Thursday, October 1st
Happy Thursday, Hoosiers. October is here. Break out the long sleeves, hit up a fall festival or two, and get ready for spooky szn.
This Week in Indiana History: First Train Rolls Into Indianapolis From Madison (1847)
McCormick’s Creek State Park Getting Campground Upgrade
Kokomo Conference Center Opens
Fever Win G2, Play Tonight in LV; Nike Caitlin 1 Launches Today
Indiana College Football Week 4 Results
Subscribe to Get Fishers and Get South Bend
Rapid Fire
Hidden Gems: West Baden Springs Hotel Library and Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum
Indiana Events
1 Big wIN: Nate Completes His First 50-Mile Ultramarathon
Get IN. with Nate Spangle: How a Hoosier Got Anne Hathaway Behind His $10 Million Movie
This issue is 1,556 words, a 7-minute read.
Rohrman Automotive Group has been family owned and operated for over 60 years, serving drivers across Indiana and Illinois. Whether you're shopping new, certified pre-owned, used, or have a budget under $15,000, Rohrman has the inventory to match.
No games, no runaround, just transparent pricing from people who actually stand behind what they sell. Find your next vehicle at a dealership that's been earning trust since before most car lots existed.
*This is a paid ad
📜 This Week in Indiana History 📜
First Train Rolls Into Indianapolis From Madison (1847)
On Oct. 1, 1847, the first train rolled into Indianapolis on the newly completed line from Madison, connecting the capital city to the Ohio River. The Madison & Indianapolis Railroad was Indiana’s earliest major rail line and gave Indy a direct link to trade from the river, opening the door to goods that had previously required slower travel on land and helping transform the capital into a growing hub of trade and industry.
📰 Hoosier Headlines 📰
McCormick’s Creek State Park Getting Campground Upgrade
McCormick's Creek State Park, Indiana's first state park, is getting a new campground. Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana DNR recently announced the $25 million plan. The campground has been closed since a tornado hit in March 2023, and the rebuild is designed around bigger sites and full hookups. Here’s all you need to know. (Get Indiana)
Kokomo Conference Center Opens
It took 13 years, two city administrations and several false starts, but downtown Kokomo finally has its conference center and hotel. (Get Indiana)
Fever Win G2, Play Tonight in LV; Nike Caitlin 1 Launches Today
Backed by a stellar performance from Caitlin Clark on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Fever staved off elimination in a must-win Game 2 against the Las Vegas Aces. Tonight, Game 3 in Las Vegas at 9 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to the WNBA semifinals.
Nate will be at the grand reopening of the Nike Keystone in Indianapolis today. Check out the Nike Caitlin 1 kicks coming to the Get IN. studio!
Indiana College Football Week 4 Results
How did No. 5 Indiana fare in its Big Ten opener against Northwestern? What about No. 3 Notre Dame on the road at Purdue? Here’s the full rundown of college football scores from Week 4 for Indiana schools. (Get Indiana + Notre Dame/Purdue Recap)
Speaking of college football, the 132nd Monon Bell Classic between DePauw and Wabash is coming up in November, and you can get an exclusive Monon 2026 t-shirt before the game. Email annualgiving@depauw.edu and see what the shirt looks like below!
Subscribe to Get South Bend and Get Fishers
Stay in the know on the latest news, events, restaurant openings, and more going on in South Bend and Fishers with two of our local newsletters!
Rapid Fire
What are the five largest high schools in Indiana? WATCH
What are the five smallest counties in Indiana? WATCH
What are the five oldest counties in Indiana? WATCH
If watching 1,000+ cooks, chefs and pitmasters compete for more than $400,000 in prize money sounds like your kind of weekend, mark down Oct. 15–18.
The World Food Championships are taking over the Indiana State Fairgrounds with 350+ teams competing across categories like barbecue, burgers, seafood, dessert and live fire.
And you don’t just have to watch. This year brings a Burger Battle and Dessert Smash, where fans can sample entries and be the judge, plus a new Taste of Indiana Zone featuring 30+ Indiana food companies.
Tickets start at just $15, with VIP and Premium options available. Global flavors, free food, live music and festival fun.
Come hungry. Get tickets to WFC2026 → https://worldfoodchampionships.com/tickets. Special partner offer - ENTER code 25INDY at checkout and receive 25% off all event tickets.*
*Pizzafest and Parking tickets are not available for discount.
*This is a paid ad
West Baden Springs Hotel’s Best-Kept Secret
When most people visit the famous West Baden Springs Hotel, they come to admire the stunning six-story dome, luxurious architecture, and rich history. Tucked away inside is a quieter treasure that deserves just as much attention. (Get Indiana)
Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum
Elkhart, Indiana is home to the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, a one-of-a-kind destination dedicated to comic books, superheroes, and pop culture history. Here’s why you should visit the only superhero and comic book museum in the world. (Get Indiana)
What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!
Events This Week in Indiana
53rd Annual Seymour Oktoberfest – Downtown Seymour (Jackson County) – Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 1–3 - Southern Indiana's authentic German celebration features a Biergarten, bratwurst and schnitzel, polka bands, a carnival, 5K, and live entertainment. Details
Riley Festival – Downtown Greenfield (Hancock County) – Thursday–Sunday, Oct. 1–4 - One of Indiana's largest community celebrations honors poet James Whitcomb Riley with four days of parades, local art, crafts, music, food vendors, carnival rides, and family fun around the Hancock County Courthouse. Details
Disney's The Lion King (National Tour) – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis – Performances Oct. 1–18 - Broadway's longest-running production of The Lion King returns to Indianapolis for a multi-week run. Tickets
Headless Horseman Festival – Conner Prairie in Fishers – Opens Thursday, Oct. 1 (runs Thu–Sun through Oct. 25) from 5–10 p.m. - Central Indiana's beloved family-friendly fall festival returns with hayrides, the headless horseman himself, a corn maze, pumpkin patch, apple cider, s'mores, and 1836 Prairietown by lantern light. Tickets
Bloomfield Apple Festival – Downtown Bloomfield (Greene County) – Friday–Sunday, Oct. 2–4 - Southwestern Indiana apple celebration with craft and food vendors, carnival rides, car show, live music, 5K run, and a Saturday parade on the courthouse square. Details
Hendricks County International Festival – Downtown Plainfield – Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. - Free cultural festival featuring displays from 20+ countries, live music and dance performances, international food, interactive booths, and family activities. Details
Potter's Bridge Fall Festival – Potter's Bridge Park in Noblesville – Saturday, October 3 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. - Fall festival at Hamilton County's historic covered bridge features 100+ arts and crafts booths, food vendors, live music, kids' activities, and scenic White River views. Details
GermanFest – The Athenaeum in Downtown Indianapolis – Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. - Indy's annual celebration of German heritage at the historic Athenaeum features authentic German food, imported beers, polka music, dancing, and a Rathskeller tour. Details
Beasley's Orchard Heartland Apple Festival – Beasley's Orchard in Danville – Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 3–4 - Hendricks County's apple-harvest celebration with hayrides, a corn maze, apple cannons, live music, craft market, fresh produce, cider donuts, pony rides, and face painting. Details
👏 1 Big wIN 👏
Indiana is one of the flattest states in the country, so Nate Spangle decided to complete his first 50-mile ultramarathon in mid-September where there’s some serious elevation… the Rocky Mountains. Watch below as Nate and four of his Hoosier buddies tackle the Run Rabbit Run 50-miler.
🎙 On today's show I sat down with Zachary Spicer, founder and CEO of Indiana-based Pigasus Pictures, about making independent films in Indiana and the upcoming feature "Little Five," inspired by the first Women's Little 500 in Bloomington in 1988.
Spicer shares his path from IU Bloomington and early acting training in New York to producing seven Indiana-shot features with major festival premieres and distribution through platforms like Netflix and Lionsgate Films.
He explains how a long-standing friendship led Anne Hathaway and her company to join "Little Five". They discuss turning Bloomington into 1988, the economic impact of film production, Indiana's limited tax incentives, and Spicer's goal to grow the state's film ecosystem, plus his favorite Indiana memories and local hidden gems.
If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.
You are going to learn about:
- The Founding and Filmmaking of Pigasus Pictures
- Film Premieres and Distribution Through Netflix and Lionsgate Films
- Anne Hathaway's Involvement in "Little Five"
- What Makes Indiana an Underrated Place to Film
Want more from us?
🎙 Hear our founder interview Indiana CEOs on Spotify!
📣 Partner with us to get your product/service in front of our audience.
💎 Know any hidden gems we should cover? Submit yours here!
