VEEDERSBURG — Fountain County will mark its 200th anniversary with a full day of events on Saturday, inviting residents to celebrate local history while looking ahead to additional festivities this summer.
The Fountain County Bicentennial Celebration is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fountain County 4-H Fairgrounds, west of Veedersburg. The event commemorates 200 years of Fountain County, established in 1826. Admission is free, with food available for purchase from a variety of vendors.
The day will include an opening ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by live entertainment throughout the day on the arena stage. Performances will feature local musicians and groups, including the Wabash Valley Area Band and Redbud String Band. A time capsule opening from Mellott is scheduled for 1:20 p.m., and a Liberty Elm tree planting led by John Hoagland will take place at 11 a.m.
Family-friendly activities will be offered throughout the grounds, including historical children’s games such as sack races, hoop rolling and hopscotch. A 24-foot working canal model will allow visitors to see how canal boats operated in the 1800s, and demonstrators will showcase traditional skills like blacksmithing, quilting, weaving and rope making.
The event also will feature township representatives, historical exhibits and legacy projects, including a granite monument on the courthouse lawn and recognition of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the county.
As part of the bicentennial, organizers are hosting a county-wide scavenger hunt that began April 1 and runs through Aug. 1. Participants are encouraged to visit 22 sites across Fountain County, scan QR codes at each location and complete a short quiz. Those who finish the hunt can submit photos to the “Fountain County 200th Celebration” Facebook page to be entered into a drawing for prizes, including a $200 Indiana 529 contribution and cash awards. Stops on the hunt include landmarks such as the Wallace Covered Bridge, Rob Roy Covered Bridge and the Cades Mill Covered Bridge, along with cemeteries, churches and historic sites in each township.
The bicentennial celebration is one of several events planned this year. Fountain County will also take part in the nation’s 250th anniversary with a multi-day celebration June 29 through July 4 at the Covington City Park. Activities will include a concert by American’s Got Talent winner Richard Goodall on July 3, a bicentennial parade at 4 p.m. July 4 and a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
