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- IN Guides for Labor Day Weekend đźš—
IN Guides for Labor Day Weekend đźš—
Plus - Five IN wineries to sip on before summer ends!
Get IN, Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
August 28, 2025
Thursday, August 28th
The Pizza That Put Indiana on the Map
Some places talk about fresh ingredients. Greek's has been proving it since 1969. Family-owned, locally operated, and still making every pizza like its reputation is on the line (because it is).
Whether you're a Ball State student pulling an all-nighter or a family looking for that perfect Friday night dinner, Greek's delivers more than just pizza — they deliver tradition.
Taste what makes them special at greekspizzeria.com.
đź“ś This Week in Indiana History đź“ś
The Puzzle Master is Born (1952)
This Week in Indiana History, we recognize the August 31, 1952 birth of Will Shortz, who has been the puzzle master on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Sunday and crossword puzzle editor for The New York Times for decades.
Shortz, a native of Crawfordsville, was raised on an Arabian horse farm near town and has since donated the 47-acre plot of land to become Shortz Nature Park. Development plans include trails connecting to Sugar Creek Trail, a sledding hill, picnic area, and puzzle theme to honor his work.
(Photo by Donald Christensen)
It feels like Fourth of July weekend wasn’t all that long ago, but time flies when you’re having fun. This coming weekend is another extended one, with Labor Day due up on Monday to mark the unofficial end of summer. Anddd now we’re crying.
We’ve put together guides covering northern, central and southern Indiana with what’s open and closed, festivals and concerts to attend, attractions to enjoy, lakes to explore, and so much more. One of our favorite Labor Day weekend traditions? The Marshall County Blueberry Festival at Centennial Park in Plymouth. It’s been rated as a “Top 100 Event” in North America not once, not twice, but three times. If you haven’t been, go, and keep an eye out for Hank the Blueberry.
As always, stay safe, and soak up the beautiful weather Mother Nature is forecasted to provide us through the weekend.
Indiana is home to over 100 wineries, meaning you have more than enough options to enjoy an afternoon with friends, go on a romantic date, or escape for the weekend.
We have sipped a time or dozen at many wineries across the state, so we wanted to share our top five. Our list does include one of Indiana’s most popular wineries in Bloomington, plus four others you may or may not have heard of.
If we left off your favorite, respond to this email so we can add it to our IN winery bucket list!
TED announced in March that it would host Game Changers for three consecutive days — September 9, 10 and 11 — at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis. Now that we’re near the end of August, time is running out to secure tickets.
TEDSports Indianapolis is where sports, leadership and innovation collide, including main stage TED Talks, workshops and panels, all focused on the past, present and future of sports. It’s a first-of-its-kind event in Indy and something you certainly don’t want to miss.
You can receive $500 off the standard attendee rate here » Tickets
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Labor Day weekend is typically marked as one of the last summer weekends to get out on the water, and Patoka Lake is the perfect place to do just that in southern Indiana.
Located approximately 20 miles east of Jasper and 20 miles south of French Lick, Patoka Lake — the second-largest reservoir in Indiana behind Monroe Lake — was formed by damming the Patoka River and flooding the towns of Ellsworth, Elon and Newton-Stewart.
Today it’s an 8,800-acre lake that provides a habitat for family and friends to enjoy boating, fishing, cruises, beaches, ball fields, floating and land-based cabins, and a brewery, winery and distillery. Oh, and we can’t forget about the freshwater jellyfish…
We teased it in the above feature on Patoka Lake, and no, we weren’t blowing smoke. Indiana’s freshwater lakes, reservoirs and ponds are home to freshwater jellyfish. Before we dive in any further, their tentacles do sting… but they’re too weak to harm humans. Whew.
You probably associate jellyfish with the oceans, but Indiana’s most unexpected aquatic resident — Craspedacusta sowerbyi — has been around in the Hoosier State since the early 1900s. Spotting one is like finding a four-leaf clover. They may show face in warm, still water, but there is no guarantee.
While they’re not a hidden gem destination, these jellyfish are every bit of an Indiana hidden gem. So, next time you’re out on the water (maybe this weekend, perhaps?), take a peek over the side of the boat, kayak or canoe to try and see one.
What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!
đź‘Ź 1 Big wIN đź‘Ź
Warsaw is known as “Lake City,” and that could never be more true when the Lake City Skiers hit the water on Hidden Lake.
So, who exactly are the Skiers? Founded in 1989, they’re Indiana’s only competitive water ski show team and operate a nonprofit. They have more than 160 members and almost 70 active skiers ranging from age 6 to over 50. Their one-hour themed shows include high-flying stunts, making them a staple of summer in Kosciusko County.
The Skiers are making waves on the national scene, too. They are 4-time Division II National Champions, served as the host team for the first-ever Division I National Championships in 2024, and were recently named host of the 2027 IWWF World Water Ski Show Championship.
Their season runs on Sunday and Tuesday evenings from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with the final show of 2025 set for 6:30 p.m. this Sunday, August 31. If you’re looking to make last-minute Labor Day weekend plans, head to Hidden Lake and experience the thrill of the Lake City Skiers, who have been thrilling spectators and winning on the national level for the last 35 years.
🎙 On today’s show I sat down with Susan Bock and Randi Roger, two leaders of the Carmel Farmers’ Market.
Susan, the market’s manager, and Randi, the newsletter editor, reveal the rich 27-year history of the market, detailing its evolution from a small community gathering to a bustling hub of over 60 vendors.
We discuss the market's role as an incubator for small businesses across Indiana, highlighting success stories like Circle Kombucha and Smoking Goose. Our conversation also explores the market's stringent vendor selection process, ensuring high-quality, locally produced goods.
With attendance reaching up to 8,000 people on peak weekends, the Carmel Farmers’ Market not only supports small businesses but also serves as a vital social and economic engine for the city.
You are going to learn about:
- The History and Evolution of the Carmel Farmers’ Market
- How the Carmel Farmers’ Market Selects Its Vendors
- Local Business Success Stories Stemming from the Carmel Farmers’ Market
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