Top 8 things to do in Indy this weekend: Aug. 10-12

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Check it out! Here’s a few things happening around town this weekend.

162nd Indiana State Fair continues

The Indiana State Fair continues into its second weekend of 2018 with more food, music and fun. Friday will feature the Cheese Sculpture Unveiling, the King Arthur Flour Scone Contest and musical guest Hanson on the free stage that evening.

Saturday’s Highlights: Shoup’s BBQ Contest, the Mayor’s Bike to the Fair, a Cheerleading Competition and FireHouse & Warrant that evening on the free stage.

We’ll close out the weekend with a Baton Twirling Contest, the Indiana State Fair Tractor Pull, Introduction of Royalty: Our Indiana County Fair Queens and musical guest, for KING & COUNTRY, headlining the Christian Music Festival. These events are just the highlights among many other things to check out this weekend. Enjoy!

Broad Ripple Carnival

The FREE 4-day carnival to celebrate Broad Ripple’s rich history begins Thursday and runs through Sunday. The festival features carnival rides and games, food and drink, a craft beer garden, live entertainment and community booths. A history exhibit provided by Broad Ripple Gazette will be on display and Saturday will feature an artisan flea market. Sunday will feature the Hoods and Hops Car Show presented by Broad Ripple Brewpub. Hours vary by day, so make sure to check out THE SCHEDULE to see what events/times work for you and your family.

DCI World Championships

Marching Music’s Major League returns to Indianapolis this weekend for their pinnacle event, the DCI World Championships! More than 100 competitive events take place across North America as part of the annual DCI Summer Tour and it all leads up to this weekend in the Circle City. You can catch your favorite corps warming up in Military Park this Thursday for FREE, run in the Street Beat 5K Saturday at 8 a.m. (start/finish at Lucas Oil Stadium) & watch the FREE drumline battle on the Pan Am Plaza Saturday or the semi-finals and finals themselves inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Here’s the full schedule of events.

S’Mores on the Circle

What better way to celebrate National S’Mores Day this Friday than with gourmet s’mores! The Girl Scouts of Central Indiana will host its inaugural S’mores on the Circle on Monument Circle between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. this Friday. The event will feature local chefs who create gourmet s’mores that will be sold as a fundraiser for $5 each. The chefs have been challenged to showcase their creative flair in what a s’more means to them. They’ll bring the spice or the sweet goodness to show off their talents, all in a fun atmosphere to raise funds for Girl Scouts. The first 100 guests will also receive a FREE package of Girl Scout S’mores cookies, so get down there early!

Dorman Street Block Party

Don’t miss a celebration of the fast-growing Holy Cross Neighborhood at the Inaugural Dorman Street Block Party! The FREE, family-friendly event is this Saturday between noon and 6 p.m on the 400 block of Dorman Street between Michigan and Vermont. Highlights for the event include BBQ Competition (hosted by Smoking Goose with GOMEZ BBQ, Wild Boar BBQ, and Black Metal BBQ), 35+ Indiana Grown Vendor Marketplace, live music with The Heartland Blues Band, local beer from Flat12, Indiana wine from Owen Valley winery, and craft spirits from West Fork Whiskey Co. and family friendly activities, face painting, & lawn games. Here’s more information on the party!

Wacky Wine Run…Walk…Stumble

Buck Creek Winery is hosting a run, walk and or stumble this Saturday. The ‘stumble’ is a half mile strut around the winery grounds which includes 4 wine tastings followed by a 5 oz. pour. There is also a 5k walk/run on a paved surface with the exception of ~20 yds of grass. Finally, a 5 mi. Course is also available, of which ~1 mile is dirt trail. Both the 5k and 5mi run/walk include a shirt, medal, wine glass & 5-ounce pour of wine for your troubles. Come early and stay late for the fun festival atmosphere. Live music and food trucks will compliment a wonderful evening. For more information, including registration options, CLICK HERE.

Weekly Music Round-Up

Along with all of the free concerts taking place at the Indiana State Fair this weekend and DCI at Lucas Oil Stadium, here are a few more big ones to check out…

The Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center will host two big concerts this Friday and Saturday. First up, Jeff Beck & Paul Rodgers and Ann Wilson of Heart will headline the Stars Align Tour this Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Chicago and REO Speedwagon will take the stage Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Old National Centre is bringing Starset to town Saturday with a start time of 7:30 p.m. with supporting acts Islander and Lullwater.

Blackberry Smoke with JJ Grey & Mofro will perform this Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park.

Charity Events

We’ve got a few different fun, charity events happening in and around town this weekend. Here are 3 to choose from if you’re looking to have fun and support a good cause in the process.

Bar Marathon is a bar hopping event in Broad Ripple, benefiting Purdue University Dance Marathon and Riley Hospital. It’s this Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21+ and tickets are $25. Each ticket purchase comes with an exclusive 2018 Bar Marathon mug.

2018 is the 5th Anniversary of ‘Dancing for Dennis,’ a dinner, silent auction, dancing (of course) and a whole lot of fun to both honor Dennis Trackwell and raise money/awareness for Multiple Myeloma. Tickets may be purchased online for $30 adult/$15 child or $5 more per ticket at the door.

On August 11, the Hope House will hold its 6th Annual Hops 4 Hope craft beer tasting event at the 4-H Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall in Greenfield. The event will feature 12 different local craft brewers, food and music… all while supporting a worthy cause! The event runs between 4-7 p.m. General admission tickets are just $40, but you can upgrade to a VIP ticket (which gets you 1 in the door 1 hour earlier) for $75.

BONUS EVENT – Dan Patch Stakes

The $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes is Friday night at Hoosier Park in Anderson. Indiana’s richest harness race will feature Lazarus N, hailed as the greatest racehorse to ever emerge from New Zealand.

BONUS EVENT – Perseids

If we can catch enough of a break in the rain and clouds either Saturday or Sunday night, head outside and look up for one of the best meteor showers of the year! The moon will be a quick-setting, thin crescent, which means plenty of dark sky to allow the Perseid meteors to shine. While it will not be an ‘outburst’ year with over 200 meteors per hour, you can still expect ~60-70 per hour. Kick back, watch out for the mosquitoes and enjoy!