What’s Happening in Darke County, Ohio

What’s Happening in Darke County, Ohio
June 2012

Urban-Country Spirit

Bring along your sense of discovery to experience small town charm, distinct shopping districts, and our land’s rich frontier heritage and urban-country spirit... uniquely Darke County.

For more information on events taking place throughout the year in Darke County, visit our website at VisitDarkeCounty.org You can also catch up with us on Facebook.

Downtown Greenville is the Place to be Tonight.

June 1, 6:00 - 9:00 pm. The first Friday of June will bring more than 10 live music performances to different venues in the historic downtown district. Performers for the evening comprise of Sean & Danita McEldowney, Frohna & Warner, Mike Howard, Cinder Home, Shannon Clark, Dankworth & Hobbs, Dustin Smith, The Quest, Prima Luce, I Am Victorious, Denny Cottle, and JT Hathaway. Varies businesses will be hosting the artists including Montage Café, Brenda’s Beanery, The Coffee Pot, Readmore’s Hallmark, Cavalier Clothing, Bread of Life Christian Bookstore, KitchenAId Experience, Sweet Annie’s Cabin, Third Street Market and The Little Italian Café. ‘First Fridays’ aims to bring people downtown during evening hours to enjoy activities, demonstrations, food and music in a beautiful historic setting. View upcoming First Friday activities. www.MainStreetGreenville.org

Race to Taste: Food & Wine Tasting

June 6, noon to 5:00 pm. Enjoy the flavors of Darke County during Race to Taste at the Prelude to the Dream, Eldora Speedway. Top-notch restaurants and attractions offer a taste to hungry race fans. For more information, contact the bureau at (937) 548-5158.

61st Annual Poultry Days

June 8, 9 & 10. The town of Versailles will be taken over by thousands of visitors for it’s annual chicken festival. Enjoy the arts & crafts show, Peddler’s Market, flower show, baking contests, egg decorating contests and displays, talent show, “Little Miss Chick” contest, free live entertainment, kiddie rides, children’s petting zoo, Grand Parade, antique & classic car parade, 5K Heritage Run, bike tour, golf scramble, softball and ultimate disk tournaments. Sunday night at dusk there will be a fireworks display. Don’t forget about the food! Poultry Days is well known for its barbecue chicken, ice cream parlor and beer. www.VersaillesPoultryDays.com.

Garst Gala

June 9, 6:30 pm. Enjoy Garst Museum’s annual fundraising event Saturday, June 9, 2012. There will be food, a silent auction, a live auction, raffles, door prizes and lots of fun! Prizes for Annie’s Wild Raffle will be: a weekend (accommodations only) in a beautiful three bedroom log cabin located in Black Bear Falls resort just outside of Gatlinburg donated by Cindy and Tom Scott-Tom Scott Seed Service, the new iPad, and a Kindle Fire. Winning tickets will be drawn at the event, however winners need not be present to win. Tickets for Annie’s Wild Raffle are $5 each. Tickets for the Gala are $12 each. Tickets can be purchased from the Garst Museum or by calling 937-548-5250. All funds raised at this event will benefit the Garst Museum. www.GarstMuseum.org

Sights & Sounds of a Summer Evening

June 14, 7:30 pm. Crickets chirping, frogs croaking, birds preparing for the evening roost... listen to the sounds of early summer during a hike of the trails of Routzong Preserve. Be sure the look for the flowers in bloom, the ferns on the forest floor and maybe an animal track or two. Bring your camera and binoculars and dress for the weather and discover summer with the Darke County Parks. Contact the Parks for more information,

(937) 548-0165 www.DarkeCountyParks.org.

Wine-ee Women: Garden Party

June 21, 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Enjoy a garden party in The Winery at Versailles’ Wine-ee Women! Ladies, don your garden hat, sundress and sandals to enjoy an evening of laughter, games and of course wine-ee stories to crown the next wine-ee princess! Call and make your reservation today, (937) 526-3232. www.WineryatVersailles.com.

Great Backyard Campout

June 23-24, 6:00 pm. To kick off an early start to July’s National Parks and Recreation month, part in the NWF’s Great Backyard Campout with the Darke County Parks. Dust off the old tent, grab the chairs and yard games, and head out to Prairie Ridge to enjoy a fun gathering of camping enthusiasts. Trailers and pop-up campers are not permitted. Please pre-register for this FREE family event by calling the Nature Center. Campfire snacks will be provided for all who sign up. Small tents may be available for loan. For more information, give us a call. Contact the Parks for more information,

(937) 548-0165 www.DarkeCountyParks.org.

Ohio State Champions Tour Tractor Pull June 23, 7:00 pm. Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League (PPL) is proud to sanction the 5th Annual Ohio State Championship Pull at The Great Darke County Fairgrounds. Contact Ron Barga II at (937) 564-3066.

Hoosier Hotshoe Classic

June 23, 7:30 pm. The first night race in the history of little eldora speedway - a 1/7 mile go kart facility, located on the grounds of the famed Eldora Speedway. Hoosier Racing Tires is sponsoring this high-dollar event that will feature over one dozen classes of go-kart racing. See tomorrow’s superstars TODAY. Many of the Eldora racers got their start in go-kart racing, just like this. (937) 338-3815 www.EldoraSpeedway.com.

Wine Gala and Annie Celebration

June 29, 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Enjoy an evening on the patio at The Winery at Versailles as Darke County’s most-famous daughter, Annie is honored with food, wine and entertainment. All proceeds benefit The Versailles Area Historical Society and Museum. Call and make your reservation today, (937) 526-3232. www.WineryatVersailles.com.

Darke County Steam Threshers Reunion

June 28 - July 1, 8:00 am - 10:00 pm. Get a glimpse of what rural life was like in the days of the past: enjoy displays of antique full size steam engines, scale steam engines, tractors, and stationary engines, some of these machines will be in use. Exhibitions on the various stages wheat goes through to be prepared for use will be demonstrated. Harvesting including cutting and bundling will be demonstrated, as well as threshing and separating using antique machinery. Visitors can enjoy plowing demonstrations and working sawmill demonstrations. www.DarkeCountySteam.com.

Ringer Classic Horseshoe Pitching Tournament

June 29 - July 1. Visit scenic Greenville City Park to watch men and women from across the United States as they compete for the title in the 2012 Ringer Classic.

Arcanum Historical Society Open for the Summer

The Arcanum Historical Society will host an open house at 123 W. George Street which once was the Beck Hotel and Arcanum Wayne Trail Grange. It will be open every Saturday, starting May 27 through August 12. In addition, the Research Library will be open from 9:00 until 11:45 am on Saturdays, or by appointment.

Mark Your Calendar

Greenville Farm Power of the Past

July 5 - 8

Darke County Fairgrounds

(937) 548-3709

Vintage Wine & Shine Car Show

July 7

Winery at Versailles

(937) 526-3020

Gathering At Garst

July 28 & 29

Garst Museum