IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a place where misadventure could begin, you can’t go past Mbargo. The nightclub’s streetfront is painted a purple so bright you’ll see it in your dreams. Strings of giant sequins shimmer in the breeze. Its phonically inventive name is spelt in silver letters that climb its three-storey terrace facade. Inside are strips of burning neon, a few booths, floorboards so marinated in drink that they have an ingredients list. Bristol is a student city on England’s south coast crowded with music and nightlife and street art. This is Banksy’s home town, and the tourism board suggests in rather strong terms that ‘you would be a fool not to see his amazing work firsthand’. The same organisation describes Mbargo as ‘intimate’, which is fair for a place where you can catch an STI standing up. Students cram into its modest dimensions while people with names like DJ Klaud battle for billing with £1.50 drink deals over seven sloppy nights a week. To get a sense of the story about to come, consider that it’s the kind of place open until two o’clock on a Monday morning, and that at two o’clock on a Monday morning, Ben Stokes still thought it had closed too early.
The Ashes of 2017–18 had disciplinary bookends. It was after that series that Australia’s two leaders went off the rails in South Africa. It was a few weeks before that Ashes tour that England’s biggest star windmilled his way into his own disaster.
In the early hours of 25 September 2017, Stokes and teammate Alex Hales were barred from re-entering Mbargo after a night out on the piss. A Sunday thrashing of an abject West Indies in an ignored series at the fag-end of the season apparently required ample celebration. After arguing with the bouncer and hanging about at the door for a while, they wandered off to find a casino in the hope of more drinking. They’d barely made it around the corner before getting in the middle of a conflict between four locals. As is said on the internet, it escalated quickly.
The 26 September reporting was bloodless. Withholding names, police stated that a man ‘was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm’ while another went to hospital with facial injuries. England’s director of cricket Andrew Strauss separately confirmed that Stokes was the arrestee, adding that he had been released without charge and that Hales had gamely offered to ‘help police with their enquiries’. Administrators had a good chance of hiding behind that investigation, and the next day Stokes was named in the upcoming Ashes squad as expected. But that night the video emerged.
Bristol student Max Wilson had shot it on his phone, then offered it to The Sun. What he thought was playing hardball was actually lowball: his opening price of £3000 was snapped up by a tabloid that would have paid ten times that. The Sun went on to make a mint by syndicating the rights worldwide. From a window above the fray, the vision showed six men on the street below performing the muddled choreography of a melee. One was right at the centre of it. One was waving a bottle, one dipped in and out, one tried to calm it. Two others floated around the edges. The central figure was unmistakable: red hair burning even in the streetlight as he launched into a series of blows against two of the men, falling to grapple with them on the ground, then following both across the street, swinging punches the whole way. Hales trailed behind, repeatedly and impotently shouting ‘Stokes! Stop! Stokes! Enough!’ The ECB could fudge issues that existed only in thickets of legalese, but not those captured in moving colour. Stokes was stood down from the next West Indies match, then suspended indefinitely. It emerged that he had broken his hand during the fight, something he’d done twice before while punching objects in dressing rooms.
The response in Australia was fierce: Stokes was a thug, a lowlife, a selection that would disgrace England. It was not entirely coincidental that a ban for England’s best player would be handy for the Aussie team, but there was also a cultural split. In England, plenty of people still minimise pub fights as lads letting off steam. In Australia, heavy media coverage as a succession of young men were killed had inverted that tolerance. The discourse now saw any punch as potentially deadly and accordingly reckless. This was more poignant in a cricket context given that David Hookes, the dashing Test batsman and state coach, was killed in 2004 by a pub bouncer’s fist.
The PR situation was bad for Stokes as details emerged of the injuries to the men he’d hit, and that one was a young war veteran and father. Stokes wasn’t officially removed from the Ashes squad through October but stayed behind when his teammates left, hoping for police to dismiss the matter in time for a late dash to Australia. His annual contract was renewed on the due date in case that came to pass. Then 29 October brought a twist in the tale.
‘Ben Stokes praised by gay couple after defending them from homophobic thugs,’ ran the headline. Kai Barry and Billy O’Connell had emerged. Not entirely out of nowhere: while Stokes had made no public comment, this story in his defence had initially been leaked to TV host Piers Morgan after the fight, as soon as the video appeared. Police body-camera footage played in court would later show that Stokes had given the same story to the arresting officer on the night. But no-one knew the identities of the fifth and sixth men in the video, and police appeals had turned up nothing.
It was The Sun again with the breakthrough. Kai and Billy were perfect for a readership not keen on nuance. ‘We couldn’t believe it when we found out they were famous cricketers. I just thought Ben and Alex were quite hot, fit guys,’ said Kai, who was memorably described as a ‘former House of Fraser sales assistant’. The paper had the pair do a full photo shoot: layering the fake tan, showing off chest waxes, mixing Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton into a range of outfits. Their best shot had them standing back to back, heads turned to the camera, in a mirror-image Zoolander moment.
Suddenly The Sun was the England team’s best friend. ‘Their claims could lead to the all-rounder being cleared over the punch-up and freed to play in the First Test in Australia next month,’ it gushed, then gave a tasting platter of quotes: ‘We were so grateful to Ben for stepping in to help. He was a real hero.’ ‘If Ben hadn’t intervened it could have been a lot worse for us.’ ‘We could’ve been in real trouble. Ben was a real gentleman.’ Would it be known forever as Kai and Billy’s Ashes? No. While the Bristol boys provided spin for Stokes’ reputation they didn’t influence the police. With charges still pending there was little choice – not given Strauss had previously sacked Kevin Pietersen for being annoying. Stokes remained suspended through the Ashes and a one-day series in Australia, and lost the vice-captaincy. It was January 2018 before the Crown Prosecution Service laid a charge.
That charge surprisingly came in as affray, a crime that can carry prison time but is classified as ‘a breach of the peace as a result of disorderly conduct’. The men he had punched, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, faced the same count, charged as equal participants in a fight rather than Stokes being charged with assaulting them. Alex Hales was not charged, despite being seen in the video to aim several kicks when Ryan Ali was lying on the ground. Given the underwhelming standing of the offence, Stokes was cleared by the ECB to tour New Zealand, and kept playing until his trial in August 2018, which he missed a Test to attend. None of the three defendants would be convicted.
The reasoning behind the charges was never released and was attributed vaguely to ‘CPS lawyers’. The service gave the case to Alison Morgan, a prosecutor of a class known as Treasury Counsel who usually handle serious criminal matters. Morgan had a scheduling clash and never ended up court for the case, but in 2018 and 2019 she would go on to win damages and admissions of libel from The Daily Mail, The Times and The Daily Telegraph variously for incorrectly reporting that she had been responsible for the inadequate and inconsistent charging decisions.
Morgan’s successor on the case was Nicholas Corsellis QC, who on the first day of trial was permitted by the CPS to request two assault charges be added against Stokes. ‘Upon further review,’ claimed a CPS statement, ‘we considered that additional assault charges would also be appropriate.’ This was patent nonsense from the service that eight months earlier had chosen the lesser charge. Any lawyer knows that no judge will allow new charges once a trial has begun, because the defence hasn’t had time to prepare. But such a request could deflect criticism of the prosecution service by technically making the judge the one who disallows the charge.
Working through the story from the trial and the tape is complicated. You had a Ryan and a Ryan, a Hale and a Hales, a Billy and a Barry and a Ben. You had several versions of events as to who knew whom, who was drinking with whom, who had insulted whom and who had merely engaged in ‘banter’, a word that in modern Britain has to do an unconscionable amount of lifting. The reporting had constantly mixed up the Ryans as to who had which injury, who was in hospital, who had played which part in the fight, and whose mum had which stern words to say about it.
Let’s agree that from now Ryan Ali is Ryan One, the firefighter who ended up with a fractured eye socket and a cracked tooth. Ryan Two can be Ryan Hale, the soldier who scored concussion and facial lacerations. Mr Barry and Mr O’Connell are best known per The Sun as Kai and Billy. In scorecard parlance we’ll leave the cricketers as Stokes and Hales.
Amid the confusion, Stokes and his lawyers built his case in a straightforward way. The UK legal definition of affray is ‘if a person threatens or uses unlawful violence or force towards another person, which causes another person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their safety’. That means it doesn’t account for violence that harms a target, but violence that might frighten a theoretical bystander. The wiggle room for Stokes was with ‘unlawful’, because the charge excuses violence in defending oneself or others.
This interpretation hinged on the beginning of the video, where Ryan One waves a beer bottle about and takes a swing at Kai. The version from Stokes was that he was minding his own business walking down the street when he heard homophobic abuse. He intervened verbally and was threatened verbally by Ryan One – something that Ryan One denied but that couldn’t be proved or disproved. In fear for his safety Stokes had to nullify that threat by bashing Ryan One before it went the other way. He registered Ryan Two in his peripheral vision as another possible threat, and again had only one recourse.
Stokes also had to convince the jury to disregard testimony from Mbargo’s bouncer that he had been looking for a fight. A solid lump of a man, Andrew Cunningham had not enjoyed his patron’s attempts to get back into the club after the bouncer declined an offer of a bribe. ‘He got a bit verbally abusive towards myself. He mentioned my gold teeth and he said I looked like a cunt and I replied, “Thank you very much.” He just looked at me and told me my tattoos were shit and to look at my job.’ Cunningham described these words as coming in ‘a spiteful tone, quite an angry tone’, and said that Stokes still seemed angry as he walked away.
These were details the doorman had nothing to gain by inventing, but each of them Stokes denied. By his own accounting he had drunk a beer at the game and three pints at his hotel, then ‘potentially had some Jägerbombs’ along with half a dozen vodkas at the club. He insisted that after all of this he was not drunk.
If I may take a moment here to call upon the wisdom of experience – a person who cannot definitively say whether they have had any Jägerbombs has definitely had some Jägerbombs. A Jägerbomb is an experience that does not pass one by. Further to that, a person who says they have ‘potentially’ done something has definitely done that thing and doesn’t want to admit it. A person who has had between 15 and 24 standard drinks in one evening is shitfaced. A person who tries to bribe a bouncer £300 – three hundred quid! – to get into Mbargo – Mbargo! – is beyond shitfaced.
If Stokes admitted that he was drunk then the prosecution could say he was out of control. He claimed clear recall of assessing a threat, feeling fear and deciding to protect himself with force. He confidently denied details from the bouncer’s testimony, like using the word ‘cunt’ or mentioning gold teeth. Yet on other details he claimed a ‘significant memory blackout’. He didn’t remember the punch that saw Ryan One taken away by ambulance. He didn’t remember what the Ryans had said to Kai and Billy, only that those words were homophobic. With no head injury, as one of the few people who hadn’t been hit, he had supposedly suffered this memory loss despite being sober.
The version from Kai and Billy was compatible but vague: they had been walking along, they ‘heard … shouts’ of abuse from an unspecified source, then Stokes ‘stepped in’ and thus they avoided possible harm. They claimed to have been bought a drink by Stokes at Mbargo, although CCTV showed them meeting outside. The overall implication from both accounts was that the cricketers had been pals with Kai and Billy, while the Ryans as per The Sun’s headline were a roving band of thugs.
The reality though is that the Ryans were the ones hanging out with Kai and Billy at Mbargo. Police discussed CCTV from inside the club in questioning and at trial. On that footage the four Bristolians bought drinks for one another, danced together, and Kai was noted to have variously touched Ryan Two’s crotch and Ryan One’s buttock. Ryan One told police that all of this was taken lightheartedly and wasn’t a problem. Indeed, when the Ryans called it a night the other two left with them.
This much is clear from footage out the front of Mbargo, which shows Kai and Billy exit the club and start talking with a subdued Hales and a demonstrative Stokes, who are stuck outside. The vision was played in court to determine whether Stokes was antagonistic towards Kai and Billy, as he appears to impersonate them and to throw a lit cigarette their way. More interesting is that after a few minutes the Ryans emerge, and all six actors in the fight video briefly form a prequel in the one frame.
Ryan Two pats Billy on the chest in friendly fashion with his right hand before clapping him on the back with his left. He moves past and does the same to Kai before leaving the shot. Ryan One stops to speak to Kai. They lean in for a moment, talking, then Kai turns and they walk out of frame together. Billy hangs around for a few seconds at the door and then looks after them and races to catch up. Stokes and Hales remain outside the club to remonstrate further with the bouncers. Whatever discord develops around the corner is between four men who left amicably together minutes earlier.
There’s no way to know what caused that friction. If Ryan One did use homophobic slurs, he might have been drunkenly obnoxious for no reason. He might have had an insecure macho response to some extra flirtation. He might have thought unkindness was funny – ‘banter’ once again. Or he might have said something that was misunderstood, as both Ryans insisted in court that they had not used nor had the impulse to use any abusive language.
What clearly didn’t happen was an attack by bigots on random passers-by. This kind of crime is regular enough that an audience understands the horror of it, and this is what was evoked by the public accounts of Stokes, Billy and Kai. All we know is that there was some verbal dispute among the Bristol locals, and that Stokes came along behind them and put himself in the middle of it. Ryan One responded to the interference aggressively and away they went. There are plenty of reasons to look sideways at the idea that Stokes was a saviour. Foremost, neither Kai nor Billy was called upon as witnesses in court. You’d think it would be ideal to have Stokes’ story backed up by those who benefited from his selflessness. But his defence team had developed the impression that the pair had shown a changeable recall of events amid a hard-partying lifestyle, and would be dismantled by the prosecution on the stand.
That raises the question of whether The Sun coached their quotes for the 2017 interview. Despite missing court, Kai and Billy clearly enjoyed the attention. In 2018 after the trial they did a follow-up spread in the same paper about how poor Ben had been mistreated. They got a television spot on Good Morning Britain and glowed about his heroism. In 2019 The Sun wheeled them out once more to say that Stokes should get a knighthood. In 2017 they had ‘never watched cricket’ but by 2019 were supposedly volunteering sentences like, ‘He saved us, now he’s saved the Ashes.’ Whether they were paid for these appearances is not known, but the chance to be famous for a day can be lure enough.
If you find this cynical, consider that on the night in question, the Bristol boys were so deeply moved and thankful for Ben’s intervention that they left him to be arrested and never attempted to find out who he was. Seconds after the video ended, an off-duty policeman reached the scene. You might think that someone grateful to a saviour would speak on his behalf. Instead, said Kai, ‘it all got a bit scary so we walked off. It was too much for me and we went to Quigley’s takeaway for chicken burgers and cheesy chips.’ They didn’t give their hero a thought for over a month while police issued multiple appeals for witnesses.
As for Stokes, he told his arresting officer that ‘his friends’ had been attacked. After three minutes of chat outside a nightclub, these friends were so dear to him that he has never contacted them again: not after the newspaper piece, not after the verdict. He didn’t want to see how they were or thank them for their support. He didn’t mention them by name in his solicitor’s statement after the trial.
The Stokes defence rested on Ryan One’s bottle, which he had carried out of Mbargo to finish a beer, not to use in a Sharks versus Jets amateur production. But once he turned it over to hold it by the neck it became a weapon. Intent and interpretation can change the material nature of things. Part of Stokes’ justification in court was that the bottle implied that the two Ryans might have ‘other weapons’ hidden away. You can understand how a jury could decide that created doubt.
Not being convicted, though, doesn’t give the contents of the video a big green tick. It does not, as his lawyer claimed, vindicate Stokes. Looking in detail, Ryan One is belligerent but his movements telegraph a bluff. Hales is the person he’s gesturing at, but they’re several metres apart when Ryan One cocks his arm ostentatiously, showing off the bottle rather than bracing to swing. He skips forward but Hales skips back and Ryan One doesn’t follow. Kai stretches out an arm to impede Ryan One, who has a drunken stumble, nearly eats pavement, then staggers towards Kai and hits him in the back. That hand is still holding the bottle, but his strike is a side-arm cuff on a soft part of the body. It’s all pretty tame.
This is where Stokes gets involved. Having moved across to protect Hales, he now takes three large steps to run around Kai and booms his first punch at Ryan One. They fall to the ground and the bottle clinks away. Stokes gets to his feet to punch down at the fallen man, while Hales arrives to kick him ineffectively then runs off across the street for some unknown reason. Ice-cream van? Stokes is soon back in the grapple having his shirt pulled up to show off his Durham tan. Ryan Two steps in for the first time to pull Stokes away, prompting a couple more random punches at this new target, then Stokes trips backwards over Ryan One and sprawls in the street. Hales chooses this moment to return and aim some solid kicks at the head of the man on the ground. Nothing so far is a triumph of moral philosophy or the pugilistic arts. But if it all stopped here, perhaps you could say it was somewhere approaching fair. Ryan One has behaved like a turnip and it’s not an entirely unjust world that would give him a whack across the chops. The antagonists have disentangled, Stokes has some distance, it’s time to dust off and go home. Ryan Two steps forward for this purpose with his palm raised in conciliatory style and says, ‘Settle down, stop.’
So Stokes punches him.
It’s roughly his fifth punch overall, and he really winds up into this one. He misses so hard that he stumbles away into the shadows of the shop awnings along the road.
Hales starts shouting for him to stop. Ryan Two backs into the street, still holding his palm up. Stokes closes on him from about five metres away, six large steps, to where Ryan Two is standing on his own. Stokes pushes him a couple of times, as Ryan Two keeps trying to placate him and saying ‘Stop.’ Stokes throws his sixth punch, largely missing as his target ducks.
Ryan Two keeps pulling away and reversing, into the middle of the street now. Stokes follows him, grabbing his sleeve to drag him back. By this point Ryan One has found his feet and walked around behind his friend. Both of them are in the same line of sight for Stokes, and both are backing away. Stokes aims his seventh and his eighth punches, which Ryan Two tries to deflect, as Hales walks up behind Stokes to grab him.
Stokes yanks away from his friend and switches to Ryan One instead, taking seven paces to grab him before throwing his ninth punch of the night. He grabs again; Ryan One blocks that arm and pushes himself back away from Stokes. Ryan Two again intercedes, putting himself between the two with his palms up and his arm extended.
Stokes throws his tenth punch, a right-hander at the face of Ryan Two, then shoves him backwards. Ryan Two backs away once more, four paces. Stokes follows, steadies, lines up, then launches his strongest punch yet, his eleventh, a proper right hook from a solid base, one that cracks across the man’s head and gives him concussion. Ryan Two ends up flat on his back in the middle of the street, his hands still outstretched for a moment in useless protest until they twitch and drop to the blacktop.
Stokes isn’t done. He once more shoves away the restraining Hales and follows Ryan One, who keeps backing away saying, ‘Alright, alright, alright.’ Five more paces from Stokes before another blow at the man’s head. Kai and Billy are now standing over the poleaxed Ryan Two. The video ends, but seconds later Stokes will punch Ryan One hard enough to knock him out too, before off-duty cop Andrew Spure arrives on the scene to bring down the curtain. When the body-camera footage kicks in some minutes later, Stokes is in handcuffs but Ryan One is still laid out in the street. Ryan Two has regained consciousness, folded his shirt under his friend’s head and is asking police for an ambulance.
‘At this point, I felt vulnerable and frightened. I was concerned for myself and others.’ This was how Stokes described that sequence to the court. An elite athlete with years of gym work and training to snap a bat through the line of a ball with astounding power and precision, swinging fists as hard as he can at men with none of those advantages. Punching so hard that he breaks his hand, and repeatedly shoving away a friend so he can punch some more. Frightened and threatened by two targets shouting ‘Get back!’ and ‘Stop!’
The off-duty officer testified that Stokes ‘seemed to be the main aggressor or was progressing forward trying to get to’ Ryan One, who was ‘trying to back away or get away from the situation’. The student who filmed the video can be heard on the tape at one stage exclaiming ‘Fuck!’ and testified that it was because ‘I felt a little bit sorry about the lad that had been punched and it looked like he had his hands up’. That tallied with the prosecutor’s depiction of ‘a sustained episode of significant violence that left onlookers shocked at what was taking place’.
The defendant stuck to his strategy. ‘No, my sole focus was to protect myself.’ All up, in the 33 seconds of footage after he falls over, Stokes takes 35 steps forward to keep hitting two men who keep trying to get away. Not once is he hit back.
After the verdict, Stokes’ solicitor positioned him as the victim. It had been ‘an eleven-month ordeal for Ben … The jury’s decision fairly reflects the truth of what happened that night … He was minding his own business … It was only when others came under threat that Ben became physically engaged. The steps that he took were solely aimed at ensuring the safety of himself and the others present …’ The statement was impossibly self-righteous and self-absorbed.
If there was anyone to feel sorry for it was Ryan Hale, the second of our two Ryans. He’s the one who emerged from the club with a friendly arm around the shoulder for Kai and Billy. He’s the one who interposed himself to end the fight, then kept putting himself back in the firing line, trying to calm an intimidating stranger while dodging blows. For his show of restraint he got laid out regardless, concussed in the street, then was issued a criminal charge equal to that of the man who hit him, and described in national media as a violent bigot in an untested story to support that man’s defence.
Lawyers for Ryan Two made a more convincing post-trial statement, noting that Kai and Billy, ‘neither of whom were relied upon by the prosecution or the defence team for Mr Stokes, have taken the opportunity to speak with various media outlets about the alleged homophobic abuse that they received in the early hours of September 25. Mr Hale has passionately denied this allegation throughout the course of this case,’ it continued.
‘It is upsetting to Mr Hale that although he was acquitted, the accusation that he was the author of such abuse remains. Both Mr Hale and Mr Ali were knocked unconscious by Mr Stokes, and although Mr Stokes has been acquitted of an affray, Mr Hale struggles with the reasons why the Crown Prosecution Service did not treat him as a victim of an unlawful assault.’Good question. Avon and Somerset police were the investigating force, and they were frustrated by the decision. Ryan Two was filmed clearly not hurting anyone, but police were instructed by the CPS to proceed with a charge. Hales (the cricketer) was filmed fighting but ‘a decision was made at a senior level of the CPS’ not to proceed. Police expected Stokes to be charged with assault but the CPS declined. It doesn’t take a wild cynic to think that placing the same lukewarm charge on three men for vastly divergent behaviour might ensure that none would be convicted, even as the trial would maintain the pretence that a defendant of influential standing had not been given a free pass.
A couple of years down the line, the original interview with Kai and Billy has disappeared. All traces have been scrubbed from The Sun website, its social media history, and even from the Wayback Machine internet archive. Given its headline of ‘homophobic thugs’ and text that names Ryan Two but not Ryan One, the libel liability isn’t hard to spot. Later interviews with Kai and Billy take the passive voice – they ‘suffered homophobic slurs outside a Bristol nightclub’.
The article that was once claimed to exonerate brave Ben Stokes now links only to a missing content page, with a picture of a dropped ice-cream cone and the phrase ‘legal removal’ inserted into the web URL. In terms of consequences, Stokes missed one tour. When he resumed his career in January 2018, the Australians hadn’t yet ruined theirs. Their year-long bans looked much more stringent. But the Stokes case dragged on in other ways. With no criminal liability, the Australians confessed promptly enough for the sporting world to give them the full length of the lash. Their situation was ugly but there was closure. Stokes got stuck in legal stasis, unable to be fully backed or condemned. Instead his issue was always present, a browser full of open tabs that the ECB swore they would read any day now.
Through 2018 Stokes was back but he wasn’t back, in the sunglasses and finger-guns sense. In his return one-day series he nearly cost England a match with 39 from 73 balls in Wellington. His first Test hit was a duck as England got rolled in Auckland for 58. At Trent Bridge while Stokes was injured, England posted a world record 481 against Australia. With Stokes three weeks later at the same ground they made 268. He crawled to 50 from 103, the second-slowest any Englishman had reached that milestone in 20 years. That span covered Alastair Cook’s whole career. It was apologetic batting, acting out responsibility via the scorecard. Stokes was creeping back into the team like he’d been kicked out in a blazing row and was hoping to tip-toe to the sofa.
It was December 2018 before the ECB disciplinary committee ruled on him and Hales. In a ‘remarkable coincidence’, wrote Simon Heffer in The Telegraph, ‘the punishment both players faced in terms of bans from playing at international level was covered by the amount of games they had already missed when dropped by England’s selectors, in the furore that followed the incident’. The verdict compounded the omissions around the case by not addressing the violence at its heart. Nor did Stokes, apologising only ‘to my team-mates, coaches and support staff’, and then ‘to England supporters and to the public for bringing the game into disrepute’.
The implicit next step was to rebuild that reputation. It might have been easier had his court defence not meant that he wasn’t game to admit any fault at all. It might have been easier if he or his advisers had been willing to change tack once the trial was done. Imagine a world where Stokes had stood outside court and apologised for overreacting, for the injuries he’d caused, and for the time and energy he had sucked out of other people’s lives. That would have been a show of responsibility beyond a scorecard. When the time came around to assess forgiveness, it might have meant forgiveness was deserved.

A stormy afternoon gave way to a dark and brooding night. The night progressed and while the wind settled, the clouds lingered low. For Annabelle O’Neill, the pain became unbearable as the night churned towards an uncertain dawn. With one last push, the child finally arrived.
It was October 14, 1972. Julian O’Neill was born.
Brian Julian ‘Julian’ O’Neill had a troubled childhood that scientists have often cited to settle the old ‘nature vs nurture’ debates that raged during boozy academic piss-ups at esteemed establishments such as ANU’S Bar and Half and Harvard.
His mother died when he was 5 and his dad died when he was 6, with Brian being raised by his grandparents. While his grandparents are probably dead now, they weren’t dead when Brian was in their care.
Brian didn’t care much for traditional schooling, preferring to pursue sporting endeavours. He represented Australian Schoolboys in both Rugby League and Cricket at the same time. Unfortunately, the sport of Crugby failed to capitalise on its potential and a devastated Brian had no option but to chase a dream of playing the inferior game of Rugby League.
At age 14, Brian got extremely sunburnt and was given the nickname Fryin Brian. This caused extreme angst to poor Fryin Brian, so to avoid further occurrences, instead of just applying sunscreen or putting on a hat, Brian decided on a more drastic approach and formally changed his name to Julian.
After making another Australian Schoolboys team and impressing scouts with his refined Crugby skills, a year later Julian signed with the Brisbane Broncos. He was groomed to take over Walter Lewis’ five-eight role. Instead, he showed potential at fullback and played there during 1992, winning a premiership at age 18. He then won another one the following year in 1993. Although no official records are available, it is believed Julian was at that point 19 years old.
1993 was a big year for Julian, he also made his State of Origin debut in game II off the bench and started game III at five-eight.
1994 comes around and Julian is on top of the world. At 21 he was a dual premiership winner and state of origin representative. Who else can say that? I mean there are probably some others, don’t @ me but there wouldn’t be many. Late at night neighbours would often hear him yelling out ‘Look at Fryin Brian now!’
This feeling of invincibility started to slowly permeate Julian’s off-field actions and behaviours. Some quick maths: (Invincibility + money + lack of accountability + XXXX) / number of living parents = debauchery and general miscreance + XXXXX.
Note 1: XXXX = XXXX Gold, not an unknown integer.
Note 2: XXXXX is a typo.
Julian began to drink heavily and frequented the many casinos on the Gold Coast. There is actually only one casino however to an intoxicated Julian there appeared at least 4. His favourite game was blackjack, and he spent a large amount of time and money at the tables. During one especially profitable session Julian urinated under the table, seemingly forgetting casinos have more cameras than Princess Diana’s crash scene. Julian was charged with indecent exposure, offensive behaviour, soiling a carpeted venue with bodily fluids, and for some unexplained reason, fraud. The Broncos did what the Broncos do and all charges were dropped, with Julian being awarded costs.
At the end of 1995 Julian went to England and was caught drink driving. His defence of ‘I didn’t know it was illegal over here’ didn’t sit well and he was charged. The Broncos had enough and he was sacked.
Julian decided to stay in England and signed with the London Broncos. At the end of the season Julian was caught drink driving. His defence of ‘I completely forgot it was illegal over here’ didn’t sit well and he was charged. The Broncos had enough and he was sacked.
Julian returned to Australia and signed with the Western Reds for the 1996 season.
Julian was briefly engaged to swimmer Sam Riley, however she called it off after becoming frustrated with his alcohol consumption and wild behaviours. Riley failed a drug test prior to the ’96 Olympics after supposedly taking one of Julian’s ‘Smiley Pain Pills’, however the exact source of the failed test was never determined.
1997 started well with Julian playing for Qld in the Super League Tri-Series and representing Australia in the inaugural ANZAC test. Midway through the ’97 season Julian was again caught drink driving. His defence of ‘I didn’t know it was illegal over this side’ didn’t sit well and he was charged. The Reds had enough and he was sacked.
Despite the writing on the wall, Julian was signed by the Rabbitohs midway through 1997 in the coward infested ARL competition, also playing for Qld in game II of Origin.
Speaking of writing on the wall, during the 1999 pre-season the Rabbitohs travelled to Dubbo. The squad really bonded during the tour and it cumulated in Julian scrawling ‘SSTID’ in his own faeces on the wall of his hotel room, continuing the tradition of all great South Sydney pre-season camps. Not convinced the bonding was yet strong enough, Julian then shat in his teammate Jeremy Schloss’ shoe, uttering the immortal words: “I just shat in Schlossy’s shoe”.
Julian was not fired by Souths.
Julian signed with the North Qld Cowboys for the 2000 season and made his last Origin appearance in Game II, until he played again in Game III.
In 2002 Julian returned to England, narrowly avoiding Interpol’s Red Notice and signed with Wigan. Julian’s dyslexia came to the fore in mid 2003 when he accidentally turned up at Widnes training. Instead of further confusing Julian, Wigan agreed to release him and he stayed with Widnes.
In 2004, Julian again showed his team how to pre-season party, somehow convincing the Widnes squad to tour Australia. On a trip to Port Macquarie, the team went on a booze cruise up the mighty Hastings river. Julian took exception to a talking dolphin, which was actually a 13 year old boy wearing a foam costume. He took his cigarette lighter to the dorsal fin and set alight the $5,000 nylon and foam rubber suit with the child inside that was, according to the father ‘very difficult to get into and is impossible to get out of without any assistance’.
Julian then stripped down to his jocks and dived overboard, contravening the waterways authorities laws of NSW and jeopardising the tour company’s ability to operate in the future. Julian swam to shore with the cheers of the greater Widnes squad echoing all the way to Settlement City. Julian flagged down a passing car and somehow convinced the driver to take him back to Port Macquarie in his wet undies.
Note 3: the boy was unhurt and the melted dolphin costume now resides in the Port Macquarie Visitors Centre, next to James Magnussen’s Olympic silver medal flower bouquet (wilted).
Julian was not fired by Widnes.
In 2004 a now dry Julian travelled to France to play rugby, establishing the path for all reformed footy bad boys. Julian struggled with the language, culture, laws, fashion, government, cuisine and rules in France. He returned to the Super League in England in 2005, before retiring after a Challenge Cup game for Leigh in 2006.
Julian has lived a fairly quiet life since retiring. His son is pursuing a career in rugby league, and Julian gets to watch him play every third Saturday. He is an avid Facebook user, frequently trolling and beefing with other ex-players such as Jack Elsegood. He has also proudly participated in every viral ‘challenge’ ever created, from the ice bath to the raw egg eating challenge, raising over $70 for Dolphin Rescue. Julian also runs a YouTube channel on how to win at the pokies.

We have had 29 total newbie seasons, and this will be our 30th, and final one. We will be bringing this season back to the old days, as this final season has no theme, no tribe divisions, just pure, uncut social politics without any division whatsoever, and what better way to show this war between newbies than in the remains of a civilization known for it's bloodshed through Colosseum sports. Get ready for Swoldow's Survivor: Rome.
​
MEET THE CAST:
Ultimul Tribe:

• Aleksander 'Triv' Trivanovic, 20, Political Science Student (u/judge_screw_life)
  • Triv is a 20 year old Political Science whizkid at one of the top programs in the country. He’s just looking for a way to keep his brain busy, so he decided to play Survivor. In studying political science, he has learned about leadership dynamics, controlling populations, political strategies, game theory, and populism, all of which he plans on using to tale control and turn other players against each other, hopefully on the way to $1 million
• Angelica 'Frannie' Frampton, 21, Nursing Home Caretaker (u/Ripecornball60)
  • Angelica was a bubbly, strong, and pretty girl when she was young, but when she went to her first doctor's appointment, things began to be weird. Angel was shown off, and to the surprise of her family, Angelica was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder. Her parents, being overprotective, decided to seclude her from the outside world until she was 20. Her grandfather taught her how to partially control her personalities, and thus decided to aid her grandfather by working for his nursing home. She has three different personalities besides her own; a physical and calm one, Isa, a bubbly chatterbox, Angel, and an angry, seductive manipulator, Tay.
• Bao Ngao, 26, Lawyer (u/Pray_The_Gay_To_Come)
  • Bao grew up in Vietnam, but emigrated to the United States when he was 9. He didn’t know the English language very well and was quite often bullied by his classmates. Bao eventually graduated high school as the valedictorian, and went on to study law in Harvard University. He graduated law school and now has a wife and a little girl on the way. Bao is hoping to win the money to give back to his parents and provide a great future for his family.
• Candy Nordell, 39, Car Saleswoman (u/Ilovedogs1100)
  • Candy hates almost everyone and everything and this is why: When she was 8, she got bullied very badly and no one seemed to care. She told her parents and they just laughed about it so she ran away from home. She lived on the streets and found a mouse. She kept as a pet and called it Clover. Clover got eaten by a snake which caused her to hate almost everything. Candy has never had any friends, except for her dog, Astroid. Candy is the type of person that laughs when people express there emotions. She only cares about winning and she doesn’t care if she is seen as controversial in anyway shape or form.
• Jimmy Mackenzie, 30, Tattoo Artist (u/SilverOwl24)
  • Growing up with his mom and younger brother in Boston, Jimmy didn’t hang out with the right people growing up and got into trouble along the way. He was well known throughout the neighborhood as being a grafitti artist. However, as time went by, he transitioned to the art of tattooing. Soon enough, he not only learned the basics of tattooing, he eventually got to own his own tattoo studio AND even taught his younger brother how to tattoo. Throughout their lives, they’ve had a habit of competing against one another, even today, as they are both tattoo artists. He’s ready to go into Survivor with that same competitive mindset.
• Joseph 'Joe' Heck, 24, Bouncer (u/voltfalcon)
  • Joe Heck was born in a lab to be a perfect genetic recreation of the Russian leader, Joseph Stalin. Of course, he was a failed experiment and the project was consider a failed and its funding was pulled by the Russian Government. However, Joseph survived on his own, moved to the USA, and become a respectable man. Now, he wants to show the world the glory of Joseph Heck.
• Kim Juri, 35, Poker Dealer (u/Gemini_B)
  • Kim Juri grew up with a fairly poor family and at a young age secretly turned to gambling to support her family. She got very good and became a poker dealer at a casino. She wants to destroy this game because she knows how to lie, cheat and play dirty. She's here to win, and nothing will stop her from her goal.
• Nicolas 'Nicky' Harden, 21, Daycare Worker (u/Personal_Animal)
  • When Nicky was younger she didn't have many friends and usually was excluded. Since she was alone, she usually spent her time studying and reading. She usually would be the top of her class academically, but that just made her more of an outcast. Although when she got he job as a daycare worker it made her open up more and she became more social. Watching kids grow and learn made her happy.
• Rita Rizalte, 24, Medical Student (u/Troopher)
  • When she was a child her parents had a vision for her to become an engineer but she didn't listen to them because she wanted to be a doctor instead. She was kicked out in her house when her parents discovered that she is taking the medical class, and she never wanted to deal with anyone that controlling ever again. She signed up for Survivor because the money will help her to pay her student loans.
• Tex Bennett, 32, MMA Fighter (u/wordonthestreet2)
  • Tex is known for his reputation as the bad boy of MMA fighting. He has made a name for himself by using intimidation tactics against his enemies and talking smack through the press. He plans on approaching the game the same way that he has approached his fighting career and is going to use manipulation and intimidation to his advantage.

Lupta Tribe:

• Blanche Richmond, 27, Pharmacist (u/peculiarreader)
  • Ever since she was a kid, Blanche has always wanted to give back to the community and save the lives of others, so she went into the medical field and now works as a junior pharmacist. Just like her name, she is pure of heart, and won't ever do anything disloyal in this game because of that.
• Daphne Roth, 25, Model (u/ClayTAnderson)
  • Serving as an inspiration for her little sister, it wasn't all good for Daphne growing up. Having abandoned by their father, Daphne had to work at the young age of 16, in order for them to have a normal life. She took every job that is possible for a youngster like her, and after landing a job as a barista at a local coffee shop - where someone took a picture of her and posted it online - this is where her stardom began. A lot of modeling agencies called her and she immediately took the job. Nonetheless, the popularity got into her head and she became a different person. The once caring and lovable Daphne turned into a cunning and ruthless woman who's never afraid of taking risks and cutting people off if you get in her way. For Daphne - fame is all that matters.
• David 'Dave' Coolganata, 31, Lifeguard (u/zohnster)
  • Dave was born and raised on the beaches of Gold Coast, Australia. Unlike all other babies, the first thing he learned was to surf. At 21, he moved to his favorite spot in the suburb of Coolangatta, the beach with the most striking waves of his life. Soon he traveled the world competing alongside great surfers and in this universe he met his current wife, Kate. In surfing competitions he took the name of his favorite beach as his main surname and won many, many awards. When he married Kate, he decided to live away from the big trips but without forgetting his love for the sea. Today he is a respected lifesaver on Coolangatta beach, where he is part of a great team of professionals in what they do. Kate is pregnant with her first child and they are very happy walking on the white sands of Australia.
• Jarett Adams, 26, Biker (u/LordYeet777)
  • When Jarrett was 6, his Dad died, and his Mom had already died during Childbirth, so him and his older Brother where sent into Fostercare. They ran away, and lived in the woods. He thinks he can do good in Survivor cause him and his brother have provided for themselves in the Forest all his life. When he got older, he became a Pro Biker and has won over 400 Thousand dollars already from Biking.
• Jenna Sunshine, 30, Veterinarian (u/Rylandoesreddit)
  • At a young age, Jenna was put into the gifted program with her brother Surf, who you all saw in Swoldow's Survivor: Ghost Island. After finding out that Surf lucked out on the test, Surf was kicked out of the school. When this happened, Jenna was terrified that that would happen to her. She decided to study nearly all times of the day, and got accepted into Harvard. This however, distanced herself from Surf and thus stopped contact with him until recently, where it was only to get on the show.
• Leonard 'Mr. Dickens' Dickens, 21, Fanfiction Writer (u/Pray_The_Gay_To_Come)
  • Leonard is a fanfic writer that goes by the name of Mr. Dickens and he plans to tell everyone this. He can be a bit pushy and definitely annoys everyone around him. Sometimes he throws out a random Japanese word that doesn’t make sense because it says it’s in his personality. He has no idea how to interact socially, and really has no idea what he is getting himself into.
• Martin 'Santa' Murray, 71, Mall Santa (u/asiansurvivorfan)
  • All his life, “Santa” has always strived to bring joy and laughter into the lives of as many people as possible. He didn’t have many family members/friends growing up, so entertaining strangers was very natural to him. For almost 50 years he worked as a television personality, after he stepped away from the spotlight, he started getting mistaken for the big man in red quite regularly due to his long white beard and his infectious personality, so he decided to start working as a mall Santa and enjoys the job very much.
• Pandora Evans, 25, Swimsuit Model (u/blxxdymxry)
  • Pandora was your run of the mill spoiled rotten rich girl growing up. She always got what she wanted out of people weather she could obtain her goals through her looks, or throwing temper tantrums against her parents. A self-proclaimed master manipulator, Pandora plans to try her luck at controlling the game.
• Shelby Toffen, 26, Used Car Salesman (u/MrMannyfresh050505)
  • Shelby went to Juvenile detention center when he was 15 for robbing a local liquor store in his home town. He was always a messed up a kid and found trouble every where he went. Since getting out he's tried to move on with his life. But so far that hasn't always been the best. He went back for abusive behavior to his now Ex girlfriend. He has been straight for the past two years and has a good job. He has anger issues but seems to be in good control most times. He knows survivor is a game but he won't hide his past in hopes it helps people fear him and keep him. He is going to try his car salesman talk to further his game.
• Yvette Berger, 32, Receptionist at Veterinarian Office (u/dramaking_22)
  • Growing up, Yvette has always had a love for animals, as well as a love of being active. In high school, Yvette was a great player on her high school's volleyball team and her team has won many awards for it. She's always had a love for animals too and wanted to be a veterinarian, however she was too ditzy to actually be a veterinarian so she settled with being a receptionist at a veterinarian's office instead. When she heard about Survivor, she decided to apply because she wants to prove to everyone that she isn't just good at being active, she is actually smart as well.

​
THE SEASON: https://brantsteele.com/survivo37/r.php?c=CgGA6QI5
GOOGLE DOC WITH WRITEUPS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-h54fCfY8RXZS8DW0qncuSpYPBuHu9SRjUw_iHqxycM/edit
​
My Thoughts:
That was a very fun season! The cast was great, and it was a great way to cap off this series' final newbie season. Despite two easy votes in Candy and Mr. Dickens, Episode three had probably one of the most legendary moves ever in Frannie and Kim manipulating Triv into idoling himself out. Watching the whole thing unfold was hilarious. After another predictable vote that sent Joe packing, the tribe swap got interesting, when Jarrett and Franny got terribly swap-screwed, and then Nicky getting blindsided due to Pandora bluffing about her idol. The merge tribal was very interesting, when Bao, Kim, and Tex turned the Lupta tribe against itself, leading to a tie vote between Shelby and Blanche, with Blanche getting the boot, and due to that move, and Daphne and Pandora flipping, we sadly see Yvette, Santa, and Shelby fall victim to this great move. After, we see Rita work with the people on the botton to take out social threat Daphne, and later on, Pandora getting flipped on, only to idol out Tex. The final 6 were all extremely iconic, with Jenna going out by technicality through a tie vote, Jimmy being blindsided by Pandora, and Pandora falling back on her word in firemaking, leading Kim to get robbed of the million dollar check. The final three, Bao, Pandora, and Rita all were a very deserving top three, but Bao ended up getting the win due to his moves making more logical sense than the other two. Other iconic players were Kim, Jenna, Tex, and Daphne.
​
Potential Returnees:
Bao, Pandora, Rita, KIM, Jenna, Tex, Daphne, Shelby, Yvette

Today 4/1/2020 this Detroiter, inspired by “The Chats” (and also inspired by Amyl and the Sniffers based out of Melbourne) planned a 13 day trip to Brisbane. Having never visited Australia before, my plans were to spend half the time in Brisbane, to visit the Australia zoo, animal refuges, the museums, live music, the club “the zoo” in particular to see the “Iron Maidens” on 4/9 and we also planned to squeeze in the footy game the same day 4/9 at The Gabba, the Brisbane Lions v Collingwood. Then, we planned to travel to Broad Beach on the Gold Coast, to check out the beaches, the sky walk, maybe the amusement parks and SeaWorld, for sure the Gold Coast Casino and just generally enjoy the culture and people of Brisbane and all your beautiful country has to offer. What did I miss? I hope your countries Coronavirus response is successful and swift! I do wish ScoMo would highlight the need to shelter in place over education in public schools. Be safe! See you 4/2021.

Due to council mismanagement (and probably a fair amount of corruption) and greedy corporations, there is no longer barely anywhere you can see live music on the gold coast that isn’t Pokies location or the Casino. Every live music venue that wasn’t associated with gambling has closed down. The latest victim was the NightQuarter, which was one of the best live music venues in Australia for mid sized bands. It was closed because of Council licensing issues (they wanted them to spend $500k on noise reduction) and greedy corporate landlords (SCentre Group, owners of Westfield’s, doubled their rent)
This just adds to the destruction:
​

• The Loft on Chevron was killed by Council Licensing attacks which required them to get a Tavern license or be a Restaurant. They went the Restaurant route which killed the venue.
• Swinging Safari/Vintage Velvet was killed by noise complaints and the same stupid tavern or restaurant licensing restrictions
• The Liar’s Bar in Broadbeach closed down and became a pizza restaurant
• The PA Pub at the Casino even closed down and was renovated into the Garden Bar, which is no longer a live music venue.
• 19 Orchid Avenue in Surfers closed down after attack after attack by Gold Coast city licensing issues.
• Mo’s Desert Clubhouse in Burleigh is struggling to meet licensing requirements
• Hidden Groove in Tugan had to close down because they couldn’t find a chef and their licensing required one.

Right now if you want to see a live band (not just a two piece playing covers in a café) you basically can go to the Soundlounge (attached to pokies), The Coolangatta Hotel (pokies), the Beergarden in Surfers (pokies), The Miami Tavern (pokies), The Southport Sharks (pokies), The Grand Hotel (pokies)
I am seeing a pattern here. It seems that this is either a failure of the Council and State to protect live music venues and make them a viable concern, or it is corruption plain and simple to remove competitors from the Pokies. Breaks my heart.

Period: 2608.35 days

	Submissions	Comments
Total	999	50332
Rate (per day)	0.38	19.29
Unique Redditors	669	6432
Combined Score	243042	331979

Top Submitters' Top Submissions

1. 7465 points, 1 submission: BOBtheman2000
   
   1. Recently, I shitposted my way onto the news. This is my story. (7465 points, 279 comments)
2. 5923 points, 16 submissions: Agent641
   
   1. Who do you call when youre stuck? (2262 points, 346 comments)
   2. Stealing from the pharmacy (sort of a wholesome story in a round-about way) (405 points, 36 comments)
   3. This is William, my supervisor. He makes sure I rake the leaves in perfect concentric circles. Im sure it has nothing to do with all the bugs I'm uncovering (356 points, 40 comments)
   4. You may know about the swan, the duck, the meth pipe, and the soul of the late Robin Williams, but did you know we are all just a ball of yarn for this cat? (323 points, 26 comments)
   5. Way to go, Bunnings Harrisdale, I just wanted to build some cabinets but now I'm inspired to build a viking longship and invade Northumbria (304 points, 49 comments)
   6. Perth Police (WAPOL) corruption at Crown Casino (293 points, 95 comments)
   7. After the storms - River mouth breached at Guilderton (264 points, 24 comments)
   8. PSA: It's going to be a very hot day this christmas in Perth, so make sure you bring your doggos inside in the AC, give them plenty of water, and make them wear silly hats (254 points, 19 comments)
   9. The colour difference in my front and rear dashcams' anodized aluminium face after 2 years in the WA sun. They started out black. (240 points, 26 comments)
   10. So I finished my new counter top (222 points, 69 comments)
3. 3930 points, 20 submissions: His_Holiness
   
   1. The West Australian covering only the most important news stories (363 points, 136 comments)
   2. City of Perth approves 3-hour free parking on weekends and public holidays (347 points, 84 comments)
   3. Cars could be banned from the heart of Northbridge on Friday and Saturday nights under a proposal from the City of Perth (246 points, 79 comments)
   4. The Court responds to calls to make the pub safer for gays by painting another rainbow (239 points, 144 comments)
   5. Euthanasia: McGowan Government to introduce assisted dying bill next year (223 points, 16 comments)
   6. Nightclub Predator Mark McGowan (222 points, 7 comments)
   7. The Perth Zoo family has expanded with the arrival of a strong, healthy male giraffe calf yesterday (208 points, 14 comments)
   8. Mark McGowan threatens to go it alone on climate, saying WA could develop its own policy (205 points, 60 comments)
   9. People power saves Northbridge favourite Picabar as new lease signed (182 points, 22 comments)
   10. A committee made up of WA MPs from Labor, the Liberals, the Greens and Nationals has called for voluntary assisted dying to be legalised in WA for terminally ill patients. Only one MP on the committee - Lib MP Nick Goiran - provided a dissenting opinion (179 points, 19 comments)
4. 3295 points, 12 submissions: flippingtimmy
   
   1. Took me over 20 trips to Dryandra Woodlands, but finally, I have my Numbat. (517 points, 36 comments)
   2. WA Woodlands can look pretty magical at sun up. (460 points, 33 comments)
   3. A young Numbat I met yesterday at Dryandra Woodlands. (421 points, 17 comments)
   4. Finally got around to creating this image of the bush on a foggy morning. (295 points, 16 comments)
   5. 8am Saturday at Dryandra Woodlands (263 points, 20 comments)
   6. Why do the Quokkas get all the press? Tammar Wallabies are pretty cute! (253 points, 21 comments)
   7. Oil Rig Off Cottesloe at Dusk. (210 points, 18 comments)
   8. Look at where we get to live. Taken near Wandering, WA. (205 points, 18 comments)
   9. Some colour for the Winter days - Taken at Baigup Wetlands in Bayswater (193 points, 14 comments)
   10. Coast Road at Night. (180 points, 25 comments)
5. 2769 points, 11 submissions: Aussierob78
   
   1. Good morning folks! Whatever you have planned, have a great weekend! (373 points, 25 comments)
   2. Hyde Park is looking amazing, so many autumn colours! (345 points, 23 comments)
   3. Why do two trips when this is more exciting?! Mitchell Freeway Sunday morning (321 points, 71 comments)
   4. Perth - Date Unknown (Pre 1988) from Kings Park (284 points, 27 comments)
   5. The Regal at night (271 points, 13 comments)
   6. Found on FB Marketplace in Perth... (227 points, 33 comments)
   7. Polaroid photo of the suspended lights in Enex 100 (212 points, 2 comments)
   8. Sunrise in the pine plantation, Old Yanchep Rd (210 points, 14 comments)
   9. That's no blue blood moon... (198 points, 9 comments)
   10. Sunrise this morning at Lake Joondalup (176 points, 14 comments)
6. 2051 points, 10 submissions: Muslim_Wookie
   
   1. Nice one WAPOL (344 points, 27 comments)
   2. RESET THE COUNTER, THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN HIT AGAIN. I REPEAT, THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN HIT AGAIN (267 points, 111 comments)
   3. Teachers of WA, thank you. (220 points, 68 comments)
   4. Yo it's raining, suck it you heat lovers! IT'S WINTER LOVER TIME TO SHINE! (206 points, 48 comments)
   5. Not strictly Perth related, but shout out to our Indian and Pakistani residents, hope things calm down and your families are safe and sound. (203 points, 74 comments)
   6. Why are chemists allowed to peddle bullshit "therapies"? (180 points, 140 comments)
   7. Bob Hawke has passed away (179 points, 57 comments)
   8. Almost car jacked moments ago next to City West (159 points, 51 comments)
   9. Fuckwits build what they want, complain when council trolls them back (154 points, 93 comments)
   10. Disgusting advertising in the Sunday Times - worthy of a complaint to Advertising Standards IMO (139 points, 70 comments)
7. 1989 points, 10 submissions: CarrAndDrone
   
   1. Our backyard is pretty spectacular (354 points, 27 comments)
   2. Less than an hour's drive from Perth CBD (258 points, 23 comments)
   3. Sunset over a local country pub (Westonia Tavern) (242 points, 22 comments)
   4. Sea of Gold (206 points, 22 comments)
   5. Overhead shot of bowls at the local bowling club (203 points, 18 comments)
   6. Colours of the Wheatbelt (155 points, 16 comments)
   7. Shades of Blue, North Mole Dr - Fremantle (155 points, 22 comments)
   8. Took this photo out near Moora this afternoon (151 points, 12 comments)
   9. Dowerin's pink lake does not disappoint if anyone is looking for a road trip (139 points, 26 comments)
   10. Perth is pretty awesome (126 points, 14 comments)
8. 1813 points, 7 submissions: warmind14
   
   1. Bluff Knoll goodness. A nice clear day for it 🤙 (509 points, 23 comments)
   2. Yesterday's eerie fog (350 points, 5 comments)
   3. Good luck getting this to happen in Perth, let alone Australia. (291 points, 65 comments)
   4. Some Swan River goodness this morning. (196 points, 10 comments)
   5. Windan Bridge this morning. Not a breath of wind. (179 points, 8 comments)
   6. Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier USS Constellation CV-64, turning around in the harbour at Fremantle, Australia.[1024 × 809] (159 points, 49 comments)
   7. I'm glad that's over! (129 points, 21 comments)
9. 1576 points, 9 submissions: littleblackcat
   
   1. Amazing vibe at the Wallabies v All Blacks game tonight (277 points, 60 comments)
   2. the best glitch I've ever seen on this sub (or reddit as a whole) (204 points, 23 comments)
   3. Happy Father's Day Dads of /perth!! (203 points, 61 comments)
   4. Art Gallery of WA toilets: a review (177 points, 60 comments)
   5. My experience with Transperth (losing my smartrider) (152 points, 59 comments)
   6. I need some (Perth related) dating advice (150 points, 84 comments)
   7. I present you a double whammy of 2016 nostalgic times. (142 points, 74 comments)
   8. PSA, if you shop at Chemist Warehouse, consider alternatives due to ongoing industrial action (136 points, 113 comments)
   9. Police to crackdown on ‘aggressive’ roadside window washers (135 points, 107 comments)
10. 1557 points, 8 submissions: Moondyne71
    
    1. Bell's Falls at Bells Rapids. An amazing spot right on our doorstep. (310 points, 13 comments)
    2. Perth Population in 3D. (243 points, 27 comments)
    3. Since WA windmills are this weeks theme, here is mine. No canola, just the red dirt of the Pilbara with Karajini in the background. (230 points, 15 comments)
    4. Bell's Rapids. Very wet v very dry. (186 points, 30 comments)
    5. Good work Startrack, good work. (167 points, 37 comments)
    6. Swan River in flood looking towards the city. (151 points, 8 comments)
    7. Geoff Parry stands on a box when reporting. (140 points, 41 comments)
    8. Commissioner acts to give WA Police body-worn cameras (130 points, 64 comments)

Top Commenters

1. Agent641 (7458 points, 455 comments)
2. CyanideRemark (6599 points, 821 comments)
3. aussiekinga (4929 points, 444 comments)
4. Captain-Peacock (4314 points, 571 comments)
5. metao (3830 points, 387 comments)
6. Grub-37 (3758 points, 429 comments)
7. Muslim_Wookie (3583 points, 977 comments)
8. littleblackcat (3260 points, 613 comments)
9. produrp (3192 points, 293 comments)
10. Perthguv (3163 points, 561 comments)

Top Submissions

1. Recently, I shitposted my way onto the news. This is my story. by BOBtheman2000 (7465 points, 279 comments)
2. Who do you call when youre stuck? by Agent641 (2262 points, 346 comments)
3. Rapture Nightclub denies drink spiking. (not my screenshot) by xSmartalec (1543 points, 339 comments)
4. Classic by Dannohuddo (1041 points, 100 comments)
5. Spotted today flying over Perth. by Kiaora_Aotearoa (1027 points, 70 comments)
6. Only this sub will know who this man is by michael14375 (924 points, 139 comments)
7. Thank you - amazing girl in northbridge by Hey_its_me_your_mum (798 points, 38 comments)
8. Cape Naturaliste last Monday evening. Spent an hour watching a pod of dolphins trying to tame the huge swell. Managed to catch this fella going for broke! by oooweeeee (749 points, 33 comments)
9. Found this amusing by keepshootingfilm (721 points, 30 comments)
10. The climate protest be poppin off by Satch- (718 points, 231 comments)

Top Comments

1. 1321 points: omaca's comment in Recently, I shitposted my way onto the news. This is my story.
2. 711 points: Dantalion_Delacroix's comment in Recently, I shitposted my way onto the news. This is my story.
3. 439 points: produrp's comment in Recently, I shitposted my way onto the news. This is my story.
4. 349 points: Agent641's comment in Born and raised in Perth but never knew that London Court existed
5. 342 points: mandahm's comment in Rapture Nightclub denies drink spiking. (not my screenshot)
6. 333 points: jdvhunt's comment in Me and my other half are moving to Perth next week from the UK. What are some do's and donts for new arrivals in Oz, please?
7. 331 points: deleted's comment in Recently, I shitposted my way onto the news. This is my story.
8. 320 points: Stuart_Munto's comment in Absolute idiocy at Forrest Chase (sorry for poor pic quality)
9. 312 points: SquiddyFish's comment in Perth transport system is really good
10. 276 points: Stuart_Munto's comment in Me and my other half are moving to Perth next week from the UK. What are some do's and donts for new arrivals in Oz, please?

Generated with BBoe's Subreddit Stats

My computer had a mini heart attack last night and I wasn't about to do this on a cellphone... So here's the latest happenings with a slight delay!
All my information comes from VisitIndiana so the list is not 100% comprehensive. If you know of anything that's missing, please post and share with everyone! If you've ever been to any of these events, or if you go this week, please share your experiences
Also be sure to visit the city-specific subreddits
This Week Only
Northwest Indiana

• Delphi

Ouibache Music Festival - July 27, 730-930pm, at Delphi Opera House. This quintet of locally grown musicians formed in 2000 celebrating American Roots music with a flair for jazz and anything else. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the missions of the Ouibache Music Festival and the Delphi Opera House

• Michigan City

Old Lighthouse Museum S.S. Eastland Memorial - July 27 at the Old Lighthouse Museum. At 11am, the 104th Anniversary Memorial of the S.S. Eastland will commence, Station Michigan City Coast Guard will place a wreath in Trail Creek where Indiana Transportations dock was located. Father Lev of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church will say memorial prayers. Speakers will tell the horrific story of the Eastland tragedy. WEFM 95.9 live radio will be at the museum from 9am-noon. The museum will be open free of charge today only from noon-4pm.

Gatsby at the Gardens - July 27, 6-9pm, at Friendship Botanic Gardens. Step into a Great Gatsby Garden Party! Enjoy a speakeasy evening set in the 1920's. Stroll the gardens, sip some giggle water, play bocce or badminton or cut the rug while listening to live jazz. $45; 21+event

• Monticello

Main St. Tour & Taste of White - July 26, 500-1130pm, at Downtown Monticello. Concert-style music and delicious food/beverages. You won't want to miss this night of entertainment!

• New Carlisle

New Carlisle Hometown Days - July 26-28 at 300 E Michigan St. New Carlisle Hometown Days is a 3 day family fun-filled weekend. Friday night we offer fireworks, parade on Sat, car show, famous wiffleball contest, kiddie tractor pull, bouncy houses, games, various vendors, food and entertainment.

• Plymouth

Downtown Tractor Show - July 27, 8am-3pm, at 124 N. Michigan St. The streets of Downtown Plymouth will be filled with Tractors, Garden Tractors, Pedal Tractors and Hit-n-Miss Engines! There will also be food trucks with yummy treats to purchase. Autumn Leed and the River City Band will be playing from 12:00 pm til 2:00 pm. This is a FREE, family-friendly event!

• Rensselaer

Jasper County Fair - July 20-27 at the Jasper County Fairgrounds on State Road 114. The annual fair includes rides, games, demolition derby, food vendors, craft vendors and more!

• Whiting

U.S. Military All-Star Baseball Game - July 22, 7-10pm, at Oil City Stadium. The U.S. Military All-Stars will return to Northwest Indiana for a stop on this year’s Red, White & Blue Tour as they continue the mission of promoting the awareness of all Americans in support of the honorable sacrifices our armed forces make. The team is comprised of active duty servicemen from all branches of service around the world.

25th Annual Pierogi Fest - July 26-28 throughout Whiting. Taking place in Whiting, Indiana, Pierogi Fest® celebrates Eastern European food and culture with a wacky familial twist. Pierogi Fest® welcomes all to celebrate Eastern European heritage while poking a little fun at the same time.

• Valparaiso

Festival of Magic - July 26-28 at the Aftermath Cidery and Winery. Join Aftermath Cidery and Winery for a family-friendly trip to everyone's favorite boarding school! Visit all locations on your map to complete the scavenger hunt and win a prize: Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, King's Cross, the Leaky Barrel, and more! Each location will offer both Adult Potions and drinks for Little Wizards and Witches

Northeast Indiana

• Angola

Park-inn Movies: The Sandlot - July 25, 930-1130pm, at Potawatomi Inn. Bring your blanket or lawn chair to the lawn overlooking Lake James. Admission is free to Inn Guests, Campground Guests and with paid admission to Pokagon State Park. (Weather Permitting).

• Auburn

Auburn Downtown Cruise-In - July 25, 530-800pm, at Courthouse Square. Join classic car enthusiasts around Courthouse Square downtown. See restored cars and other special vehicles of interest at this free event. Bring your family and stroll the streets, shop, have dinner in one of our local restaurants. There will be door prizes and a Crew's Choice Award for the most popular car. All show vehicles should arrive no earlier than 5:30 pm. Please enter at the corner of 7th & Cedar in order to check in and receive registration forms. All Cruise In's are held in Downtown Auburn around the square (Cedar, 9th, and Main.)

• Berne

Berne Swiss Days - July 25-27 throughout Berne. The Swiss Day Celebration is a time for Berne to share it’s heritage with authentic Swiss costume, great food, craft vendors and merchandise. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the friendly competitions for all ages. From the 5K race to Big Wheel Competition for the younger ones to the Steintoss, there is something for everyone. On stage and around the festival you can hear Swiss music. Watch as couples dance the polka to live music on stage.

• Fort Wayne

Allen County Fair - July 23-28 at the Allen County Fairgrounds. We welcome families to the 30th Annual Allen County Fair July 23rd to July 28th at the Allen County Fairgrounds, located off Carroll Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The 2019 Allen County Fair is home to Allen County 4-H and features many animal shows, projects and events throughout the week. In addition to 4-H festivities, the fair offers a full food court, carnival rides, and lengthily list of family-fun events. Highlighted events include: free ice cream social, hot air balloon fight/glow, 4X4 truck pull, demo derbies, kids day, live music, peddle truck races and much more.

Fort Wayne Pride Fest - July 26-27 at Headwaters Park. The two day event features live entertainment, vendor market, a beer tent, food plaza, workshops, tournaments, KidSpace and fun with the community! There are a variety of opportunities available for businesses and individuals who are looking to support Pride in the Fort including sponsorship, vendors, and volunteering. Pride is committed to bringing events throughout the year to build a stronger LGBTQ community outside of the festival. Check out our events page for more info.

Colonial America on the Frontier - July 27-28, 10am-6pm, at The Old Fort. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the American Revolution at Fort Wayne’s Historic Old Fort. The Continental Army and British forces will be on hand to provide live demonstrations throughout the day on period specific artillery and military maneuvers. Re-enactors will also bring to life the daily activities of this time period through demonstrations on period cooking, gardening, blacksmithing, and much more! The Fort will be open to the public: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 28. Tours of the Fort will be offered throughout the weekend.

• Goshen

Elkhart County 4-H Fair - July 19-27 at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds. he fair hosts nationally known musical artists during their 5-night concert series. A sanctioned rodeo, PPL tractor pull, and demolition derby are also highlighted at the free grandstand during fair week. Bring your appetite and explore famous food row. With more than 70 food stands, the fair takes pride in offering mouth-watering, once-a-year, fair favorites. Over 3,000 4-H livestock and more than 4,000 4-H still exhibits are shown during the 9-day event. Daily entertainment can be been found on every corner of the grounds, with multiple shows and exhibits included with your gate admission. Thrill seekers of all ages will want to visit the mid-way, complete with roller coasters, games and kiddie rides for the young fairgoers.

• LaGrange

Amishland and Lakes Bicycle Tour - July 27-28, 6am-1pm, at Lakeland High School. Amishland and Lakes, based at Lakeland High School in LaGrange, Indiana, visits a world where lifestyles have remained almost unchanged for over a hundred years. One of the friendliest rides around, you’ll enjoy seeing and meeting families, women’s groups, regional cycling clubs, and tandem pairs who tell us they love our routes because they are so “tandem friendly.” There are wide open spaces, clean country air, friendly people and lots of great food. There is plenty to explore, experience and eat. Amishland and Lakes is famous for great SAG food (watermelons, peaches, blueberries, bananas, fresh baked cookies and more), and there are also Amish bakeries, restaurants and homemade ice cream parlors along the route. The routes range from 22 to 100 miles, offering smooth, quiet roads, where buggies are numerous and cars are few (both days begin and end at the High School). We also offer directions for a do-it-yourself Friday option to ride the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. Camping is available at the 4-H Fairgrounds across from our start location. For more details go to http://amishlandandlakes.com

• North Webster

11th Annual Dixie Day Festival and Arts & Craft Fair - July 27, 8am-5pm, at 102 S. Morton St. The Dixie Day festival honors the landmark sternwheel paddle boat. It also encourages everyone to visit North Webster. The Dixie Boat has been cruising Webster Lake every summer since 1929 and attracted more than 13,000 riders last season. Dixie Day Festival is a dream come true with a list of activities and events that continue to grow. Extra Dixie cruises will be added for Saturday afternoon of the festival as well as the regular evening cruises. What to expect: North Webster Fire Department Pancake/sausage breakfast - 7am until out, Arts and Craft fair- 10a- 4p, 5K Run like a Pirate/Walk like a Captain, Car, truck, and bike show 10a-3pm, Boat show- 8am-4pm, Delicious food trucks, Tractor Show 10a-3p, and Ride the Dixie Sternwheel on beautiful Webster Lake.

• Shipshewana

Lauren Talley - July 23, 7-9pm, at the Blue Gate Theatre. Showtime: 7:00pm | Doors Open: 6:30pm Prices: Tickets Only - $19.95 | Dinner and Theater - $37.95

The Taylors - July 25, 7-9pm, at the Blue Gate Theatre. Showtime: 7:00pm | Doors Open: 6:30pm Prices: Tickets Only - $19.95 | Dinner and Theater - $37.95

Legacy Five - July 26-27, 7-9pm, at the Blue Gate Theatre. Showtime: 7:00pm | Doors Open: 6:30pm Prices: Tickets Only - $39.95 | Dinner and Theater - $57.95

Central Indiana

• Carmel

SetonFest - July 25-27, 6-10pm, at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. SetonFest is a three-day festival that includes carnival rides, a different band each night, food, bingo, a casino, beer garden and more. Free parking and free admission.

• Fishers

2019 Topgolf Tour - July 22, 6-11pm, at Topgolf Fishers. Team up, play and earn your way to Las Vegas and $50,000. There are 19 Regional Tournaments at Topgolf locations across the US, UK, and Australia, between June 18 and August 14. Playing a variety of Topgolf signature games that test strategy and accuracy, two-person teams compete against one another for a spot at the Topgolf Tour Championships in Las Vegas, with full VIP treatment. Only one team from each Regional Tournament makes it through to compete for the glory and a life changing prize. WHAT'S INCLUDED Entry into Topgolf Tour Regional Tournament, Minimum 2.5 hours of game play, Hot buffet, Official Topgolf Tour Insulated Water Bottle, $5 donation to Bunkers in Baghdad from every US player registration.

• Frankfort

25th Annual Frankfort Hot Dog Festival - July 26-27 at Prairie Creek Park. Indiana's largest two-day hot dog festival features vendors, family fun, hot dog eating contests, dachshund races and HOT DOGS!

• Gas City

Gas City Concerts in the Park Presents Keith Anderson - July 23, 7pm, at Gas City Park. This is a FREE concert brought to you by the Gas City Concerts in the Park committee.

Gas City Concerts in the Park Presents The Park Avenue Band - July 26, 7pm, at Gas City Park. This is a FREE concert brought to you by the Gas City Concerts in the Park committee

• Indianapolis

Indy Shorts International Film Festival - July 25-28, 10am-10pm, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. The Indy Shorts International Film Festival, presented by Heartland Film and the organizers of the Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF), is an Academy Award®-qualifying fest dedicated to the art of short film! Last summer, Indy Shorts expanded as its own separate event from HIFF, becoming the largest short film festival in the Midwest - showcasing storytelling from around the world. All winners (Grand Prize and Audience Choice Awards) will play encore screenings at HIFF in October 2019. General ticket info at https://heartlandfilm.org/indyshorts/.

Athenaeum Soireé: An Affair on the Ave - July 25, 630-900pm, at Athenaeum Foundation, 401 East Michigan St. The Athenaeum Soireé: An Affair on the Ave is an annual fundraiser featuring pairings of culinary creations and delicious handcrafted beverages from local establishments as well as live entertainment, silent auctions and more at this business casual, 21+ indoor event.

7th Annual Iron Eagle Paddle & Run - July 27, 8am-6pm, at Eagle Creek Park. Athletes of all ages can explore Eagle Creek Park, one of the nation’s largest city parks, via land and water alternating between trail runs and a canoe/kayak leg. Starting at the beach, the race consists of a 2.5-mile trail run, 1.5-mile paddle and 2.5-mile trail run back to the beach. Participants can enter as an individual or 2-person team. They have the option to bring personal kayaks or canoes with life jackets and paddles, or rent a boat in advance from Eagle Creek Outfitters. Spectators are more than welcome to come show support. Awards will be presented to the top solo female, the top solo male, the top team and the top relay team. An after party will be held post-race at the Earth Discovery Center. 100% of proceeds benefit the Eagle Creek Park Foundation. To Register: Visit EagleCreekPark.org

• Kokomo

RhumFest 2019 - July 27, 2-10pm, at Kokomo Arts Pavilion in Foster Park. Enjoy live music by local students and instructors of Rhum Academy of Music in Kokomo. Free admission. Bring everyone for a family-friendly day of great music, art, food, and fun in Foster Park. With back-to-back performances in a variety of styles and genres all day you are sure to hear some music you love!

• Lafayette

Tippecanoe County 4-H Fair - July 20-27 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds. All phases of agriculture, 4-H exhibits, wide variety of youth activities, carnival rides, games and mouth watering fair food.

Tuesday on the Trail Nature Walk - July 23, 6-7pm, at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art. Get a closer look at nature as a guide leads you on an educational walk along our Nature Trail. The trail is about a mile long loop in the Museum’s three acre woods making it feel very much like a wilderness experience in the middle of town. Meet at the Nature Trail Entrance located at the south side of the Carriage house just off the parking lot. Fee: FREE

• Mooresville

Bicentennial Park Summer Concert: Random Reaction - July 27, 7-9pm, at Bicentennial Park. Located at the corner of Indiana and Main Streets, the park is convenient to local restaurants to enjoy before the show. Popular local group Random Reaction will take the stage on July 27. Live music begins at 7 pm; bring your lawn chairs or blankets. Free.

• Portland

47th Annual Vintage Motorbike Show - July 24-28 at the Jay County Fairgrounds. The LARGEST vintage motor bike show in the USA. Join us to reminisce the Simplex, Mustang, Whizzer, Cushman motorbikes and more! $5 admission fee per person/per day charged at the Fairground's front gate. Gates open at 6 AM daily.

Southern Indiana

• Brownstown

Jackson County Fair - July 22-28 at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. The Jackson County Fair is the biggest and best! Still a free fair, find building after building of exhibits, visit barns, enjoy the midway and delicious food. Great grandstand events and racing!

• Corydon

Bluegrass on the Square - July 27, 4-8pm, at Historic Downtown Corydon. Since its inception in 2003, Bluegrass on the Square has featured some of the most well-known Bluegrass musicians in the region. Now in its 16th year. All concerts are free and open to the public. July 27 features Hog Operation and Ida Clare

• Floyds Knobs

Master Gardeners and 4-H Llamas & Alpacas Club - July 27, 800am-1230pm, at 400 Block Laffollette Station. Join us for Two Special Events;; Master Gardeners will be a the Market answering your Gardening questions and Floyd County 4H Club will be bringing the Alpacas & Llamas.

• Lincoln City

Purple Veins: a tribute to Prince - July 27, 630-900pm, at Lincoln Amphitheatre. Purple Veins aim to re-create the magical power and energy of a classic Prince show circa 1985: an all-out dance party with relentless funk, all the hits, tasty lesser-known classics, theatrical elements, and dance choreography woven into it. Their aim is to be all-inclusive, with an age range of 18 to 40 and multiple ethnicities within the band..to both reach his music to millennials who didn’t live through it and transport those that did back in time to their younger days. With a charismatic and soulful frontman, a huge ensemble (16 plus!) of the funkiest cats, sultriest singers, and hottest dancers Wisconsin has to offer, Purple Veins is THE tribute show of all Prince tributes.

• Moores Hill

Country Roads Shop Hop - July 25-28, 10am-5pm, at Country Roads of Dearborn and Ripley Counties. Six Antique, Vintage and/or Home Decor shops will be combining forces to give you an unforgettable shopping week, with the chance to win big in the process! You can start and end at whichever shop you would like. Get your brochure stamped at each location and you’ll be entered to win our Grand Prize Drawing, $150 in gift certificates! ($25 from each participating shop) * Must be 18 yrs or older to be entered and Limit 1 per family* No purchase is necessary to receive a stamp, but it will be difficult not to purchase anything when you see what these amazing shops have to offer! Are you ready for some Antique, Vintage or Home Decor shopping and hopping? Hop all over the country roads and visit each participating shop! The Greenbriar Shop - Guilford, IN, The White Swan - Moores Hill, IN, The Blue Willow House - Dillsboro, IN, The Rustic Nail - Dillsboro, IN, The Whistle Stop - Milan, IN, The Huntington Carriage House - Milan, IN.

• Spencer

Wild Women's Hike - July 27, 10am-12pm, at McCormick's Creek State Park, 250 McCormick's Creek Park Rd. All are welcome to join us for the monthly DNK hike at McCormick's Creek State Park! The hike is free, but there is an entrance fee to get into the park. We'll be meeting at the Wolf Cave Parking area for about a 2-mile hike. Click here for the park map: https://www.in.gov/dnparklake/files/mccormicks_creek_trail.pdf Can't wait to hit the trail with you!

ONGOING EVENTS
Northwest Indiana

• Chesterton

Chesterton's European Market - Saturdays May through October at Third St and Broadway, Downtown Chesterton. An outdoor family/artisanal market held in historic downtown Chesterton from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Gary

Gary Southshore Railcats at U.S. Steel Yard - Various days at US Steel Yard. A day at U.S. Steel yard is non-stop fun, and that's even without the baseball! The RailCats promise a wide array of laugh-out-loud between inning entertainment, great giveaways , jaw-dropping fireworks and a family-first, kid-friendly atmosphere!

Miller Woods Hike Sundays - Every Sunday at Miller Woods. The hike starts at the National Lakeshore's Paul H. Douglas Center and travels through varied habitats including rare and beautiful black oak savanna and offers incredible views of Lake Michigan and Chicago. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and insect repellent. This hike is offered every Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30pm.

• Hammond

61: An Exhibit Celebrating the 61st National Park - July 2 - Sep 21 at the Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Dr. The 6,500-square-foot exhibit hall will be transformed to represent the 15,000 acres of diverse landscapes and highlight activities available to those that visit the park system. The exhibit will feature 12 trail stops. There will be interactive exhibits for children along the trail, selfie stations and a large “sandbox” for building sandcastles. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the 1,100 native plant species, rare and migrating birds, as well as recreational opportunities like camping, hiking, kayaking and cross-country skiing. Interactive activities will also give children a chance to become a Junior Ranger!

• Hobart

Summer Market on the Lake - Thursdays through the end of August at Festival Park, 111 E Old Ridge Road. Come enjoy outdoor shopping featuring fresh produce, baked goods, ethnic and gourmet foods, beer garden, local live entertainment, jewelry, handmade crafts and so much more.

• LaPorte

LaPorte Farmer's Market - Saturdays July through the end of October at Monroe St and Lincoln Way. The LaPorte Farmer's Market strives to build and strengthen the local food movement in LaPorte by showcasing our region's bounty and economic opportunities locally.

• Logansport

Summer Sundown Music Series - Sundays May through August. Bring the lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy Sunday evenings listening to a different musical artist each week. Each Sunday evening you will find yourself at a different park with new musical artist. Check online to see where and who will be appearing!

• Michigan City

Michigan City Municipal Band Concerts - Thursdays in June, July, and August, at the Washington Park Guy Foreman Amphitheater. Experience free live musical performances under the stars near the shores of Lake Michigan in Washington Park. Seating available or bring your own chair. June-August, Thursdays 7:30pm.

Light Keeper Harriet Colfax Month - July 1-31, 1-4pm, at Old Lighthouse Museum, 100 Heisman Harbor Rd. Harriet Colfax came into the 1858 Light House in 1861 an served faithfully until her retirement in 1904. Learn more about his Great Lakes legend all month long. The Michigan City Historical Society commissioned a color portrait of Harriet by local artist Wendy Wilcox Kerman. Come and view the portrait and enjoy the historic museum and don't forget to browse the gift shop.

Michigan City's Farmers Markets - Saturdays July - October at 801 S Washington St. and 1500 Franklin St. Saturdays through October 26th, 2019. Michigan City's Farmers Market aims to provide our community with the freshest produce, providing a space filled with locally grown food and artisan goods

• Portage

Market on the Square - Fridays June through August, 3-9pm, at Founders Square. There will be over 20 vendors selling unique crafts, fresh produce, honey, flowers, breads and jams. Plus local food vendors selling food. Bands from the region will begin at 6. Then to top off the evening we will have a family movie at dusk.

• South Bend

Keepers of the Fire: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi - April 2019 to January 2020 at The History Museum. The rich history, culture, and art of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi is shared in this vibrant exhibit about the thriving community. Through interviews and oral histories, sculpture and beadwork, art and artifacts, the exhibit immerses visitors in the traditions and teachings of the Pokagon Band.

South Bend Cubs at Four Winds Field - Various days at Four Winds Field. The South Bend Cubs are the Class A minor league affiliate of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 30 seasons, the team has won five Midwest League titles and has captured 12 division titles. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest's Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President's Award, the highest award in minor league baseball.

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show - May 4th 2019 to May 2nd 2020, 6-9pm, at the DoubleTree by Hilton. America’s largest interactive murder mystery dinner show! The Dinner Detective provides a hilarious evening of murder mystery, a 4-course meal, and a prize package for the top sleuth. Just beware, the killer might be sitting right next to you!

Northeast Indiana

• Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field - Various days at Parkview Field. The TinCaps are entering their 10th season at Parkview Field, which has been rated as Minor League Baseball's No. 1 Ballpark Experience four consecutive years.

• Middlebury

Faces of Middlebury - May 17th to October 4th throughout Middlebury. Grab your cameras and the map to locate each “face of Middlebury” and insert your face for the perfect picture. Free maps are available at local businesses and organizations. Post your pics on Middlebury Then & Now’s Facebook page or on Instagram using #facesofmiddlebury. Can you find all of them, up to 30 "faces"?

Gangsters, Saloons and Buggies on Roofs Guided Tour - May 29th to September 25th at the Downtown Middlebury library. You wouldn't know Middlebury had a rough-and-tumble past, but behind today's modern facades lie tales of small-town mischief, hoods on the lam and possible mysterious passageways. Get the inside story and secrets from a local with this tour of downtown. Tours are offered at 10am every Wednesday and at 630pm the first Tuesday of each month. Walking tour is approximately 1 hour. Allow time after the tour to visit the unique shops and restaurants in the area. $5 Group tours are available by advanced reservation (call 574.825.5601)

Giant Toadstools and the World's Fair Guided Walking Tour - May 30th to September 26th at the Krider World's Fair Garden. Enjoy a guided tour through living history! The Krider family of Middlebury once captured the imagination of the world. This tour of the garden that bears their name opens a window to the family's nursery at the height of its creative powers. The beauty will take your breath away, just as it did at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. Tours are offered at 10am every Thursday and at 630pm the first Tuesday of each month. Walking tour is approximately 1 hour. Allow time after the tour to visit the museum, unique shops and restaurants in the area. $5 Group tours are available by advanced reservation (call 574.825.5601)

• Shipshewanna

A Simple Sanctuary, the new musical - March 28th to October 31st at the Blue Gate Theatre. She prayed the day would never come, but when her past comes calling, Melissa James has no choice but to flee. Pursued and living on the run, she finds desperate sanctuary and surprising friendship in Amish country. Part suspense, part romance, A Simple Sanctuary is a compelling story of love tested, the cost of freedom, and the solace found in true community.

Shipshewana Flea Market - Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May through September, 8am-4pm, at the Shipshewana Auction. Nearly 700 open-air booths on 40 acres await you at the Midwest’s Largest Flea Market. Food courts, restrooms, scooter rentals and rest areas are on site. Open rain or shine. Also open for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and new weekend markets on August 16-17 (MotheDaughter Days). Antique Auctions are every Wednesday inside the Antique & Miscellaneous building.

Shipshewana Breakfast Club - Fridays in July and August, 830-1100am, at the Blue Gate Theatre. Breakfast: 8:30am | Program: 10:00am Price: $26.00 - Includes Breakfast and Show These concerts will be held at the Blue Gate Theatre July 12 - Lynda Randle July 19 - Allison Speer July 26 - The Taylors Aug 2 - King's Brass Aug 9 - Doug Anderson Aug 16 - Old Time Preacher's Quartet Aug 23 - Soul'd Out Quartet Aug 30 - TBA

Central Indiana

• Fishers

Kroger Symphony on the Prairie - Saturdays and Sundays at Conner Prairie. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's summer series provides music from classical, pop, and rock genres from mid-June through Labor Day weekend. See performance schedule online indianapolissymphony.org

• Hamilton County

Celebrate the 10th Year of Tenderloin Tuesdays - Tuesdays in July throughout Hamilton County. Celebrating the 10th year, dine along the Tenderloin Trail™. Don’t miss Tenderloin Tuesdays™ in July along the tastiest trail. Each Tuesday restaurants offer special deals on the Hoosier delicacy. For a complete list of participating restaurants in Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield and Northern Hamilton County, visit TenderloinTrail.com.

• Indianapolis

Hot Wheels: Race to Win - May 18th to July 28th at The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines and hold on tight as we open our Hot Wheels: Race to Win exhibit celebrating speed, safety, design, and power. Get revved up for the special performances, activities, and the occasional pit stop.

Treasures of Ancient Greece exhibit - Jun 15 to Jan 5 at The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis. This once-in-a-lifetime immersive exhibition brings to Indianapolis more than 150 ancient objects and artifacts, many of which have never been seen outside of Greece. The ancient Greeks revered the human body, and many of the depictions are nude. Featured are bronze and marble statues, gold jewelry and funerary objects, exquisite pottery, artifacts of the world’s first democracy, and an extraordinary replica of the Antikythera Mechanism, known as the world’s first computer.

Mind Tripping Show - March 1st to December 28th, 8:30-10PM at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites. Mind Tripping: a Comedy with a Psychological Twist is an interactive show by Christian & Katalina, the #1 Husband and Wife Comedy Mind Reading Act in the Nation. Be a part of a mind-bending, reality-twisting interactive theatrical show. Think Candid Camera meets the Twilight Zone. Be prepared to have your perceptions challenged and your expectations turned upside down

Naturally Inspired Art Exhibition - May 24th to August 21st at The Indianapolis Zoo. After the paintings have dried and been professionally framed by The Great Frame Up Downtown, they are displayed for the summer in the Schaefer Rotunda at White River Gardens. Plus, you also get to enjoy the works of some of our more artistically inclined animals. Who knows — you may see a penguin Picasso, a walrus Warhol, an elephant Escher and many others! The Naturally Inspired Art Show presented by The Great Frame Up Downtown is included with Zoo admission.

Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol Adventure Play - February 23 to July 28th at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The hero pups of Adventure Bay are coming to The Children’s Museum, and they need your help. It’s time to run some rescue missions, as we work together to overcome challenges and help everyone in Adventure Bay. Enter the Lookout. Save the Day in Adventure Bay. Be a Helping Hero on Jake’s Mountain.

The National Bank of Indianapolis Summer Nights Film Series - Various days June-August, at The Amphitheater. You can watch movies under the stars every weekend at Newfields. Doors open at 7 pm, when you can enjoy a picnic dinner, music, and activities, followed by that night’s movie, which will begin when twilight turns to night (usually 9:30 pm). Over the summer, over 20 movies will be shown—everything from black-and-white classics to modern blockbusters. All you need is a picnic (with non-alcoholic beverages only), chairs (for the back row of each tier), and blankets (in case the chair row is full). You will also want sunscreen and bugspray. No alcohol, pets, candles taller than 12 inches, or knives permitted. And if you want to travel light with just a chair and blanket, concessions will be available to purchase. Check out discovernewfields.org/summer-nights-2019 to see available films and to purchase tickets once they are available.

Zoolapalooza Concert Series - Fridays in June and July, 530-830pm, at the Indianapolis Zoo. Under the Bicentennial Pavilion, this incredibly fun night out is a great way to kick off summer weekends on Friday evenings with terrific live music. Concerts are free for members and included with Zoo admission, so you can play all day and dance all night! Seating under the Bicentennial Pavilion includes open tables on a first-come, first-serve basis

The Generous Pour at The Capital Grille, July 8 - Sep 1, 5-9pm, at 40 W. Washington Street. The Capital Grille’s annual The Generous Pour wine event has returned for its eleventh year. This year’s theme is Legends of the Land, where guests can sip on any combination of seven select wines including the Maggy Hawk 2015 Pinot Noir, the 2015 Cenyth Red Blend, and the Arrowood 2013 Red Blend. Each is from California’s Jackson Family that tell a unique story of origin and sustainability. From July 8th through September 1, 2019, guests are offered a customized wine tasting paired with the restaurant’s classic menu items, including hand-carved steaks and fresh seafood and appetizers with a flavorful twist for $28 per person with dinner.

• Kokomo

First Friday Kokomo - First Friday of every month, 530-9pm, at Downtown Kokomo. Activities include art, music, food, local vendors, shops, entertainment, kid's activities & much more! Visit their Facebook page for monthly themes and schedule of all activities!

Kokomo Jackrabbits at Kokomo Municipal Stadium - Various days at the Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Enjoy a day at the ballpark! The Kokomo Jackrabbits baseball team are members of the summer collegiate Prospect League. Games are held late May through early August and feature fun themes and giveaways. Lawn and stadium seating available, starting at $8.

• Lafayette

Karl Martz and the Legacy of IU Ceramics - May 4th to July 27th, 1-4pm, at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art. Martz’s influence spread throughout Indiana and beyond through the ceramics program that he established at IU in 1945, and through his students. Many of Martz’s students went on to teach at universities, and others established successful careers as independent ceramic artists. The exhibition features works by Karl Martz, faculty that taught (or still teach) in the IU Ceramics Department, and students who went on to establish successful careers in ceramics.

• Richmond

Summer Story Hour - Mondays, 10-11am, at the Physical Building of the Joseph Moore Museum. Join us each Monday in June and July at 10am for a special hour of stories! Each week will feature a different book about nature or science with a corresponding craft or activity. All ages are welcome and stories are chosen particularly for children in preschool - first grade.

• Westfield

Indianapolis Colts 2019 Training Camp - July 25 - Aug 15 at the Grand Park Sports Campus. Join us at the Indianapolis Colts 2019 Training Camp! Every day you can enjoy watching practice, giveaways, food & drink specials, interactive games, and more. Download your free tickets at www.colts.com/camp.

Southern Indiana

• Birdseye

Wildlife Cruises on Patoka Lake - Wednesdays May through October at the Patoka Lake Marina. Not just a boat ride: cruise the second largest lake in Indiana upon a climate controlled tour boat to search for osprey, eagles, blue herons, loons and other wildlife. Two hour cruises embark EVERY WEDNESDAY at 10am beginning in May and continuing through October. Voyagers are encouraged to capture on camera baby osprey in their nests, an eagle in flight, and busy beavers as the boat passes by.

Wine Cruises on Patoka Lake - Every other Friday starting June 7th, 730-930pm, at the Patoka Lake Marina. Sip wine paired with hors d'oeuvres/desserts while enjoying the sunset on Patoka Lake on our 60 person tour boat! Enjoy 5-7 tastings of wine from a featured Indiana winery, and choose 2 glasses of your favorite to enjoy after the tasting portion. Bottles of wine available for purchase as well as additional glasses. Call (812) 685-2203 to reserve your spot today! Only $50/person or $98/couple. Visit our website to view the winery lineup.

• Clarksville

Shrek the Musical - July 3rd - Aug 18th, 6-10pm, at the Derby Dinner Playhouse. Somebody once told me everyone’s favorite ogre is back in the hilarious and twisted adventure based on the Oscar-winning smash hit film. Follow this unlikely green hero on a life-changing journey full of romance and dozens of zany misfit characters. The perfect show for any age! Ticket price includes dinner, show, tax & parking. AAA discount available.

• Evansville

Evansville Otters at Bosse Field - Various days at Bosse Field. Locally owned and a member of the Frontier League, the Otters are the darlings of summer. Great ball play combined with fun promotions throughout the game guarantee an evening of fun family entertainment. To top it off, the games are played at Bosse Field, a stadium built in 1915 and the site of the filming of "A League of Their Own" in 1992. Come watch our Boys of Summer from May through August!

• Floyds Knobs

Floyds Knobs Farmers Market - Saturdays May through October at 400 Block Laffollette Station. Floyds Knobs Farmers Market Opening May 11 - October 26 Every Saturday from 8:30 am to 1 pm. Were an Indiana Grown Market and host a variety of Great Events throughout Season.

• French Lick

The Art of the Monon - April 1st to August 31st, 10am-4pm at the French Lick West Baden Museum. The Monon was Indiana’s railroad and touched every town in Orange County. See the Monon paintings of renowned railroad artist Howard Fogg and other rare Monon items.

• Huntingburg

Dubois County Bombers at League Stadium - Various days at the League Stadium. League Stadium was home to the Rockford Peaches in the hit movie A League of Their Own. The vintage signage, scoreboard, and atmosphere remain. The Bombers play in vintage-inspired uniforms - pants are knickered, stirrups are worn. The crack of a wood bat against a baseball resounds through the stadium. You may hear Who’s on First over the audio. We even have our own Peaches at the games keeping everything in the stadium rolling, while our coaches and players keep it exciting on the field.

• Rising Sun

Rock on Rising Sun - April 10th to September 30th on Main Street. Search and re-hide painted rocks hidden within the City of Rising Sun city limits. Spearheaded by a local resident, thousands of rocks are painted throughout the season for kids of all ages to find and re-hide. Participants are encouraged to paint their own creations and hide within the city limits. Photos of found rocks are asked to be uploaded to the Rock on Rising Sun