EVENTS
Central Normal College baseball team, ca. 1916
Summer Fun Run & Walk Series
Held 12 weeks throughout the summer, the Hendricks County Parks Foundation provides this annual fitness event to showcase our county parks. The Summer Fun Run & Walk Series will celebrate the Bicentennial at its kickoff event on May 29 at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park with birthday or bicentennial-themed desserts for all participants.
Evenings in Danville
New in 2024, Evenings in Danville is a free, concert series that will salute the Bicentennial with a group rendition of “Happy Birthday”, photo ops and cupcakes before the opening evening performance from More Than A Feeling, a Boston and American Foreigner tribute band. The concert series will continue with four more events throughout the summer.
Family Day at the Museum
Family friendly exhibits, demonstrations and activities about settlers in the early days of Hendricks County.
Amo Fish Fry Festival
This popular festival includes live music, tasty food, kids activities, a car show, an antique tractor and equipment display, a parade and a spectacular fireworks finale. It is also known for its nightly Bingo tent, which will highlight 200 years by having a $200 top Bingo prize each night of the event.
Hendricks County Rib-Fest & BBQ
This county-wide, family-friendly event will bring back live entertainment after a multi-year hiatus to celebrate the county’s bicentennial. Come early for the annual Rib Run, enjoy live music, kids activities, great BBQ and much more throughout the day and stay late for the festive hot air balloon glow followed by fireworks at dusk.
Hendricks Symphony Presents "Star Spangled Spectacular"
Hendricks Symphony will host a patriotic community concert June 30 at Hendricks Live! entitled “Star Spangled Spectacular.” In honor of the Hendricks County Bicentennial, concert attendees will receive free commemorate buttons at this special event as a keepsake. The concert will celebrate America’s love of patriotic music.
Hendricks County 4-H Fair
Be a part of the birthday party as the 4-H Fair commemorates the county’s 200th with its bicentennial-themed, week-long celebration. The usual food, farm animals, rides, games and other activities will return with a bit of a historic birthday twist.
Pioneer Escape Room
The pioneer escape room will be conducted during Summer Reading and Celebrating Avon at the Avon-Washington Township Public Library and will be open to grades 5-12 during the week of July 15 and September 28 (Celebrating Avon). Five participants will be transported through a time portal to the 1830s. One of the participants will be James Trotter who has been arrested for profanity and has to pay $1 fine to be released from jail. Participants will have to collect the numbers for the combination to the safe to find the $1 by using clues which will be scattered throughout the room.
Bicentennial History Hike
Embark on a time-traveling adventure with a park naturalist at Arbuckle Acres Park during a Bicentennial History Hike! Celebrate 200 years in Hendricks County while discovering how Brownsburg has evolved over the years. It's a journey through history and nature that's as fun as it is fascinating.
Lend-to-Scan Day
Organizers are seeking historic Hendricks County photographs that fit the themes Town, Architecture, Schools or Business. Lend them no more than 25 photographs by dropping them off at the museum during the event hours. They will scan them and return them to you.
Afternoon Tea: Hats Off to 200 Years
Organized by the Hendricks County Historical Museum but held at the Fairgrounds, this afternoon tea party will include having clothing and headwear worn in the county over the past 200 years on display. The cost is $25 per person and tickets can be reserved at hcmuseum@co.hendricks.in.us
Plainfield Quaker Day Festival Parade
The Plainfield Chamber's Quaker Day Parade through downtown Plainfield will have a Bicentennial theme in 2024, "IN OUR PLAINFIELD ERA, THEN AND NOW"
Montrose Farms Bicentennial and National Alpaca Farm Day
Open house to celebrate both Montrose farm's bicentennial and National Alpaca Farm Day on Sept. 28th.
Visitors are welcome to wander the grounds, meet the alpacas, etc. Placards with historical information will be spaced around the farm. Spinning demonstrations available along with vendors and musicians.
Celebrating Avon Festival
Join us to celebrate 200 years of county history as we also highlight the history of Washington Township and Avon during a free, family-friendly event. Activities will include music, food, crafts, games and local history including an escape room for teens that will focus on Indiana history and historical displays. You also won’t want to miss the Pioneer Path which showcases local artisans and includes woodworking, bee-keeping, rosemaling, drop-spinning, pottery, printmaking, cane weaving, and more! The festival will also have tractors, model trains, a K9 demonstration from Avon Police Department, a giant slide and of course a candy drop by Hendricks Power Cooperative. Parking is available at the library.
Pioneer Escape Room
The pioneer escape room will be conducted during Summer Reading and Celebrating Avon at the Avon-Washington Township Public Library and will be open to grades 5-12 during the week of July 15 and September 28 (Celebrating Avon). Five participants will be transported through a time portal to the 1830s. One of the participants will be James Trotter who has been arrested for profanity and has to pay $1 fine to be released from jail. Participants will have to collect the numbers for the combination to the safe to find the $1 by using clues which will be scattered throughout the room.
Hendricks County Historic Road Rally
The Hendricks County Historical Museum will host a road rally, leading participants through the county to visit spots that early settlers in Hendricks County walked, set up business and farmed. Historic notes on each featured location will be provided. Cost is $20 per car. Participants will meet in the Broadway Street parking lot across from the Museum. Registration and instructions will occur from 8:30-9 am, first car leaves at 9 am. Route will take about two hours. Awards follow when all cars return.
Heartland Apple Festival - Bicentennial-themed corn maze
Beasley’s will celebrate the Bicentennial with their annual corn maze. The corn maze design is selected each year and serves as the overarching theme of their seven fall festival weekends beginning with the Heartland Apple Festival. Look for a Bicentennial themed corn maze this fall.
Heartland Apple Festival - Bicentennial-themed corn maze
Beasley’s will celebrate the Bicentennial with their annual corn maze. The corn maze design is selected each year and serves as the overarching theme of their seven fall festival weekends beginning with the Heartland Apple Festival. Look for a Bicentennial themed corn maze this fall.
Avon Tri Kappa Bingo Night
The popular annual bingo event will feature a Bicentennial theme, including a county history display, bingo callers dressed from the 1930’s (when Bingo officially began), historical trivia questions and giveaway prizes. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Dancing with the Hendricks County Stars
10 local stars will exhibit their new ballroom dancing skills on behalf of the Hendricks County Historical Museum in this Bicentennial Year. Join us for this fun-filled evening of dining, dancing, and great dance performances by “Stars” of Hendricks County! And all proceeds benefiting the historical preservation efforts of the Hendricks County Museum.
Gardening For All Ages
Gardening For All Ages returns to the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds on April 27, 2024, with some new additions specifically celebrating gardening history and Hendricks County’s Bicentennial.
Clayton Downtown History Display
Through the month of April, a few downtown businesses in Clayton including Copper Top Customs and Ms. B’s Teas will showcase the history of their buildings
Danville Christian Church's Free Lenten Lunches & Historic Church Tours
Danville Christian Church will offer free Lenten lunches and historic tours every Monday through March 25
Danville Christian Church's Free Lenten Lunches & Historic Church Tours
Danville Christian Church will offer free Lenten lunches and historic tours every Monday through March 25
Secrets on the Shelf
The 8th-grade honors social studies class of Cascade Middle School has partnered with the Hendricks County Historical Museum to create a documentary highlighting unique artifacts in the museum. On Wednesday, March 13th at 6:00 p.m. this documentary will be shown free of charge at the Danville Royal Theater. The doors to the theater will be opened at 5:15 p.m. and the concession stand will be opened for individuals to purchase refreshments. Directly following the movie the Hendricks Historical County Museum will be opened for the public to see the artifacts shown in the film.
Danville Christian Church's Free Lenten Lunches & Historic Church Tours
Danville Christian Church will offer free Lenten lunches and historic tours every Monday through March 25
Danville Christian Church's Free Lenten Lunches & Historic Church Tours
Danville Christian Church will offer free Lenten lunches and historic tours every Monday through March 25
Danville Christian Church's Free Lenten Lunches & Historic Church Tours
Danville Christian Church will offer free Lenten lunches and historic tours every Monday through March 25
Washington Township New Year's Eve Bicentennial Bash
The Washington Township New Year’s Eve Bicentennial Bash will be held to start the celebration of Washington Township and Hendricks County on December 31 from 5‐7 p.m. The family friendly celebration will include games, music, snacks and entertainment. The evening will end with fireworks. We are also including goody bags for the first 500 kids who attend. These bags will include the Washington Township Bicentennial Coloring Book, crayons, noisemakers and other fun party favors.