Club events
1-5 July | Rotary Club of Brazil, Indiana
4th of July Celebration
The town of Brazil welcomes visitors to its 90th annual Independence Day celebration, an event that has been organized by the club since nearly the beginning. The five-day festival benefits local nonprofits and includes carnival rides, food and drink booths, and a fireworks show on July Fourth. There will also be musical performances, from a school marching band to a group covering the hits of Indiana native John Mellencamp. Entrants in a raffle have the chance to win $10,000.
2 July | Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton, Wisconsin
Music Festival Drum & Bugle Corps Show
For more than two decades, this outdoor music festival north of Milwaukee has showcased the colorful pageantry and precision marching skills of drum and bugle corps and brought in more than $1 million to support local nonprofits and scholarships. This year’s event, held at the Cedarburg High School athletic field, will include six corps from across the U.S. that were finalists in the 2024 Drum Corps International World Championships.
July 5-6, 18-19, August 1-2, 15-16 and 29-30 | Rotary Club of Mad River Valley, Vermont
Open Garden Days
The Von Trapp Greenhouse will welcome visitors to view its large display garden for 10 days this summer. Rotary members, family, and friends staff the entry tent and greet visitors. The owners of the greenhouse, Sally and Tobi Von Trapp, will be on hand to answer questions throughout the day. Since its start in 2022, the event has raised over $25,000 in support of local projects and nonprofits.
Tell us about your club’s upcoming event: Write to magazine@rotary.org and put “calendar” in the subject line.
12 July | Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield, Ohio
Maple Splash Raffle and Festival
This free, one-day community event features bands, hot air balloon rides, 50/50 raffles and hundreds of raffle baskets. Local nonprofits are invited to set up a tent and attendees are given a passport to visit the displays, with the completed passport good for an entry in a separate drawing. In just a few years, the Maple Splash Raffle has allowed the club to donate more than half a million dollars across 35 local nonprofits.
16-20 July | Rotary Club of Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Elk Grove Rotary Fest
With carnival rides, food from local restaurants, and plenty of live music, this summer festival has been a community favorite since 1986. This year’s schedule features a performance by rock band O.A.R. followed by a drone light show on Thursday, as well as a fireworks display on Saturday. Proceeds benefit local and international projects and nonprofits.
20 July | Rotary Club of Forest Grove, Oregon
Concours d’Elegance
More than 300 vehicles are put on display, and some are awarded trophies, at this long-running annual classic car show on the tree-lined Pacific University campus. In addition to admiring the antique autos, attendees will enjoy live music, food, a beer garden, and a wine pavilion. On the day before the show, the car owners are invited to a vineyard tour through the Willamette Valley and a social dinner. Proceeds benefit local projects and scholarships.
26 July | Rotary Club of West Shore, Ohio
Summerfest 5K
The club, which serves Cleveland’s West Park area and western suburbs of Fairview Park and North Olmsted, organizes this 5K race as part of the annual Fairview Park Summerfest. The course starts at Fairview High School and runs along Bain Park. Awards are given to the top three male and female runners overall and in various age groups. Proceeds benefit local and international projects and scholarships.
29 July | Rotary Club of New Bern, North Carolina
Pigskin Preview
In the eastern North Carolina counties of Craven and Pamlico, the high school football season kicks off with an event in which coaches and student athletes from the area speak to fans ahead of the first day of practice. The preview, similar to a media day in college and pro sports, is emceed by a local TV sports anchor. Funds raised at the event support local high school athletic programs.
1 August | Rotary Club of Annapolis, Maryland
Crab Feast
A summertime tradition now in its 80th year, this celebration of local seafood draws upwards of 1,000 people to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. A ticket pays for unlimited food and drink, from Maryland’s famous blue crabs to barbecue beef sandwiches, hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon, draft beer, and soda. Proceeds support local nonprofits, and all waste from the event, including 20,000 pounds of crab shells, is turned into compost that the club sells at the end of the year.
1 August | Rotary Club of Del Mar, California
Gallop4Rotary
Del Mar Rotarians invite fellow Rotary members to join them for an exciting day of horse racing, fun, and fellowship at the renowned Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The seaside racecourse, which has hosted multiple Breeders’ Cup World Championships, was co-founded by crooner Bing Crosby and memorialized in his song “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.” The day’s featured race is the Real Good Deal Stakes, with a $150,000 purse. The event benefits scholarships and local youth organizations.
2 August | Rotary Club of Aspen, Colorado
Ducky Derby
Each year, people “adopt” as many as 25,000 yellow rubber ducks and watch as they are released into the Roaring Fork River and float downstream. The person whose adopted duck is first past the finish line earns $10,000 and the chance to win $1 million. Since the event was first held in 1992, it has expanded into a daylong festival, with live music, games, food trucks, and more. It benefits local nonprofits and scholarships and international projects.
9 August | Rotary District 6460 (Illinois)
Family Day at the Ballpark
Rotary members and their families and friends will cheer from the left-field stands at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium as the Cardinals take on the Chicago Cubs. Since 2004, this family-friendly baseball outing has raised nearly $600,000 for basic education and literacy projects organized by clubs in the district, who will be recognized during a pregame ceremony on the field. Tickets are available to the public.
9 August | Rotary Club of Apple Valley, Minnesota
Charity Pickleball Tournament
This second annual pickleball tournament has space for 250 players. Teams of men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles will be placed into brackets based on ability. Each team is guaranteed a five-game minimum, with prizes for winning duos. All proceeds will benefit projects for causes the club is passionate about, including food security and youth opportunities, and will also support a wide variety of community nonprofit organizations.
14 August | Rotary Club of Fridley-Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Bilingual Monarch Festival
This vibrant event honors the connection between Monarch butterfly migration and cultural heritage. Enjoy the lively sounds of Mariachi musicians, the colorful performances of Ballet Folklorico dancers, and engaging bilingual activities for all ages. The Fridley-Columbia Heights Rotary Club helps sponsor the event and supports pollinator conservation by planting butterfly habitat. Experience art, storytelling, and delicious food while learning about sustainability and community in Spanish and English. All are welcome!
22-24 August | Rotary clubs of Strathcona Sunrise and Comox Valley, British Columbia
Comox Valley RibFest 25
RibFest 25 is the leading family-friendly community festival in the Comox Valley, attracting 20,000 visitors to our ‘foodie’ and music event. We have five professional rib teams, seven local food vendors, an expansive Kids Zone, 14 local artisans, and an entertainment stage showcasing 17 local musicians and bands over our three-day festival. Proceeds from the event benefit local and international projects.
23 August | Rotary Club of Hobart, New York
Sausage & Brew Festival
This festival in the Catskills region of New York features mouthwatering dinners of grilled sausage, corn on the cob, and other seasonal vegetables, all from farms within 30 miles. Local craft beers and ciders will also be served. Attendees will enjoy dancing to live music from afternoon to evening. Activities for children include face painting and hayrides. All proceeds benefit local projects and nonprofits.
30 August | Rotary Club of Ledyard, Connecticut
Car Cruise
Gearheads won’t want to miss this annual car show with more than 250 classic and modern vehicles on display. The event includes food, raffles, games, and music played by a DJ. In addition, this year the club is partnering with a local Cub Scouts pack to host a Pinewood Derby, and is hosting a pet adoption. The event has raised more than $65,000 for local scholarships over the past nine years.
30 August | Rotary Club of Lebanon, New Hampshire
Annual End of Summer Brew Fest
More than 1,000 attendees are expected to come out for this seventh annual Brew Fest, held in the center of Lebanon at Colburn Park. There will be over 55 craft brewers, along with food vendors, live music, and games for the crowd to enjoy. Club members and dozens of community volunteers provide all hands-on deck support. The proceeds benefit local nonprofits and international projects.