gets some food ready. each year.” The 5K Rib Run will begin at 6:30 p.m., and spots to participate still remain. To register, visit the website www.AvonChamber.org and click on “Hendricks County Rib-Fest” under the “Events” menu tab. Organizers are estimat-
ing seven to eight local rib vendors will be in attendance including Pit Stop BBQ & Grill, Longhorn Steakhouse, City Barbecue and Judge’s Bar-B-Que. Edible Arrangements will serve fruit smoothies, and local non-profit groups will be offering desserts such
SUMMER FUN: Plenty of good food will be served up at this year’s rib fest. as strawberry shortcake and elephant ears. Other activities include games, the Indiana Pacers Fan Van, Colts in Motion, an IU West Pedometer Challenge, and live entertainment. The event culminates with fireworks beginning after dusk.
For more information or to see a complete schedule of events, visit www.AvonChamber.org. Follow Hendricks County Flyer reporter Steven Penn on Twitter @Steven_Penn and look for more photos at photos.flyergroup.com.
June 27th 4p.m. til Fireworks Celebration at dark! Kingsway Christian Church 7981 E County Road 100 N Avon In 46123
317.272.4333
Admission is FREE 4:00 p.m. Food Vendors and Booths Open 4:30 p.m. Colts in Motion 4:30 p.m. “Deep Fried Pickle Project” Concert Live Music throughout the night - Main Stage
(parking fee applies) 5:30pm Pacers Fan Van 6:30pm Rib Run 5k Fireworks at Dark
HENDRICKS COUNTY FLYER
D4 | Saturday, June 20, 2015
www.flyergroup.com
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra returns to Ellis Park By Alison Graham alison.graham@flyergroup.com
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is returning to Ellis Park in Danville to perform a summer concert at 8:15 p.m. July 9. The show will have a patriotic theme and will be followed by a fireworks show. Attendees are welcome to bring picnic lunches, lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to sit and enjoy the symphony. Kona Ice, which will serve gourmet shaved ice, and Firehouse Cooks, which will have broiled chicken and other grilled foods, have been confirmed for the event. A few others have been requested, but are not yet confirmed. The orchestra will per-
form pieces by Leonard Bernstein, Charles Gounod, George Gershwin, Morton Gould, Leroy Anderson, Aaron Copland and more. The length of the entire performance will be about an hour and 45 minutes. Recording and photography is prohibited. The event is for one night only. Gates will be open at 6 p.m. before the performance at 8:15 p.m. in the Martin Amphitheater. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children at the gate. A family package is available for $45 and includes two adult tickets and two children’s tickets. Children ages 2 and younger will be admitted free. Tables may also be reserved for $50. Sponsor-
CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE: Attendees sit in lawn chairs to watch the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s performance in Ellis Park last summer.
ship tables are available for $250 and VIP parking costs $10. Tickets, tables and parking passes may be purchased at the Greater Danville Chamber of Commerce office at 49 N. Wayne. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://danvillechamber.org. Tickets will be mailed to concert goers prior to July 2, but can also be picked up at will call located at the north gate of the concert venue. “It’s an amazing way to enjoy the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under the stars,” Peg Glover, public relations counselor for Symphony in Ellis Park, said. “People who live in Hendricks County have the opportunity to see the symphony in their own backyard.”
Ellis Park Martin Amphitheater Danville July 9, 2015 8:15 PM Presented by
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Tickets available at Hendricks County Flyer Office, All North Salem State Bank Locations, State Bank of Lizton Prestwick, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Pittsboro and Lizton Locations or online at
Town of Danville Danville Chamber of Commerce
www.danvillechamber.org Tables, VIP parking and tickets also available at the Danville Chamber Office 317-745-0670
Sponsored by
www.flyergroup.com
HENDRICKS COUNTY FLYER
Saturday, June 20, 2015 | D5
HENDRICKS COUNTY FLYER
D6 | Saturday, June 20, 2015
www.flyergroup.com
‘Holidays’ are the theme for the 2015 Fair By Devan Strebing devan.strebing@flyergroup.com
The 2015 Hendricks County 4-H Fair has a new theme this year with special events in store, from July 19-25. Holidays will be featured every day of fair week — New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Militar y Day. “We started a few years ago with a theme and this year is ‘every day is a holiday,’” Steve Patterson, executive director of the Hendricks County 4-H & Agricultural Fair Association, said. “This is also our 10th year here at the fairgrounds and we are encompassing the celebration with the parade and 4-H exhibits.” The parade will kick off the 2015 fair around 1:30
p.m. July 19, with the 2015 Indiana State Fair Queen as the Grand Marshal. Sunday will be a family fitness day with activities throughout the day based around fitness. The fair opens at various times throughout the week; with livestock shows usually starting early, 4-H exhibits opening at 11 a.m. in the community building, and the exposition hall opening at 1 p.m. daily. Throughout the week, guests can look forward to the rodeo, motocross, the tractor pull, the cheerleading contest and the demolition derby. The carnival will return Monday through Saturday, along with the Kidbuck$ Game Show and Swifty Swine. The Kidbuck$ Game Show is where randomly selected members of the
“It’s been a great 10 years and we want to continue.” Steve Patterson Executive director, Hendricks County 4-H & Agricultural Fair Association
FILE PHOTOS
FUN TIMES: There’s plenty to do each year at the Hendricks County 4-H Fair. audience participate in wild and crazy games. The final winner enters the Kidbuck$ chamber and grabs as many “Kidbucks” as possible, as they swirl about the chamber. New attractions this year include Galaxy Girl and
Johnny Rockett. Galaxy Girl has been called the newest extreme action superhero. She will begin her act by climbing an 80-foot ladder high in the air before performing an aerial gymnastic routine from a trapeze dangling 80
feet above the ground with no safety nets or devices. She then will climb to the 127-foot sway pole towering above the ground. Johnny Rockett and Galaxy Girl will then do Cyber sky cycle, towering mor than 40 feet in the air. Johnny Rockett continually drives his motorcycle around the disk keeping Galaxy Girl in constant motion around the track as she performs on the aerial trapeze attached to the motorcycle by a ladder. They will be performing
July 19th – July 25th
July 19th LUCAS OIL PRO TRUCK-TRACTOR PULL 5:00 PM July 20th MOTOCROSS RACES 7:00 PM July 21st CHEERLEADING CONTEST 7:00 PM July 22nd UMRA – KING OF THE MIDGETS 7:00 PM July 25th 35TH ANNUAL DEMOLITION DERBY 7:00 PM Check out the complete week’s schedule at: www.4hcomplex.org
for the duration of the fair. There will be a food drive again this year to help the Hendricks County Food Pantries, and new this year, there will be a toy drive where items will go to places like Project A.N.G.E.L. On July 21, the fair is offering a wedding to anyone wanting to get married. “We will provide the cake, the Justice of the Peace … we will take more than one couple, but we want to do a wedding during the day,” Patterson said. Anyone interested may call Patterson at 718-6156. “We want to make to make it a fun atmosphere for everyone to come enjoy the fair,” Patterson said. “It’s been a great 10 years and we want to continue.” For more information about the schedule, visit the website at www.4hcomplex. org/.
HENDRICKS COUNTY FLYER
www.flyergroup.com
Saturday, June 20, 2015 | D7
Monster Mini Golf offers indoor fun By Devan Strebing devan.strebing@flyergroup.com
Monster Mini Golf is open year-round for fun, but the summer months are a great time to get inside from the humid weather. The 10,000 square feet of indoor, black light, glow-inthe-dark 18-hole putt-putt course with monster themes is open seven days a week, 363 days a year. The family-friendly venue has a DJ, an arcade, and three party rooms that include paper plates, cups, napkins and silverware, with each room comfortably sitting 20 people. “The best par t is no matter how hot it is, people can come here and have a great time inside,” General Manager Kirstin Mindiola said. “People of ever y age can come in
COOL PLACE: Monster Mini Golf offers year-round fun. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
and have a good time.” Monster Mini Golf opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday. They open at noon Saturday and Sunday and close at 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.
They take reservations, but walk-in golfers are more than welcome. Attendance is usually quieter during the week when school is in, but during the summer they see more children, owner Candace Reim said.
“It’s a great summer venue for those days you want to do something inside,” she said. “We’re great for a family reunion, birthday party, meetings, and a great backup venue. Call us the last minute if the weather is bad — it’s always 70 degrees and
COOL COLORS: The indoor facility offers a challenging miniature golf course. fun at Monster Mini Golf.” Monster Mini Golf is at 7591 E. U.S. 36, Avon. For more information or to make a reservation, call 268-
Indoor glow-in-the-dark
www.MonsterMiniGolf.com •
FREE
5 FREE Tokens
round of mini golf.
with mini golf purchase.
Expires 6/30/15
Expires 7/31/15
$25 OFF Party Package Valid for Deluxe, S. Deluxe & Monster
Expires 8/31/15
Offers cannot be combined.
7591 E US Highway 36, Avon IN 317-268-4946
4946 or visit the website at w w w. m o n s t e r m i n i g o l f . com/fran-in-avon/index. html. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.