Back the Blue Is Coming Back to the Evansville Area

If you have a Jeep, kids who love carnival rides, or enjoy a good local event, put Saturday, October 17 on your calendar. The Evansville Area Jeepers are getting ready for their 10th annual Back the Blue event, presented by Audubon Chrysler.

And there is a pretty good reason to hang around for the afternoon this year because they've got a raffle with some great items from local businesses.

You Have to Be There to Win

The Back the Blue 2026 Raffle is one of the things I'm most interested in checking out. Local businesses have donated prizes for the raffle, and more are still being added. Raffle tickets will be available during the event, with the drawings taking place at 3:30 p.m. There is one important thing to remember, though.

You have to be there to win.

So if you buy a ticket, don't head home early. You could win an amazing raffle prize. You can see the current list of raffle prizes on the Back the Blue raffle page. Some items include:

• Dual zone fridge/freezer on wheels
• One pair of Rigid Radiance + Pod RGBW Lights
• Millennium TSAP Pro Diagnostic Tool
• Flatlink Folding Winch Shackle Bracelet
• Wheeling Starter Package
• Drake's Gift Card
• Teeling Irish Whiskey
• Armor All Essential Care Package
• Franklin Street Tavern Gift Card
• Kiplee's Gift Card

Win a Jeep Lease

Now through October 11th, you can also enter to win a two-year lease from Audubon Chrysler Center on a NEW 2026 Jeep Wrangler in the Lucky Ducky Sweepstakes, along with 84 other prizes celebrating an astounding 85 years of Jeep! No purchase necessary.

How to enter:

• Visit audubonchrysler.com for a free entry
• Visit the showroom at Audubon Chrysler for a free entry and test drive a vehicle while you’re there!
• Follow along on Audubon Chrysler’s social media

The winner will be announced on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during the annual Evansville Area Jeepers Backs the Blue Jeep Rally & Off Road Course, held at Audubon Chrysler Center. See below for event details.

The Jeep Rally Starts at Castle High School

The day starts at Castle High School, where Jeep owners will register before heading out for the rally.

Registration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a drivers' meeting at 10:45 a.m.

The rally leaves at 11 a.m. sharp and heads to Audubon Chrysler with a full police escort.

The group should arrive at Audubon Chrysler around noon, where the Back the Blue Rally Festival will get underway.

There Is Plenty to Do Once You Get There

The festival runs from noon until 4 p.m., so there is plenty of time to hang out after the rally. There will be an obstacle course, plus a Kids Inflatable & Carnival Zone. The obstacle course is $5 for one trip through the course.

The kids' inflatable and carnival area is $10 per person, and that gets you an armband with unlimited use. And, of course, don't forget about the raffle. The drawings aren't until 3:30 p.m., so you'll have plenty of time to check everything out before they start calling names.

It All Helps a Local Organization

Back the Blue isn't just about Jeeps and having a fun Saturday.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Cops Connecting with Kids, a local organization that works to build connections between police officers and children. The event is also rain or shine, so a little October weather isn't going to stop it.

Back the Blue 2026

Saturday, October 17

Castle High School

Registration: 9-10:30 a.m.

Drivers Meeting: 10:45 a.m.

Rally Departs: 11 a.m. sharp

Audubon Chrysler Center

Rally Festival: Noon-4 p.m.

Raffle Drawings: 3:30 p.m.

If you're interested in participating in the Jeep rally, pre-registration is $30 per Jeep/vehicle through October 14. Day-of registration is also $30. And if you do get a raffle ticket, remember the most important part: you have to stick around to win.