AUDIO: Wrangle Up A Good Time At Lawrenceburg Fall Fest This Weekend

This year's Lawrenceburg Fall Fest features the inaugural Whiskey City Rodeo.

Bullriding, Dwight Yoakam, and Justin Moore are the main attractions at the 2018 Lawrenceburg Fall Fest happening September 27-29. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Lawrenceburg Fall Fest returns this weekend with great live music, rides, and fair food as always.

But it is what’s new at Fall Fest this year which has people holding on tight. The first-ever Whiskey City Rodeo promises to bring some of the best in bullriding action to the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds Thursday through Saturday, September 27 through 29.

Promoter Owen Washburn is one of the promoters of the Whiskey City Rodeo. He says some of the top riders in the sport are in town: J.W. Harris, Dustin Bouquet, Cody Jesus, Sage Kimzey, and Trevor Kastner.

Washburn would know about talent, because he’s the 1996 PBR World Champion in bull riding.

“We’re not cutting corners when it comes to bull power either. We’re bringing the greatest bulls,” he says.

The riding action will start up on Friday and Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

Lawrenceburg Municipal Utilities director Olin Clawson, a New Mexico native, says the Whiskey City Rodeo will be a world-class event.

“The best of stock. The best of athlete. It is an absolute opportunity for people to come down and see something that is generally reserved for major markets,” Clawson says.

There is more than one variety of rodeo at Lawrenceburg Fall Fest. Look skyward to watch events at the Whiskey City Lineman Rodeo, featuring some of the best local and international electric lineman competing in a variety of pole-climbing events.

“The lineman are unsung heroes. Most people have no idea what they do,” says Duane Richardson, executive director of the Indiana Municipal Electric Association.

“What you’re going to see is events allowing them to showcase their skills in a safe environment, which they don’t get to very often. We’ve got 168 of the best competing here in Lawrenceburg this weekend.” 

Whiskey City Lineman Rodeo apprentice events start Thursday from noon until 4:30 p.m. The competition resumes Friday with apprentice, journeyman and hurtman rescue events from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, more journeyman events happen 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Lawrenceburg Fall Fest’s traditional events will be held on Walnut Street and at the Lawrenceburg Community Center.

“I thought last year was good, but this is going to be great,” says Mayor Kelly Mollaun.

The fun begins Thursday, September 27 with the king and queen contest starting at 5:00 p.m., along with the midway rides and beer garden. The Battle of the Banks band contest begins at 6:00. Eagle Country 99.3’s Mike Perleberg will emcee the show, with other radio station personalities serving as the judges.

On Friday, September 28, the midway rides will open at 5:00 p.m. Country music newcomer Walker Hayes will perform on the main stage at 7:30, followed by a Purple Heart Salute to four local veterans and service members. Dwight Yoakam, a country legend known for helping popularize the Bakersfield sound, will hit the stage around 9:15.

Fall Fest restarts Saturday, September 29 with the Highpoint Health Heart and Lung 5K Walk/Run at 9:00 p.m. on the river levee. The midway and rides open at 11:00 a.m. There is also a chili contest, car show, pie eating contest, and more. The stage entertainment that night is The Weldon Brothers at 6:00 p.m. and Walker Montgomery – the son of country musician John Michael Montgomery – at 7:30. At 9:15, country superstar Justin Moore will perform his catalog of hits including “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” “Bait a Hook,” “Point at You,” and “Small Town USA.”

Local teens and young adults are being invited to the Fall Fest Job Fair & Trade Show. It happens at the Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day.

“Right now in the trades it is a simple fact that 65 percent of everybody working today is within four years of retirement. If you are a young person who wants to get into a lucrative career that is rewarding and serves your community, the trades are absolutely the direction you should go,” Clawson says.

You can find a full schedule of events and more information about Lawrenceburg Fall Fest at www.lawrenceburgfallfest.net.