Jeep clubs raise a lot of money for local causes, and the format that keeps working is simple: a long line of Jeeps, a police escort, and a festival at the end of it. The Evansville Area Jeepers run one of the longest-standing versions, and the 10th annual Back the Blue is on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
What Back the Blue rallies are
The idea travels well, which is why versions of it exist all over the country. A club organizes a registered convoy, local police escort it through town, and the drive ends somewhere with room for a festival. Proceeds go to a law enforcement charity. Entry is usually a flat fee per vehicle rather than per person, so a family rides for the price of the Jeep.
If you have never done one, the escorted drive is the part people come back for. Running a hundred-plus Jeeps through town with the lights on is not an experience you get on a trail run.
The 2026 Evansville event, start to finish
Audubon Chrysler presents this event, and it runs rain or shine.
- Registration: 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Castle High School
- Drivers meeting: 10:45 a.m.
- Rally departs: 11:00 a.m. sharp, with a full police escort
- Arrive at Audubon Chrysler Center: around noon
- Rally festival: noon to 4:00 p.m.
- Raffle drawings: 3:30 p.m.
Registration is $30 per Jeep or vehicle, the same whether you pre-register through October 14 or sign up the day of. The obstacle course is $5 per run. The kids' inflatable and carnival zone is $10 per person for an unlimited armband.
One rule worth repeating because it catches people every year: the raffle requires you to be present at 3:30 to win. Buying a ticket and leaving at two o'clock means handing your prize to somebody else.
Where the money goes
All proceeds benefit Cops Connecting with Kids, a local organization that works on building relationships between police officers and children. That is the reason the event exists rather than a detail at the bottom of the flyer, and it is worth knowing before you decide whether to go.
How to find one near you
Evansville is Indiana, and most people reading this are not. The good news is that this format is everywhere, and the way to find yours is the same everywhere:
- Start with your nearest Jeep club. Most run at least one charity drive a year, and Back the Blue is one of the common ones.
- Check with the local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealer. Dealers frequently host the festival at the end of these, because it fills their lot with exactly the right people.
- Watch October. The weather cooperates, and it lines up with many community fundraising calendars.
We cover the bigger gatherings separately, including the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, Toledo Jeep Fest, and Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam.
A note on the flag you will see on a lot of those Jeeps
Thin blue line graphics turn up all over an event like this, and the meaning behind the colored line versions of the flag is more specific than most people realize. Blue is law enforcement, red is fire service, and there are several others. We went through the whole set, along with the etiquette questions that come with it, on what the colored lines on an American flag actually mean.
Planning more trips? Our Jeep and overlanding events calendar lists the major shows, rallies, and expos by month, with upcoming dates checked against each organizer's own site.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Back the Blue Jeep rally in Evansville?
Saturday, October 17, 2026. Registration runs from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Castle High School, the drivers' meeting is at 10:45, and the rally departs at 11:00 a.m. sharp.
How much does it cost to enter the Back the Blue Jeep rally?
Thirty dollars per Jeep or vehicle, and the price is the same whether you pre-register through October 14 or register the morning of the event.
Do you have to own a Jeep to go?
Registration is per vehicle for the rally itself, but the festival at Audubon Chrysler Center is open to anyone. The obstacle course is $5 per run and the kids carnival zone is $10 per person for an unlimited armband.
What charity does Back the Blue support?
All proceeds go to Cops Connecting with Kids, a local organization that builds relationships between police officers and children.
Do you have to stay for the raffle drawing?
Yes. Drawings are at 3:30 p.m. and you must be present to win, so leaving early forfeits any prize your ticket draws.
Are there Back the Blue Jeep rallies outside Indiana?
Yes. The format is common across the country. The usual way to find one is through your nearest Jeep club or your local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealer, and October is a common month for them.
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