Washington County Indiana's Tourism Commission

09/03/2026

Rev up your engines and make plans for a Southern Indiana racing weekend! The ARCA Menards Series returns to Salem Speedway on Saturday, September 12, 2026, bringing high-speed stock-car racing to Salem's legendary high banks. The event is the 112th ARCA race at Salem Speedway, adding another chapter to one of the track's remarkable racing traditions.

🏎️ Make It More Than a Race!

Come for the racing—and stay for the small-town charm, local food, shopping, history and outdoor adventures of Washington County!

Spend your race weekend exploring Salem's historic downtown, enjoying a meal at a local restaurant, discovering unique shops and attractions, and experiencing the beautiful rolling countryside of Southern Indiana.

Stay overnight and turn race day into a getaway! Local lodging options include charming bed-and-breakfasts and countryside accommodations, giving racing fans an opportunity to slow down and enjoy Salem after the checkered flag.

Salem Speedway is located just off Indiana 56 and is approximately 45 minutes from Louisville and 90 minutes from Indianapolis, making Salem an easy destination for a weekend road trip.

📅 Saturday, September 12

The ARCA Menards Series race is scheduled for Saturday evening, with the current ARCA announcement listing an 8 p.m. ET green flag and live television coverage on FOX.

Come for the speed. Stay for the experience. Discover Salem and Washington County!

For more information visit www.visitwashingtoncounty.org

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09/01/2026

MAKE A RACE WEEKEND OUT OF IT!

The ARCA Menards Series is coming to Salem Speedway on Saturday, September 12, bringing the roar of engines, high-speed action, and the excitement of short-track racing to Washington County!

🏎️ ARCA at Salem Speedway
📅 Saturday, September 12
📍 Salem, Indiana

But don't just come for the race — make a weekend of it! 🍂

Spend the day at the legendary Salem Speedway, then discover everything Washington County, Indiana has to offer. Enjoy a great meal at a local restaurant, explore Salem's historic downtown, shop local businesses, take a scenic drive through the countryside, or relax and stay overnight.

🌳 Racing + Small-Town Charm + Fall Scenery = The Perfect Southern Indiana Getaway!

Bring your family and friends, experience the excitement at the track, and make some memories in Washington County.

Start your engines and plan your September getaway! 🏁

08/26/2026

Attending an Indiana University Football Home Game this Fall?

Washington County is an affordable, relaxing home base for Indiana University football fans—especially for fans who want to avoid the higher prices of staying in Bloomington.

Turn Game Day into a Full Weekend Getaway!

Make your trip a little more relaxing by spending the night in Washington County, Indiana! Salem is a one hour drive to the stadium. Instead of fighting the crowds and paying premium Bloomington prices, enjoy a comfortable stay in a charming Southern Indiana community and turn your football trip into a full weekend getaway.

🏨 Stay overnight in Washington County and save $
🍽️ Enjoy local dining and small-town hospitality around the Salem Square
🌳 Explore scenic Southern Indiana (Knobstone Hiking Trail, Canoeing or Kayaking on the Blue River, Monon South Biking/Walking Trail, Public Playgrounds)

🚗 Make your IU football game day the highlight of a bigger weekend adventure in scenic southern Indiana.

The 2026 Hoosiers home schedule includes matchups with: North Texas, Howard, Western Kentucky, Northwestern, Ohio State, Minnesota, USC and Purdue.

Washington County is your Southern Indiana home base for Hoosier football weekends. For more information visit
www.visitwashingtoncounty.org

Come for the football. Stay for the experience!

08/20/2026

Salem’s historic square is more than a collection of beautiful old buildings—it is the heart of Washington County’s story.

Today, preserving Salem Square means protecting the places, stories, businesses, and traditions that connect our past with our future. From historic buildings and landmarks to local shops, museums, and community events, every effort to care for downtown Salem helps keep its history alive for the next generation.

Take a walk around the square. Look up at the architecture. Discover the stories behind the buildings at the John Hay Center and support local businesses on the square. Help us celebrate the heritage that makes Salem unique. Salem’s history belongs to all of us in Washington County.

This week, we are featuring the Northeast side of the Salem Square!

This photo, taken approximately in the early 1910s, shows buildings that still stand proudly today. The buildings featured here, from left to right, are known as:
The Daleure Building (formerly Davis)
Hobbs-Paynter Building
Burr Neal Building
Guy Neal Building
Hobbs Building
Kyte Building
Overman House

Some of the businesses are quite recognizable, like:
- S.P. Morris Grocery which was in business many years before being changed into the Star Grocery by Charles Moss in 1916.
- Neal's Confectionary which was started in 1892 by Guy and Minnie Neal and moved several spots in the Square before landing here in 1902. It was a soda shop, popular with teens for many decades before closing in the late 1940s.
- The Overman House which served as a rambling house for mostly permanent residents. It also was home to doctor's offices and an insurance agency, and many other businesses and county offices, until it was torn down in the late-1960s/early-1970s.

This photo is in the Stevens Museum Genealogical Library's archives, and more detailed information on the buildings on the Salem Square can be found in the 1976 History of Washington County, available at the Stevens Memorial Museum!

08/20/2026

Join Indiana Humanities, the Pekin Community Betterment Organization, and the John Hay Center for a premiere screening of The Fourth of July in Pekin, IN, a new short documentary about Pekin's annual celebration. The documentary, directed by local filmmaker Erik Thein, captures the spirit of Pekin's Fourth of July festivities, a yearly tradition where generations of Pekin residents have come together to make the celebration the oldest consecutively-celebrated Fourth of July festival in the nation.

After the screening, there will be a brief Q&A with the filmmakers and with community members who have had a hand in organizing the festival. There will also be opportunities to share your own Fourth of July memories and feedback about the film as the filmmakers work to develop what they've captured into a full-length documentary.

This event is free and open to the public, though registration is appreciated. Light refreshments will be served.

More Information - https://events.humanitix.com/premiere-pekin-fourth-of-july-parade-documentary

RSVP - https://events.humanitix.com/premiere-pekin-fourth-of-july-parade-documentary

View the Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZh0zaUsurw

Join us for the premiere of a new short documentary about Pekin's annual Fourth of July festival, the oldest consecutive celebration of its kind in the nation.

08/13/2026

Washington County is excited to welcome the 500 Sprint Car Tour back to Salem this Weekend for 67th Running of the Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial at The Salem Speedway

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500 Sprint Car Tour Getting Back on Track at Salem in Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial There is no shortage of excitement and anticipation ahead of…

08/13/2026

The Legend of the Big Twirl is back to swirling once again, and bringing smiles to faces all over Washington County.

Bringing back Throw Back Thursday featuring the famous Big Twirl!