ROSSVILLE, Ind. — Rossville is gearing up for its annual Summer’s End Festival, running Thursday, Aug. 20, through Saturday, Aug. 22, at Rossville Town Park, with carnival rides, a parade, a car show, helicopter rides and more filling out the schedule.
Festival organizer Jessica Heater previewed the weekend Monday morning on WILO’s Partyline program, saying the carnival trailers began rolling into town last week and that the midway — supplied by an Ohio-based carnival company — should be a familiar sight for festivalgoers, with rides similar to the Music Express spotted being set up near the ball diamonds.
Thursday, Aug. 20
• Carnival rides open at 5 p.m., kicking off the festival a day early.
• Rossville’s town-wide garage sales also begin, with some sellers setting up as early as Thursday and running through the weekend; a handful typically continue into Sunday.
Friday, Aug. 21
• Cakewalk begins at 6 p.m., followed by the beer garden and live music.
• Carnival rides run from 5 p.m. until roughly 9:30 or 10 p.m., later if crowds are still riding.
• Food and vendor favorites returning include Weber’s, Lions Club ice cream, lemon shake-ups, Brittany’s elephant ears and the Livingston family’s food tent.
Saturday, Aug. 22
• The Hornet Hustle race returns in the morning, tentatively starting near the Presbyterian Church; registration details are posted on the event’s Facebook page.
• The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from the school, heads north on State Route 39, turns west near Bible Fellowship Church for a block, then loops back toward the school. Advance parade registration is $5; day-of registration is $10. This year’s lineup includes a visit from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
• The car and bike show, hosted by the Lafayette Kroozers, opens registration at 8 to 8:30 a.m. with the show running roughly 10 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. Last year’s show drew about 230 vehicles.
• Carnival rides reopen at 10 a.m. and run until fireworks close out the festival around 9:30 to 10 p.m.
• Helicopter rides return with pilot Gary flying in from Plymouth, expected to start around 9:30 a.m., weather permitting, and continue until about 5 or 5:30 p.m. He’s bringing a three-seat helicopter this year, meaning two riders can go up at once. Last year’s rides were $55 cash or $60 by card per rider.
• The Knights of Destruction monster truck offers ride-alongs starting at 5 p.m. and continuing until dark.
• The beer garden and live music return for a second night.
Heater said the antique tractor club won’t be set up this year after new equipment took up some of its usual space, but organizers hope to bring the display back in the future. She’s also keeping the number of home-sales vendors limited to preserve the festival’s small-town feel, while welcoming a wide mix of vendors this year — clothing boutiques, custom on-demand T-shirt makers, a gourmet dog treat vendor, sourdough bakers, crocheted goods, Presbyterian Church pies, and 3D-printed miniatures and gaming dice from longtime vendor Kyle. Mary Anderson’s Tees & Tumblers, known for its signs and T-shirts, will also return.
Forecasters are calling for a break from the recent heat, with highs expected near 78 degrees for the weekend.
Pre-sale carnival tickets are $25 for unlimited rides and are available from Heater through noon Thursday; tickets at the gate will cost $35.
Also on Party Line
Cub Scouts sign-ups open year-round, popcorn sales underway. The local Cub Scout pack, open to kindergarten through fifth grade, now allows enrollment at any point in the year after switching from an August-to-August membership cycle to a calendar-year system running January through December. Popcorn fundraiser sales have kicked off, though the pack will skip selling during festival weekend — instead, Scouts will ride in Saturday’s parade tossing suckers to the crowd. The pack holds two camping trips a year, teaching kids camping basics such as packing a first-aid kit, sunscreen, water and snacks. A Joint Pack Night open house is set for Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at Rossville Town Park, gathering at the picnic tables along the park’s inner loop, known as Kessler Drive. The event will include a craft activity, possibly ice cream, and visits from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office — potentially with a K-9 unit — and an ambulance crew. Those with questions can reach Heater through WILO.
