2024 Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department
Programs & Special Events
For all Griffin Bike Park Events please click on the link below:
Griffin Bike Park Events
October
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- 5th & 6th 52nd Pioneer Days at Fowler
- 10th Fall Forest Painting Party at Hawthorn
- 12th Silly Safaris Show at Hawthorn
- 12th Hawthorn Hayride
- 19th Blacksmithing Class at Fowler
- 19th Family Hike- Ruble Park
- 25th Halloween Movie in the Park at Fowler
- 26th Fowler Hayride
- 26th Fowler Park After Dark
November
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- 16th Family Hike- Prairie Creek park
- 16th Pain Train- all trails ride at Griffin Bike Park
- 29th Black Friday Ride at Wabashiki
December
- 6th & 7th Christmas Walk at Fowler Park
- 21st Family Hike- Hawthorn Park (weather permitting)
- 21st Christmas Lights Ride
Family Hiking Club
Third Saturday of every month from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
October 19 at Ruble, November 16 at Hawthorn, December 21 at Prairie Creek
All Ages Welcome
Free Admission
As the weather is warming up, it’s time for family hikes! Gather your family and join us for our monthly hiking club! The third Saturday of every month we’ll meet in one of our county parks to go on a guided hikes on some of our beautiful trails. Hikes will be at 11 am and last until about 12 pm, though some can go longer.
Blacksmithing Classes
Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fowler Park Pioneer Village
Ages 10+
$60 Registration
Preregistration Required
Check out the blacksmithing classes at Fowler Park! Participants will learn how to operate a blacksmith forge, understand the parts of an anvil, and the uses of various hand tools in the blacksmith shop. They’ll also get to shape metal using learned techniques including forging a curve, a twist, a square, and more! Join the VCPRD for blacksmithing! Classes fill up quickly so make sure to register ahead of time by calling 812-462-3392 or by emailing our Natural Resource Programmer at [email protected].
Fall Forest Painting Class
Hawthorn Park Dogwood Shelter
Thursday, October 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
$35 per person
Join us for an evening of painting the “Fall Forest” at Hawthorn Park with Makers Studio at Twelve Points! Each painter will receive an 11×14 canvas and acrylic paints that will be outlined to help follow along. We have plenty of seats to fill, so bring your friends for a fun night of painting! Class taught by Yvette Morgan. Apple Cider to be provided!
For ticket purchases visit Fall Forest Painting Class
Silly Safaris Live Animal Show
Burkeybyle Shelter and Ampitheatre
Saturday, October 12
Show at 2:00 p.m. Meet and Greet from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
All ages welcome
Free
Join us for an afternoon of fun with Silly Safaris at Hawthorn Park! Come see some of their animals during their live animal show starting at 2:00. Stick around after for a meet and greet with some of the animal actors from 3:00 to 5:00. Our Hawthorn Hayrides will begin at 3:00 the same day!
Hawthorn Park Hayride
Burkeybyle Shelter
Saturday, October 12th
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$3 Per Person
All ages
Burkeybyle Shelter
Saturday, October 12th
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$3 Per Person
All ages
Join the VCPRD on Saturday, October 12th at Hawthorn Park from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for fall hayrides! Rides will leave from the Burkeybyle Shelter parking lot. Tickets are $3 per person. This event is open to all ages and includes a brief ride through Hawthorn Park!
Halloween Movie in the Park
Fowler Park Shelter A
Friday, October 25th at 7:30 p.m.
Free Admission
All ages
Join us and DJ Danny Wayne at Fowler Park’s Shelter A for a Halloween Movie in the Park featuring the Disney film, Halloweentown! Admission is free and this is an event for all ages. Glow items and concessions will be available for purchase.
Fowler Park Hayride
Fowler Park Log Barn
Saturday, October 26th
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$3 Per Person
All ages
Fowler Park Log Barn
Saturday, October 26th
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$3 Per Person
All ages
Join the VCPRD on Saturday, October 26th at Fowler Park from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for family-friendly Halloween-themed hayrides and Trick-or-Treating! Rides will leave from the Foltz Cabin directly across from the Fowler Park Log Barn. Tickets are $3 per person. This event is open to all ages and includes a brief ride through the Fowler Park Pioneer Village and around the park! Hot chocolate and apple cider will be available for purchase!
Fowler Park After Dark
Fowler Park Log Barn
Saturday, October 28th
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
$5 Per Person
Ages 13+ recommended
Fowler Park Log Barn
Saturday, October 28th
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
$5 Per Person
Ages 13+ recommended
Be afraid, be very afraid and join us for the annual Fowler Park After Dark! On Saturday, October 26th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the VCPRD will be offering a haunted Halloween tour through Fowler Park Pioneer Village! Participants will meet at the Fowler Park Log Barn and will be guided through the village if they dare! Ghosts and ghouls lurk around every corner!
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this event, please call our administrative office at 812-462-3392 or email our Rec Coordinator at [email protected]! Happy haunting!
NOTE: Tours will begin at 7:30 p.m. Parking is available in the barn parking lot. Auxiliary parking is available in the beach parking lot. The registration fee for this event is $5 and can be paid upon arrival! Hot chocolate, apple cider, and limited concessions will be available for purchase. This is a haunted event and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.
Christmas Walk
Fowler Park Pioneer Village
Friday, December 6th 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 7th 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Free Admission
All Ages Welcome!
Step back in time to walk through our Pioneer Village and visit our pioneer volunteers in their cozy 19th-century cabins to see how they celebrate Christmas! Hot drinks and special sweet treats will be available for purchase in the barn then stop by our Village Mercantile to view our homemade items and do some Christmas shopping. Be sure to visit the Covered Bridge to meet our special guest, Santa Claus and his reindeer! This will be a perfect family event to kick off the holiday season! If you have any questions, please contact our Natural Resource Programmer at 812-462-3392 or [email protected].
