Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) recently released a list of upcoming festivals in the Indiana Uplands.  The following information is taken from the organization’s website, https://inuplands.org.

Festival season returns
Warmer weather signals the arrival of festival season in the Indiana Uplands, where communities come alive with an array of vibrant events. Are you a music lover ready to groove to live performances in scenic outdoor setting? Fan of ventriloquism? Do you love setting up a lawn chair to watch as fireworks dance across the sky? Curious to know what a bed race is? Come join us in the Uplands! We have a festival and event waiting to entertain you all summer with festivities to suit every taste and interest.
 
April-October: Free Fourth Friday Festival and Art Walk, April-October
Nashville, Brown County
Since the early 1900s, artists have traveled from near and far to capture the natural beauty and life in the rolling hills of Brown County. Today the county remains home to artists carrying on the tradition and galleries showcasing the beautiful art from the past. The Free Fourth Friday Art Walk happens each month from April through October! Plan to take a stroll through the arts village in Nashville as you enjoy refreshments, live music, and the unique pieces of art in each gallery! Participating galleries will stay open late for visitors. You will even be able to see art in action as some galleries will have demonstrations! Once you finish your stroll head over to the historic Brown County Playhouse for the Free Fourth Friday Festival to hear live music of all genres performed by impressive local and regional musicians. Both events are free!
 
June-September: Mondays on Main
Linton, Greene County
Summertime in Linton means once a month food trucks, bounce houses, and vendor booths fill Main Street for the family-friendly community event Mondays on Main Street! Each event has a theme, too! June was a luau party and July’s theme will be Christmas in July! Eat a savory meal from Fat Daddy’s BBQ food truck and wander through booths selling local art, produce, and more! Kids will surely enjoy burning some energy jumping in bounce houses, too! Make sure to check out the Mondays on Main Street Facebook page for more information and future dates.
 
June 20-22: Loogootee Summerfest
Loogootee, Martin County
For a few days each summer, the streets of Loogootee transform into a festival featuring exciting carnival rides, delicious food options, glimmering fireworks, and warm melodies from live music each night. The Loogootee Summerfest brings the community together and visitors are welcomed! The live music lineup includes the AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds on June 23 and country artist Wade Hayes on June 24. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
 
June 28-29: Limestone Heritage Festival
Bedford, Lawrence County
In the early 1800s, rich limestone quarrying and carving first began in Lawrence County – and because of that, the county has since been known as “Limestone County.” In fact, many of America’s famous buildings were built using stone quarried from Lawrence County, including the Empire State Building, Chicago’s Tribune Tower, the Pentagon, and the new Yankee Stadium. Each year the community in Lawrence County gathers together to celebrate the impact this rock has had during the Limestone Heritage Festival. Take a stroll around downtown Bedford Square and find a delicious meal at one of the local food trucks. Live music, a parade, and fireworks will help make this weekend festival one you will not want to miss. And what would a limestone festival be without limestone carving? An exhibit of different limestone carvings will be available on both days.
 
June 28-30: VentFest
Spencer, Owen County
Check out the only ventriloquism festival in the United States at the historic Tivoli Theatre in downtown Spencer! VentFest, or the International Ventriloquism and Arts Festival, is a three-day event boasting a schedule of world-class entertainment right here in the Indiana Uplands! The second-year festival features not only ventriloquism, but also music and magic! What other family-friendly fun could you want? VentFest fun will extend into downtown Spencer with pop-up performances planned for other local businesses! Visit the VentFest website to buy tickets and see the entire schedule!
 
June 21-22: Ferdinand Heimatfest
Ferdinand, Dubois County
“Heimatfest” means “home festival” in German, and from June 16-17, the town of Ferdinand will bring residents together to celebrate their home in Dubois County at Ferdinand Heimatfest. The two-day event will take place at the 18th Street Park and feature activities for the whole family all weekend. Sit back with a beer and enjoy live music, watch grillmasters compete in the BBQ contest, or show off your disc golf skills in a scramble. Money raised from the various events will be donated to the Ferdinand Community Endowment and the Dubois County Community Foundation to help both the town and the county succeed and grow.
 
June 29: Celestine Streetfest
Celestine, Dubois County
Get ready to boot scoot and boogie at the annual Celestine Streetfest on June 29 at St. Celestine Church, featuring live music by the ultimate 90s country group “The Boot Scoots,” a party DJ, beer garden, and delicious food. Hit the trail like a 90s country hit during the 5K run/walk. But wait! The day of fun doesn’t end there! Check out the car show, community scavenger hunt, dodgeball tournament, and various kids’ activities, including a free kids’ fun run and a tractor pull!
 
June 29 : Dubois County Pride Festival
Jasper, Dubois County
All are welcome to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community in Dubois County and beyond at the annual Dubois County PRIDE Festival in Jasper. The festival is organized by Dubois County PRIDE, which works to build a stronger and more united community where all can live proudly and authentically while celebrating their true selves. This growing festival first happened in 2019, and attendance has steadily increased. The festival features entertainment for all ages, food, art and craft vendor booths, and more!
 
July 3-4: 194th Annual Pekin 4th of July Festival
New Pekin, Washington County
The oldest consecutive Independence Day celebration in the United States happens each summer right here in the Indiana Uplands. The Oldest Consecutive 4th of July Celebration in the Nation began in 1830 in the town of Pekin in Washington County. The celebration was moved to Pekin Community Park in 1909, where it has been held ever since. The summer celebration has everything you would want for a fun-packed holiday weekend in the Uplands, including shimmering fireworks, a parade, live music, a carnival, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
 
July 1-6: Linton Freedom Festival and Parade
Linton, Greene County
Linton Freedom Festival Parade, or “Indiana’s Largest Independence Day Parade,” brings nearly 40,000 people to the Indiana Uplands annually. This annual summer celebration features a carnival, live bands, unique races and contests (looking at you, bed races), and, of course, a dazzling fireworks show. The fun begins when the carnival opens July 1. The parade will be 10 a.m. on July 4!
 
July 11-14: BREATHE Festival
Spencer, Owen County
Take a break from the real world, step into the woods, and breathe a sigh of relief at one of the world’s largest slackline festivals at Stable Studios in Owen County. The BREATHE Festival invites you to discover balance, mindfulness, and the rhythm of life. Special activities and workshops are scheduled all weekend, including yoga, fire and flow, live music, and a “party pond,” offering play and relaxing paddleboarding experiences. The festival aims to create a “dream land” for slacklining – walking, running, or balancing along a suspended length of flat webbing that is tensioned between two anchors. Plan to camp and be a part of this community all weekend!
 
Aug. 1-4: Jasper Strassenfest
Jasper, Dubois County
Walking along the streets in Jasper, you may feel as if you have taken a trip across the Atlantic Ocean to Germany during the annual Strassenfest in Dubois County. The annual event celebrates German traditions and people who established roots in Jasper. This German-inspired street festival was first held in 1979. Enjoy a beer in the “Bier Garten” while listening to live music. The Strassenfest parade, hot air balloons, food, and carnival rides are some of the fun activities you will find. Don’t forget the polka and lederhosen because no German festival would be complete without them. While you’re there, take a ride on the Spirit of Jasper Train.
 
Aug. 1-3: Hippy Hill Fest
Bean Blossom, Brown County
Celebrate the electric and psychedelic music of the 1960s at Bill Monroe’s Music Park and Campground when the third annual Hippy Hill Fest returns to the hills of the Indiana Uplands! Live music from two stages will fill the air for three days during this summer party. Grab your dancing shoes and plan to groove the weekend away.
 
Aug. 8-11: Gosport Lazy Days
Gosport, Owen County
Cue up “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer” by Nat King Cole and head over to Gosport in Owen County to soak up a few more summer moments at Gosport Lazy Days! Still curious about bed races? The festival features the bed-related races and much more, such as live music, a car show, the Lazy Day Parade, a street dance on Main Street, and a fish fry!

Dads do a lot for their families, and Father's Day is the perfect time to acknowledge those efforts. The days when dads would receive a colorful necktie for Father's Day are largely (and, for fathers, thankfully) a relic of the past. Modern Father's Day celebrations tend to involve more careful planning, and the following are some ways to make this year's day for dads one to remember.

· Take Dad on a tour through his own history. The popularity of genealogy has skyrocketed over the last decade-plus, as various firms have made it easier than ever for individuals to trace their family histories. If Dad counts himself among the millions across the globe interested in their family histories, moms and kids can work together to create a virtual tour through that history. Present the history as a printed book or as a video, sharing interesting things you learned about Dad's ancestors but also highlighting key moments in his life. This presentation can be accompanied by a subscription to a genealogy service and a tour of some of Dad's childhood haunts before the family enjoys brunch or dinner in the neighborhood where Dad grew up.

· Take to the great outdoors. Father's Day is celebrated in mid-June, making the day a perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors (weather permitting). Plan a day around Dad's favorite outdoor activity. If Dad is an avid fisherman, book a family outing on a charter boat so Dad can focus on catching fish and not navigating. If Dad loves being in natural settings, camp out the night before Father's Day so he can wake up to the sound of birds chirping in the crisp morning air. If Dad has a favorite baseball team, take him out to the ballgame so he can soak up some Father's Day sun.

· Book a private chef. If Dad has a fascination with food, perhaps nothing can make Father's Day more memorable than a delicious meal served by a private chef. Private chefs will do all the work, giving moms and kids more time to spend with Dad throughout the day, and then the whole family can enjoy a special meal made by someone whose specialty is crafting delicious dinners. Offerings vary, but many private chefs handle all the cooking and cleaning. Identify Dad's favorite dish and then look for a chef who specializes in that type of cuisine.

· Appeal to Dad's inner adventurer. Some Dads may just want to relax on Father's Day, while others may prefer a more adventurous celebration. If Dad falls into the latter group, book a fun and adventurous activity the whole family can enjoy together. A kayaking trip, a skydiving session, a round of paintball, or even tickets to a rock concert on Father's Day weekend can connect Dad with his inner adventurer.

There's no shortage of ways for families to make this Father's Day one Dad won't soon forget.

About one in 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced abuse. On Elder Abuse Awareness Day this Saturday, June 15, we promote a better understanding of the abuse and neglect of our elderly individuals.

As people age, they may be at higher risk of facing certain types of abuse. Older members of our communities can experience neglect, physical, emotional, financial, or sexual abuse. Facing this abuse has serious health, financial, and social consequences, including physical injuries, premature death, depression, cognitive decline, financial ruin and placement in nursing homes. The abuse of our elderly not only affects older individuals, but also has an impact on all of us.

“It is imperative we take care of and look after our elderly,” says Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt. “When our elderly adults face neglect or abuse, we lose their valuable participation in our communities. By creating a community where elderly individuals feel safe and appreciated, we will be blessed with their positive contributions to our community.”

It’s important to know how to identify, address and prevent abuse in the elderly of our community. We should learn the signs of abuse, which include physical signals like unusual weight loss, the absence of physical aids like glasses or medications, unexplained injuries and unattended medical needs. Emotional and behavioral signs of abuse may include increased fear or anxiety, isolation and unusual changes in behavior or sleep. Financial signs of abuse may also be present, involving fraudulent signatures on financial documents, unusual or sudden changes in spending patterns, or unpaid bills.

No matter our age, it is up to all of us to prevent and address elder abuse. Look for warning signs, call, and visit loved ones to prevent isolation, talk to friends and family about how to watch over our elders, and be a friendly face to the older individuals of our community.

If you are experiencing abuse or suspect abuse of an elderly person, the Indiana Adult Protective Services (APS) and the Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman program can help. Visit the APS website or call (812) 883-5988. In cases of urgent danger, call 911 or contact local law enforcement.