It will be impossible for Evansville residents to claim boredom this weekend, with enough live events — and widely varied ones, at that —to satisfy any interests. From haunted hayrides and twilight tours, to flights of craft beer and Shakespeare set to Mendelssohn, get out of the house and see the Tri-State’s best sights this weekend.
Historic Newburgh Halloween Illuminations
6-9 p.m. Oct. 14-15
Start at the Gene Aurand Trailhead, across the street from the corner of SR 662 West and Yorkshire Drive
Catch the last two nights of this self-guided tour of light installations along the red bridge area of Newburgh, Indiana’s Rivertown Trail. Families are invited to browse a one-mile trail of ghosts, carved pumpkins, and lights for $5 per person or for a family 5-pack for $20. Children three years old and younger who are in a stroller are admitted for free. Ticket proceeds benefit Historic Newburgh, Inc.
Historic Newburgh Ghost Walks and Ghostly Hayrides
Oct. 15- 17
Historic Newburgh Visitor Center, 10400 SR 662 West, Newburgh, Indiana
For a spooky thrill, head east to Newburgh, Indiana, and join the ghostly tours through the quaint downtown of this 200-year-old town. Tickets to the ghostly hayride tours cost $15 per person and run every 20 minutes daily from 6-9 p.m. Self-guided walking tours are $5 per person. All tickets must be purchased online, and all tours begin at the Historic Newburgh Visitor Center.
Vann Park Neighbor Fest
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 16
Vann Park, corner of Vann Avenue and Bayard Park Drive
Celebrate fall with friends at this block party. Already a bustling center of regular musical and recreational activity, Vann Park’s inaugural Neighbor Fest will feature games, live music, food trucks, vendors, and more.
facebook.com/vannparkneighbors
Oak Hill Cemetery Twilight Tour
5 p.m. Oct. 16
Oak Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, 1400 E. Virginia St.
After checking in at Veterans Plaza inside the cemetery’s main gate, visitors will be guided through the resting places of generations of notable Evansville residents. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance online or in person at the event. This year’s tour is the fifth of its kind in Oak Hill Cemetery’s 168-year existence and will feature live re-enactments.
All funds collected from the Vanderburgh County Historical Society’s Twilight Tour will benefit Adopt An Ash, the program attempting to save 23 of the cemetery’s ash trees from the emerald ash borer disease. Past Twilight Tours have generated around $1,500 for the program. People who can’t attend the Twilight Tour but wish to contribute to Adopt An Ash can donate online via evansville.adoptanash.org.
SWIRCA Brewfest
6-9 p.m. Oct. 16
Bosse Field, 23 Don Mattingly Way
“Drink beer, help seniors.” So says SWIRCA & More, which returns its annual Brewfest fundraiser for its 17th year. Spend a Saturday evening under the lights of historic Bosse Field and enjoy 300-plus varieties of craft beer, wine, and spirits, plus food vendors, yard games, live music, a photo booth, souvenir tasting glasses, and merchandise available for purchase. VIP tickets unlock premium parking, an extra hour of tasting, and a separate VIP entrance and private bar. Visitors must be at least 21 years old to attend, and all attendees must have a valid photo ID.
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra: Literature in Music
7 p.m. Oct. 16
Victory Theatre, 600 Main St.
Visit the century-old Victory Theatre in Downtown Evansville for an evening of literature set to music. Performed by the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, this concert features two pieces on opposite ends of the musical spectrum. First up is “Ascending Bird,” a piece co-written by American composer Colin Jacobsen and Persian composer Siamak Aghaei, and based on an ancient Persian parable about spiritual transcendence. Following is the mischief and merriment of Felix Mendelssohn’s rendition of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” brought to life through a semi-staged performance featuring props and costumed actors.
NoCo Makers Market
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 17
Carpenter Street between N.W. Second and N.W. Third streets, Downtown Evansville
Downtown Evansville presents the fourth annual NoCo Makers Market, a free, family-friendly event celebrating local artisans. Shop the wares of more than 40 makers, browse a pumpkin patch, glide down a giant slide, and enjoy a beer garden, live music, and tasty treats from Bruce Li and Salsarita’s food trucks.
facebook.com/DowntownEvansvilleIndiana
Photos provided by EPO, SWIRCA, Historic Newburgh, and the Vanderburgh County Historic Society.
