The trees are budding. The springtime flowers are pushing up through the dormant soil. The days are getting longer. Robins and Blue Jays are singing in the trees. All of these wonderful expressions of rebirth lead to Spring Fever! The need to open all the windows in your house, even though it's only 50°. The desire to drive around town with all the windows in your car down (and possibly the top) and the radio up, while running the heater at full blast. The overwhelming urge to throw out every winter outfit you own and purchase an entirely new, brightly-colored spring wardrobe. Ahh... spring!
To coincide with these feelings and the refreshing signs of the season, check out a few of the events listed below. For information on other events this month and events taking place throughout the year, click here.
April 5 - Season Opener at Eldora Speedway. Enjoy dirt track racing at it's best with a big tripleheader featuring Branson/Larson Classic for the USAC (United States Auto Club) non-winged Sprint cars, Moser UMP Modifieds and Advance Auto Parts Stock Cars. Practice laps get underway at 6:00 and the first green flag of the season at 7:30 pm.
But before the race even begins, fans can get their fill in Greenville. From 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Friday, April 4, defending USAC National Sprint Car champion Levi Jones will appear at Ron Garrett Chevrolet to chat with folks about his title defense plans, and to sign autographs. The sprint-car owned by Tony Stewart Racing piloted by Jones will be on display, as well. After the event at Ron Garrett Chevrolet, the action will swing across the street on Russ Road in Greenville to Tail Gators Sports Bar and Grill for a pre-season kick off party.Complete event information may be obtained at Eldora’s website, www.eldoraspeedway.com, or by calling the track office at (937) 338-3815 during normal business hours.
April 6, 13, 20 & 27 - Pioneer Log Cabin. Bring the family and step back in time to the early 1800’s to visit period-dressed volunteers as they explain their way of life while going about their day-to-day chores. Cabin is open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Call the Darke County Park District today for more information at (937) 548-0165 or just show up.
April 14 - Madeline And The Bad Hat. ArtsPower's original musical based upon the much-loved book, captures the blithe yet touching spirit of Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline series. For more information, contact Julie Strait at (937) 547-0908 or log onto www.centerforarts.net.
April 18 & 19 - Steak Fry Nights. Get ready for Summer with the ever-popular Steak Fry Nights at the Winery at Versailles. This year, Chicken will be added to the menu. Cost is $50 per couple. Tax and gratuity are not included. Reservations start at 5:00 until 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Cindi at The Winery at Versailles by calling (937) 523-3232.
April 26 - Wildflowers for Earth Day. Spend a day admiring the simple and natural beauty of our native wildflowers! Spring time carpets the landscape with flowers of all shapes and sizes, shades of blue, red and yellow. Join a Naturalist as we discover the many aspects of wildflowers, both large and small. Meet at Routzong Preserve, located just off St. Rt. 571, on Routzong Road. Pre-registration is necessary. Call the Darke County Park District today to reserve your spot, (937) 548-0165. Log onto www.darkecountyparks.org for more program information and details on how to become a park volunteer.
April 25 - Spring Fling! Here's a true spring time ritual. From April 25 through May 11, take a trip to Verona, Ohio. This little village is a divine place for shoppers looking for antiques, vintage items and flowers. Every year for more than 20 years, this mom and daughter team have dusted off the antiques, put out their best plants and thrown open the barn doors for a three-weekend open house. Be sure to allow plenty of time to stroll through their informal gardens, stop for a few minutes at the pond to enjoy the black cat playing in the water and reminisce over the antiques. The cost to explore is free. For information, contact Laura Goens at (937) 884-5948 or visit www.littleshopantiques.com.
April 1 to April 30 - Live Cooking Shows at KitchenAid Experience Center. Learn tips to achieve professional results in your very own kitchen! Visit their Heritage Museum, take a factory tour and enjoy the free cooking shows at KitchenAid Experience Center in Downtown Greenville. Classes are free and open to the public at 10:30 am, Monday through Saturday. No advance registration is necessary. For a complete schedule including recipes and coupons, sign-up for the free e-newsletter at www.kitchenaid.com/experience. or call 1-888-886-8318.
Are there any big-haired, 80's rockers out there? If so, mark your calendars...Tickets for REO SPEEDWAY are on sale for Sunday, August 17 at the GREAT Darke County Fair. Call 1-800-736-3671 for tickets or log onto darkecountyfair.com and click the "Buy Tickets Online" button.
Dining in the Darke? Enjoy this first-ever event scheduled for May 2 at The Bistro Off Broadway in downtown Greenville. Just imagine partaking in a gourmet dinner without the ability to see what you are eating! Without sight, the remaining senses are rewired to savor the smell and taste of food. Check out mainstreetgreenville.org for more info.
Garst Museum to Showcase History. Indians, settlement, the Treaty of Greene Ville are all part of the new 28 exhibit "Crossroads of Destiny" at the Garst Museum that will soon be ready to present to the public.The newly redesigned Treaty Room will showcase a four-room exhibition that will chronicle the history of Greenville. Each didactic display will tell a different story. Some of the new displays that will be seen are the "Making of an Army," an example of military armaments; the "Building of Greene Ville," tools used to construct the fort; "The Common Soldier," a look at a soldier's life and the "Forts of Anthony Wayne," descriptions and maps of area forts. Call Garst Museum for more information at (937) 548-5250.
To request a visitor packet, click here. To sign up to receive event information each month, email deannayork@embarqmail.com.
CONTENTS © 2008, DARKE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU
