Gosport Lazy Days Gosport, Indiana Owen County The streets were full of smiles and the air was full of fun at Gosport’s 31st Annual Lazy Days Festival. The theme of this year’s four-day festival was “It’s A Small World in Gosport”, and after visiting with the friendly townspeople, we really did get the feeling that it’s a small world. This festival took place August 12th-15th, with all four days being well-organized and full of activities. There was good food, music, and entertainment offered all weekend, with a hog roast, a fish fry, breakfast at the Masonic Hall, a chicken smorgasbord, and on the last day, a community picnic in the park. Music was provided each day with concerts on Thursday and Friday, dances Friday and Saturday, and Christian music at Town Park on Sunday. We visited the festival on Saturday, and found there was something for everyone: the bike/trike/big wheel race, a pet show, a baby pageant, a bedrace, and of course a parade! There were arts, crafts, food booths and other venders on the streets, and games of skill and homemade ice cream at The Park. A highlight of the weekend for this Owen County town was the opening of the Gosport History Museum at its new location at the corner of 4th and North Streets. The new museum is run by the Fortnightly Club, and we were able to learn a lot about the history of Gosport as well as see a nice, extensive display of historical memorabilia. The Fortnightly Club provided two slide shows throughout the weekend; one featuring pictures prior to 1945 and the other from 1945 to present. We found we didn’t have to be from Gosport to appreciate sharing the experience of a small town proud of its place in history. We enjoyed our visit to Gosport’s Lazy Days festival, and if it sounds like you would too, stop and visit next August.

Little Italy Festival Clinton, Indiana Vermillion County This year was the 34th annual Little Italy Festival in Clinton, but our first-time visit. We visited on Sunday, September 5th, but the festival continues through Labor Day, Sept. 6th, so there could still be time to get out and enjoy a little taste of Italy right here in Southern Indiana! The festival is held annually over Labor Day weekend. Visitors can hop on a tractor-drawn wagon for $1.50 and tour the streets of Clinton with a stop at the Coal Town Museum, a pass through Gateway Arch, and another stop in the “Little Italy” area of town, which holds Piazza Del Immigrant with its Bull Head drinking fountain, the Immigrate Statue, the Coal Fountain, and the Flags of Many Nations. The wagon then continues to Winery Mercato Wine Gardens with an informative museum on wine making. The wagon ride was a good investment of $1.50, as just passing through the streets of Clinton and seeing the houses and businesses adorned with Italian and American flags was a treat. Jr. Princess Dana Wilson, of Clinton, “passes out the grapes”, before the grape stomp. Of course there were other treats to be had by festival-goers - lasagna dinners, spaghetti, Italian sausages, meatball sandwiches, cannoli, rosetta’s, ice cream, grilled corn, and much more! Highlights of the festival were the Italian Singers, Little Feet Dancers, a spaghetti eating contest, a pizza toss, grape stomping, the Italian pinata, a bocce tournament, and live music all weekend, either on the streets or in the Wine Garden. All festival-goers were invited to take a turn at the stomping of the grapes. We were reminded: You’re not Italian if you don’t stompa the grapa! This year’s Grape Queen was Brittany Frazier from South Vermillion High School, and Ray and Marilyn Zanandrea Hrovat were crowned Re and Regina. The festival comes to a close Monday evening with a drawing for a trip to Italy followed by Fireworks Finale on the Banks of the Wabash. If you don’t make it to the festival this year, remember Little Italy Festival is held annually over Labor Day weekend, so there’s always next year!

Coal City Festival SouthernIN.com attended the annual Coal City Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Coal City, in southwestern Owen County. If the sign at the edge of town is accurate, all 213 of the happy folks and the one old grouch from Coal City must have turned out for this town’s biggest festival, because there lots of smiling faces in the streets.

Highlights of the festival were a parade, grand-marshalled by the “Old Grouch”. This year’s Old Grouch was Ray Wells - who won the contest for the fourth year in a row. He must be some old grouch, though he seemed friendly enough in the parade!

Other features from the festival were a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, gospel singing, a euchre tournament, raffles, rides, games, and lots of vendors. Many Coal City residents also took the opportunity to hold garage or yard sales, so there was lots of browsing, fun and shopping to be had!

State Fair

SouthernIN.com spent Sept. 17th at the Indiana State Fair - one of the editors was privileged to have lunch in the “summer kitchen” of Pioneer Village.