Vigo County is preparing for the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza, an annual three-day truck rally that draws visitors from around the country. This year, some county residents have arranged an after party.
The festival will take place in the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds from Aug. 24-26. It’s gotten some mixed press in the past. Last year, more than 200 people were arrested in and around the fairgrounds for charges including driving while intoxicated, underaged possession of alcohol and traffic citations.
The after party will take place on an empty lot off of E. 40th Drive, just outside of Terre Haute’s city limits. It begins Thursday at 9 p.m and continues every night through the end of the festival.
The Vigo Dodge Dealership is located across the street from the lot where the party will take place. Sales manager Kent Jeffries says they’ve installed a privacy fence and a few no trespassing signs, and they’ve hired two extra security guards.
Jeffries says the company’s main concern is safety for the attendees, because the party is taking place on a very small lot off of a side road.
“And traffic up and down that is going to be hectic, it’s going to be hectic trying to get in back there,” Jeffries says. “So I can see problems that way.”
The event’s Facebook page shows more than 500 people plan to attend. It also says the party will include a beer garden and riding bull.
Organizers for the after party did not respond to a request for comment. But in a Facebook post, organizer Olivia Young says they picked the location after being denied a special event permit from the city. And Young says organizers are taking steps to ensure the safety of visitors and to keep the area clean.
“If for any reason this event [were] to be cancelled we have no issue [with] refunding any and all money. All orders done online can be sent directly back and tickets done on presale all are accounted for," Young says. "We have went through many obstacles to pull this event together. We have tried to meet any and all code and standards for this event. Just like any and all other businesses would."
