Students are familiar with the Anderson area while classes are in session, but how does the Madison County community change in the summer?
Students who have remained in the AU area for summer jobs or internships have had the opportunity to explore Anderson during the warmest months of the year, and have discovered some hidden gems.
Senior visual communication design major Noah Volk spent the summer of 2017 in the city of Anderson for an internship.
“I think the city of Anderson has a lot more to offer than people give it credit for,” said Volk. “I think that it’s easy to say there aren’t things to do in a smaller city like Anderson, but there are. You may just have to work harder at seeking out those opportunities.”
One weekend activity community members look forward to during the summer months is the Anderson City Market.
Over the past 2 years, the market has become a morning ritual for many people and is a way to connect them with local farmers, artisans and businesses. Market-goers can also enjoy live music from local musicians, including the Rock Bottom Boys of Madison County. This year’s market will be held every Saturday from May 5 to October 27, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Junior public relations major Lindsey Hrinowich spent last summer in Anderson working in the admissions office.
“It was much easier to live in Anderson than to commute from Fishers every day,” said Hrinowich. “I found a lot of joy in staying active this summer, going to the gym and checking out the local parks around town. I also got a little more creative in my research of things going on in the city. I went to the farmers market and tried out new restaurants. People put on free events all the time—you just need to be keen in looking for them.”
Volk agreed that finding new local cuisine was a good way to spend the summer.
“Even though I lived in Anderson while I was going to school here, I didn’t ever really do a ton of trying new places before that summer,” said Volk. “I was able to think about places I’ve heard others talk about that I had always said I wanted to try but never did. You do have to seek them out, but these locally owned restaurants are, for the most part at least, so much better than chains. If you haven’t already, you have to try Eva’s for breakfast and the Pitt for barbeque.”
For the adventure-seekers, this area offers a wide variety of activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking, fishing and zip lining to name a few.
“Shadyside Park is beautiful in the summer,” said senior music education major Glen Shinn. “There are trails for biking and hiking at Rangeline and Mounds State Park. My friends and I also really enjoyed being able to take advantage of fishing because of how close we were to the White River.”
There are companies such as Canoe Country and White River Canoe Company where visitors can choose between short trips and full day trips on the White River.
Canoe Country is located in Daleville, and the White River Canoe Company is located in Noblesville, each about a 20 minute drive from AU’s campus, and both are open on weekdays and weekends.
White River Ziplines and White River Paintball are only a short, 15 minute drive from campus, and both offer a full day of fun for thrill-seekers.
For those who are interested in concerts and theater, the Anderson Symphony Orchestra and Anderson Community Theater both put on performances during the summer months.
“The Anderson Symphony Orchestra puts on a show at the Paramount and it is always a beautiful experience,” said Shinn. “The Anderson Community Theater puts on some pretty good shows as well.”
Some shows coming to the Anderson Community Theater, The Mainstage, this summer include “I Hate Hamlet,” “Legally Blonde the Musical” and “Brigadoon.”
Anderson isn’t the only city nearby with fun things to do this summer.
If you have access to a car, more places and events are available to attend in Indianapolis, Noblesville and Fishers.