Summer is passing us by just as quickly as it came. So what is a better way to start the wrap up of the summer than with a day full of friends, food, fun, and country music? Country Fest ’12 is just around the corner and it is sure to be a day you do not want to miss!

Join Country Fest downtown at Headwaters Park!

Country Fest ’12 is Saturday, August 4 at Headwaters Park in Downtown Fort Wayne! Gates open at 1pm and the show begins at 3 pm. All tickets are general admission and priced at just $17.50 ($18.50 for credit card purchases). If there are any tickets left on the day of the show, they will be $25. Children 3 and under get in for free (one free child per adult). There are even opportunities to win tickets and four Meet & Greet passes to me ALL of the Artists for this year’s show! No coolers, blankets, or lawn chairs will be allowed.

This year’s Country Fest will have performances by Due West, Kana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Colt Ford, Lee Brice, and Montgomery Gentry! It is sure to be a great day with great performances.

Tickets are on sale now! Last year’s show sold out, so hurry to get your tickets now! To order tickets, find out how you can win free tickets, or answer any questions you still have, visit K105’s Country Fest website.

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I love old cars. My dad used to have a 1957 Chevy in honor of the year he and Mom married. He’s gone now and so is the car. I don’t own an old vehicle, but I admire owners who take the time, effort and money to put into old cars to make them last through another generation. I know of a Model A owner who swears his Model A which he restored is more reliable than most cars on the street today!

Some old car owners own their vehicles for sentiment, others for economy. (Hey, a car that can’t go above 35 mph surely gets better mileage than one that goes 70 mph because of the owner’s lead foot!).

If you like old cars, you’ll want to attend the Muddy River Run at IPFW Campus on Friday, July 27 & Saturday, July 28, 2012. Not only is this a great way to spend a Saturday, but you can introduce your kids to classic cars at no cost! The Friday Night cruise-In runs from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is free to everyone. There will be music and games. This section of the Muddy River Run is hosted by the Kingston Care Center of Fort Wayne.

Upon returning on Saturday, adults pay $5.00 per ticket, but kids 12 and under are still free. Everyone will see classics such as street rods, muscle cars, and cars from the infamous 1950s. There will be car judging, kids’ games, and a 1-hour cruise around the Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne campus starting at 1:00 p.m.

All proceeds from the Muddy River Run benefit the Turnstone Center for the Disabled and the IPFW Scholarship Endowment for the Disabled.

For more information call 260.637.8370 or go to the Muddy River Run website.

The Muddy River Run is organized by the Fort Wayne Street Rod Association.

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It would not be summer without a county fair. The Allen County Fair opens on Tuesday, July 24 and closes on Monday, July 30. These seven days will be filled with animals, children, competitions, carnival rides, and fun. Just as it should be.

The Allen County Fair holds a special place in my heart. It was my first “real” county fair. By “real” I mean a fair  with 4-H competitions, a rodeo, big dinners, carnival rides, and lots of animals. My home county, down South, has a fair, but there is no commercial chicken competition or llama tent. Instead there is a car show, quilt competition, and coal tent. See the difference?

At my first Allen County Fair in 2011 a young chicken competitor kindly taught me how to hold a chicken properly, I had my picture made with a llama, and I learned that swine have no sweat glands. I also learned a lot from the 4-H Exhibit Tent, which is open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the fair. It was exciting to see children and young adults developing very important professional and personal skills through these activities and competitions. The 4-H organization is a great thing. Everyone should support these young people. The fair is a great opportunity for learning, for both participants and visitors – young and old.

This year every day of the fair is full of entertainment and activities. Bring your family and enjoy a day or evening of fun. Activities at the fair start daily at 7:00 a.m. and continue until 10:00 p.m. General admission is $5.00 and children younger than 5 get in free. The Allen County Fair grounds are located at 2726 Carroll Road  Fort Wayne.

A few daily highlights of the fair include:

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

5:00 p.m. – Poultry Show

7:30 p.m. – Rodeo ($7.00)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 

3:00 p.m. – Goldenaires Vocal Ensemble

6:00 p.m. – PULSE Performing Arts Dance Studio Performance

Thursday, July 26, 2012

11:00 a.m. – Indiana Wild Animal Show

3:00 p.m. – 4-H Silent Auction

8:00 p.m. – Living Stones Music Performance

Friday, July 27, 2012 

4:00 p.m. – Classic Car Cruise-In

7:00 p.m. – 4×4 Truck Pull ($5.00)

7:30 p.m. – Farmer Olympics

Saturday, July 28, 2012

9:00 a.m. – Antique Tractor Cruise

3:00 p.m. – Dog Agility Demonstration

7:30 p.m. – Demolition Derby ($7.00)

8:00 p.m. – Josh Copp Band Performance

Sunday, July 29, 2012

9:00 a.m. – Horse Show Opens

1:00 p.m. – Hearts of Fire Performance

5:00 p.m. – 4-H Awards

Monday, July 30, 2012

12:30 p.m. – Livestock Auction

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This classic event was brought back to the festival in 2007 when Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana volunteered to organize the Bed Race for Three Rivers Festival.

Each year since, thousands of people line Main Street the Wednesday evening during festival week to watch beds race down the two block course. This year’s Bed Race will begin at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012.

The rules for the race:

• Each bed must have at least three wheels
• Each bed must have 4 runners/pushers and 1 rider
• Single elimination, bracket style format
• Beds race on Main Street from Harrison to the cross-walk between Courthouse and the Ed Rousseau Center

Tips for watching:

• Get There Early. The street won’t close until 5:30 pm but people will begin grabbing spots along Main Street by 5:00 pm. If you want to watch from a specific location, I recommend getting there early.
• Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs. If you’re lucky enough to get a spot on the curb, a blanket will do, but definitely bring something to sit on because you won’t want to be standing for the almost two hours of racing.
• Stay Hydrated. The last few years, it has been hot! Definitely bring some cold water for you and your family.
• Sunscreen or Shade. Be sure to wear sunscreen and if you are looking to get out of the sun, sit on the north side of the street, which remains shaded.
• Eat Dinner Outside. Whether you bring your own dinner or stop at Pint & Slice or Coney Island, make an evening of it and picnic on the sidewalk. If you’re thinking Coney Island though, be prepared for a long wait as almost everyone is thinking the same thing.
• Bring Some Cash and Support the Mustard Seed. You can vote for your favorite bed by making a donation as volunteers walk around with jars. Each jar is designated for a specific bed and the bed with the most donations wins People’s Choice. They aren’t the only winners, since all donations will support the Mustard Seed’s Beds 4 Kids.

Regardless of where you sit or which bed you’re cheering for, you and your family are bound to have fun. For us, it’s become one of our favorite summer traditions that we’ve volunteered for, ran in and now watch year after year.

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Three Rivers Festival

Friday, July 13, 2012 – Saturday, July 21, 2012

Indiana’s second largest festival offers 9 days of fun for the entire family!  From the opening day parade, arts, crafts, amusement rides, and International Village, to live music, the Bed Race, and the all-new RiverGames Water Wars and canoe races, Three Rivers Festival brings family-friendly fun to the heart of downtown Fort Wayne! 

Location: Headwaters Park – Downtown Fort Wayne

For additional information, please visit the Three Rivers Festival website.

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Looking for a family friendly event during the Three Rivers Festival (TRF) that won’t cost you and arm and a leg?

Look no further than Family Fun Day at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on Tuesday, July 17^th from 10 am-3 pm.

Paddle boat races in a parking lot? How fun!

Included in your regular admission (only $5 for adults, $3 for kids 3-17 and under 2 is free) you can enjoy the Soothing Summer Gardens Exhibit while the kids…

• Make crafts
• Get a balloon animal
• Have their faces painted
• Win prizes at games of skill and chance
• The kids will also have a blast with a bubble dance party, moonwalks, giant slides and inflatable paddle ponds

The Botanical Conservatory even has you covered for lunch with hot dogs and other items for just 50¢! Or stop by the Bagel Station Uptown (located inside the Conservatory).

*Insider Tip* Wear your TRF button for a discount on admission

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Three Rivers Festival

Friday, July 13, 2012 – Saturday, July 21, 2012

Indiana’s second largest festival offers 9 days of fun for the entire family!  From the opening day parade, arts, crafts, amusement rides, and International Village, to live music, the Bed Race, and the all-new RiverGames Water Wars and canoe races, Three Rivers Festival brings family-friendly fun to the heart of downtown Fort Wayne! 

Location: Headwaters Park – Downtown Fort Wayne

For additional information, please visit the Three Rivers Festival website.

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