Thursday, September 3rd
Happy Thursday, Hoosiers. Labor Day weekend is almost here, there’s a full slate of college football this weekend, and most of us won’t be laboring on Monday.
This Week in Indiana History: The Beatles Perform at the Indiana State Fair (1964)
Hog Farms in Benton County Despite Opposition
Indianapolis Public Library Social Work Program
Gus Macker Is Back - and Playing for a Cause
The Seven Pillars of Mississinewa
Mosquitoes on the Rise
Purdue Football vs. AP Top 2
Rapid Fire
Hidden Gems: Moon Tree and Sunken Gardens
Indiana Events
2 Big wINs: Westfield and East Central Prevail in Week 2 Showdowns
Get IN. with Nate Spangle: He Bought a Restaurant at 23… They Now Own One of Indiana’s Biggest Restaurant Groups
This issue is 1,488 words, a 5-minute read.
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📜 This Week in Indiana History 📜
The Beatles Perform at the Indiana State Fair (1964)
This week in Indiana history we revisit The Beatles’ performance in Indianapolis in 1964. They performed in the Circle City in the midst of their legendary first North American Tour. John, Paul, George, and Ringo held two sold-out shows in front of 30,000 total people at the Indiana State Fair, first inside the coliseum and a second in front of the Grandstand, and it was their only concert appearance in the Hoosier State.
The band arrived by chartered plane and were escorted to the coliseum by police motorcycles. The lucky fans who got tickets paid between $3 and $5 to see the boys burst through a 12-song set, which was difficult to hear with the primitive sound system and screaming teenage fans.
Through the chaos, the performance has become important to Hoosier lore, as The Beatles are now considered to be one of the most influential bands in the history of music, despite the fact that they broke up just six years later.
📰 Hoosier Headlines 📰
Hog Farms in Benton County Despite Opposition
Indiana is one of the nation’s largest pork producers, but many who live in Benton County aren’t in favor of proposed hog operations being built near their homes. (FPI News)
(Photo by Doug McSchooler / FPI News)
Indianapolis Public Library Social Worker Program
The Indianapolis Public Library has a social worker program that helps neighbors find food, housing and jobs. In 2025, they helped nearly 1,700 individuals. (Mirror Indy)
Gus Macker Is Back - and Playing for a Cause
Hoosiers, grab three friends and lace ’em up.
The legendary Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is coming to the Pacers Athletic Center in Westfield, Oct. 3–4, with proceeds benefiting cancer research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The tournament is open to ages 8+ and all skill levels, with men’s and women’s brackets. Teams are made up of four players, so whether you play every week or haven’t picked up a basketball in years, there’s a bracket for you. If you don’t hoop, that’s ok… volunteers are needed too!
When: Oct. 3–4
Where: Pacers Athletic Center | Westfield
Number of Players: 4 players per team
Team Entry: $200/team
Why: Playing for cancer research at IU
Registration closes Sept. 21. Get your squad together and GET IN the game against cancer.
Learn more and register here: https://cancer.iu.edu/community/events/gus-macker/index.html
The Seven Pillars of Mississinewa
There’s a nature preserve on the south side of the Mississinewa River that is home to one of Indiana’s most fascinating natural landmarks. (Get Indiana)
Mosquitoes On the Rise
Standing water from the flooding in August has led to a rise in mosquitoes over the last few weeks. See what county officials across the state are doing to mitigate the population, and what you can do to help. (FOX59)
Purdue Football vs. AP Top 2
No unranked program in college football history has toppled more AP top 2 teams than Purdue. The Boilermakers kick off their ‘26 season this weekend vs. Indiana State. (Get Indiana)
Rapid Fire
What are the five fastest-growing counties in Indiana? WATCH
What are the five wealthiest counties in Indiana? WATCH
What are the biggest high school gyms in Indiana? WATCH
Greek's Pizzeria has been a Hoosier staple for over 55 years, and there's a reason they're still packing tables. Scratch-made pizza, fresh ingredients, and a menu built for whatever you're craving. Whether you're feeding the whole crew or just yourself, Greek's makes it easy to eat well tonight. Find your nearest location at greekspizzeria.com.
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Moon Tree
The Moon Tree in Indianapolis is one of the city’s most unique and meaningful hidden gems. Located on the front lawn of the Indiana Statehouse at Capitol and Washington Street, this tree may look ordinary at first glance, but its story is anything but. (Get Indiana)
Sunken Gardens
Inside Memorial Park in Huntington, Indiana sits the Sunken Gardens, one of the city's most peaceful and picturesque destinations. Known for its colorful flowers, winding pathways, and relaxing atmosphere, this hidden gem has been welcoming visitors for generations. Learn more about why the Sunken Gardens were created and why it’s worth the visit. (Get Indiana)
What’s your Hidden Gem? Submit here to have it featured!
Events This Week in Indiana
70th Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival – Downtown Auburn (DeKalb County) – Thursday–Sunday, Sept. 3–6 - Northeast Indiana's world-famous celebration of the golden age of American automobiles features the Parade of Classics, cruise-ins, concerts, downtown dining, and the ACD car auction. Details
60th Annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival – Centennial Park in Plymouth – Friday–Monday, Sept. 4–7 - Indiana's largest four-day festival returns with 130+ food booths (don't miss the famous blueberry donuts), 500+ craft vendors, three stages of free entertainment, hot air balloons, a Sunday-night balloon glow and fireworks, and the Labor Day Parade. Free admission. Details
Tri-State Bluegrass Festival – Noble County 4-H Fairgrounds in Kendallville – Thursday–Sunday, Sept. 3–6 - Northeast Indiana's four-day bluegrass gathering with regional acts, jam sessions, on-site camping, and workshops. Details
Rock 'N' Rail Music and Street Festival – Downtown Griffith – Thursday–Sunday, Sept. 3–6 - Northwest Indiana's Labor Day tradition celebrates Griffith's railroad heritage with live music, food vendors, a beer garden, kids' zone, and classic car show. Details
Michigan City Oktoberfest – Downtown Michigan City – Friday–Monday, Sept. 4–7 - Early-season Oktoberfest on Lake Michigan featuring German food and beer, live polka music, stein-hoisting contests, dachshund races, and lakefront family activities. Details
14th Annual Fishers Blues Fest – Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers – Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 5–6 (5–10 p.m. each night) - Free two-day festival with eight local, regional, and national blues, soul, funk, and rock acts. Details
Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson with The Hu & Orgy – Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville – Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6:15 p.m. - Freak Show-approved industrial-metal double bill from Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, with Mongolian folk-metal band The Hu and Orgy opening. Tickets
140th Annual Gibson County Labor Day Celebration – Gibson County Fairgrounds in Princeton – Friday–Monday, Sept. 4–7 - The nation's second-oldest continuous Labor Day event features carnival rides, demo derby (Saturday), gospel sings, pageants, a car show, food booths, and the Labor Day Parade in southwestern Indiana. Details
80th Annual Montpelier Jamboree – Downtown Montpelier (Blackford County) – Thursday–Sunday, Sept. 3–6 - East-central Indiana's small-town Labor Day festival with a parade, live music, tractor pulls, food, kids' games, and community activities. Details
👏 2 Big wINs 👏
Week 2 of the Indiana high school football season featured a Hamilton County doozy between Westfield-Carmel and a 29-game win streak snapped for New Pal. See what results stood out below!
🎙 On today's show I sat down with Eddie Sahm, second-generation restaurateur and co-owner of Sahm's Hospitality Group, to discuss growing a family-run Indiana restaurant and catering company across central Indiana.
Eddie traces the business from his father Ed Sahm's first Fishers location in 1986, his early work and Purdue hospitality education, and decision at 23 to buy Sahm's Place with an SBA loan, rebuild it through craft beer, streamlined operations, and community events, then sell it back into the company in 2016.
He explains scaling into Big Lug Canteen and brewing for margin control, the pivot from Liter House to Half Liter BBQ during COVID, and building "everyday" value-driven community spaces. He also covers management-contract work at Turner's, upcoming openings, and real estate and lease discipline.
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:
- Why Eddie Sahm Bought a Family-Owned Restaurant at Age 23
- The Expansion of Sahm's Hospitality Group and New Openings
- The Importance of Location for Successful Restaurants
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