Amish Country Blog

Lots of great family friendly events are going on this week in Amish Country.

Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival August 5-8

Goshen First Fridays August 6

Meet me in St. Louis presented by Elkhart Civic Theater August 6-7

Linton’s Enchanted Gardens Hawaiian Luau August 7-8

So get out and have fun in Amish Country this week, and let me know which family friendly event is your favorite.

Goshen’s 3rd Annual Ice Carving and Chili Competition kicks off the New Year, on January 1 and 2. The popular First Fridays event, Fire and Ice Festival, will give revelers one last holiday fling!

Members of the Michiana Ice Carvers Association (MICA) will carve 700-pound blocks of ice in front of downtown stores on Friday from 5 – 9 p.m. Watch these sculptures take form while you shop downtown businesses offering holiday specials.

The Friday ice sculpture carving is sponsored by area businesses

Then the celebration continues on Saturday, January 2, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

To keep everyone warm and fed, the Chili Fire Competition will also be going on Saturday. Free tastings are available, but tickets required – only 500 will be available. Pick tickets up at the Fire & Ice Festival Headquarters located in the lobby of the Goshen Theater, 216 South Main Street. Tasters can vote for their favorite soup at the Headquarters. The winner will be announced on West Washington Street on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Chili competition coordinator, Darin Short said competitors in this annual tradition invite everyone to taste their special brand of chili. Participating restaurants:

Constant Spring (219 South Main Street)
El Duranguenze (113 West Washington Street)
Electric Brew (136 South Main Street)
Kelly Jae’s Cafe (133 South Main Street)
Maple City Market (314 South Main Street)
Mattern’s Butcher Shop & Corner Deli (201 South Main Street)
Olympia Candy Kitchen (136 North Main Street)
The Window (233 South Main Street)
Tony’s Famous Grill (103 North Fifth Street)

Ice Sculpture Competition on Washington and Main Streets

Contestants test their skills with elaborate competition pieces. With more time to sculpt, and larger blocks of ice, the artists have time to make truly amazing sculptures. Judges will review award cash prizes to the top three contestants.

Sponsors for the competition piece are:

Best Western Hotel
Bill’s Heating, Inc.
Goshen City Republican Committee
Goshen College
Judd Family Dentistry
Mennonite Mutual Aid
Middlebury Electric, Inc.
Salon J
Spohn Ballroom
Troyer Foods

Whether you go on Friday or Saturday, or you enjoy both days, Goshen’s 3rd Annual Fire and Ice Festival will be a crowd pleasing event.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

This is the time of year for Christmas Celebrations throughout Amish County.  Two of my favorite things about this time of the year are Santa and Music.  Santa doesn’t show up often, but its obvious breakfast is his favorite meal.  And the music in this area is beautiful, and helps to put me in the Holiday Spirit.

Breakfast with Santa:

December 5 at Central Fire Station from 8am to Noon.
December 13 at Amish Acres from 9am to 11pm.
December 19 at American Countryside Farmers Market beginning at 9am.

Music in Amish Country:

At the American Countryside Farmers Market there will be Christmas music every weekend until December 19 on the concert stage.  And while you’re listening to the great music, make sure you shop for unique gifts for everyone on your list.

Festival of Carols, presented by the Goshen College Choirs, will be performed on December 4.  This is a beautiful event, and one that will keep you coming back year after year.

Northridge High School is putting on a Christmas Show on December 12 called Christmas Traditions from 4pm-7pm that will feature both old and new holiday favorites.

The Elkhart Symphony Christmas Ensemble will play at Ruthmere on December 17.  Ruthmere is also dressed for Christmas.  So it will really help put you in the Christmas spirit.

No matter how you want to celebrate the Holidays in Amish Country, you’ll have a great time in Amish Country.  For more details about the above events, or to learn about other Amish Country Holiday events, please visit Amishcountry.org/events.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

The Bonneyville Mill Celebration was a nice event. It is touted as an old fashioned country fair. I was there on Saturday morning, and already, the parking area was filling up. If you have never been to the Bonneyville Mill, you missed a wonderful opportunity to see how it runs. Lots of people were exploring the Mill, and buying the flour. It’s amazing to see the inside of the mill and how it works. A lot of old fashioned technology went into it, and I still find myself awed when I tour the Mill.

There were a few local farmers selling produce. Apples are abundant now, and there lots of 5 pound bags of different varieties for sell. Area churches selling hot food. The parks department was selling root beer, which went fast.

They had an area for kids with old fashioned toys. I loved seeing how simple toys were, and how much more imagination kids used.

The other great thing about having the event at the park was the ability to walk the grounds after you had your fill of the events. I love walking around Bonneyville Mill County Park. It is a beautiful area.

So next year, try the Bonneyville Mill Celebration. I bet you and your family have fun.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

You can always find something to do in Amish Country.   September is full of Festivals.  So here is just a listing. For details, please go to our event page at amishcountry.org/events.

Bristol Storytelling Festival September 11-12
Nappanee Apple Festival September 17-20
Borkholder Dutch Village Fall Furniture Festival September 18-19
Middlebury Fall Festival September 18-19
Mennonite Relief Sale September 26
Pumpkin Chase Race September 27

If you’ve been here for one of these festivals, let us know what you enjoyed about it.  I love the Mennonite Relief Sale.  Although I can’t afford any of the auction items, I love the feel of having all those people in one place helping a great cause.  I know many people love the Nappanee Apple Festival’s 7 foot pie.  Whatever your looking for, I’m sure one of our September festivals has something to enhance your trip.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

It was a drizzling, wet day on Saturday, and I almost didn’t want to go out, but Arts in Bloom and Taste of the Garden was happening at Wellfield Botanical Gardens, and so I went.  I figured since it was raining, I would quickly look at art, and then go home. I love art shows.

The event started at 11am, and at 11am, parking was already getting full.  Some of the artist were getting out their rain gear, but they were happy to see everyone still showing up despite the rain.  I looked at most of the booths.  Dismas House of South Bend had bracelets and key chains that residents made, and I now have a new keychain.

Then after the art booths, I took walk around the pond at Wellfield.  It is a lovely place, with the creek running on the backside. A lot of work has gone on the east side of the pond to make it a beautiful resting place. With waterfalls, walk paths, and a flower garden, it is an ideal spot to spend time outside.

I did not eat, but by noon, most of the table seating under the tent for the Taste of the Garden was full.  I know the food was great, but I was a more soaked than I wanted, so I decided to go home.  It was a great event, and I can’t wait for it to happen again next year.

Nothing says sweet like pure maple syrup and we pour it on – about 70 gallons over stacks of pancakes during the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival .  Plus we go through 20 bales of pancake flour!  Not to mention going “whole hog” with 2,100 lbs. of sausage. That’s what it takes to feed 3,500 hungry people at the Lions Club Pancake & Sausage Meal.  I’ve been in charge of the Lions Club meal for the last 15 years.

It’s a family tradition. My parents were in charge of it for years too.  And my kids are involved, even coming home from college to help.  I’m totally committed, and I’m not even a Lions Club member!  All those pancakes raise lots of dollars that go back into the community for scholarships, kids’ eye exams and so many other great programs.  Come join us at the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival, April 17 & 18, and eat lots of pancakes!

What is your favorite thing to do at the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival? Leave a comment.
- Annette Brown, Pancake Lady Extraordinaire

Mike and I were talking about what we wanted to do when the temperature warms up.  We want to be outside, and we want to know that the rest of Amish Country is out and about.  He is getting tired of the walls of our house.  I said that we needed to get winter gear for this year, but no, he didn’t think we could go outside with Mina that much, so why spend the money.  Well, I can tell you it’s been a long winter, and we should have spent the money.

So our first time out with Mina this year will be Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival on April 17 and 18. We have to go, because Mike loves all you can eat sausage and pancake breakfast, wherever it may be served and at this year it will be Northwood Middle School.  And Mina loves sausage, but she’s not big on pancakes yet.  She will pick up a pancake and take a bite out of it. When we’re done with breakfast, we’ll go into downtown and look at the craft vendors. There are always a lot of interesting items on sale from local crafters.

We always enjoy watching people who come, and it’s fun to see all the kids who wander up and down the street with calls of “mom and dad, look…” This year Mina will be walking up and down the street, and wanting to touch and look at everything.  Of course, we finish our day by eating at Nelson’s. What would a trip to an Amish Country festival be without Nelson’s chicken?  I would suggest that if you want to eat at the restaurant, you go at off normal eating times.  So, put the date on your calendar, and enter Wakarusa into your GPS. I know you’ll have a fun.

Click here for more information on the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival.

- Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor

Summer is coming to an end and if you are feeling a little blue, then the Island of Blues is the place for you. On Saturday, August 23, 2008, Island Park in Elkhart will feature 7 hours of the top blue artists, including Grammy Nominee Randy McAllister from around the United States. Even if you are not blue, this promises to be a great way to spend a Saturday evening. For tickets go to russellproducts.com/islandofblues/index.html.

-Tasha, Amish Country Northern Indiana contributor

Quilters Find Treasures In Amish Country

The history of quilting dates back to the early 19th century. Many Amish quilters have embraced this as a social activity and an art medium. Amish women began quilting around 1870 but within just 15 short years Amish Quilts became quite common.Today’s Amish and Mennonite women in northern Indiana still enjoy quilting. Quilt supply shops, quilt stores and annual benefit auctions make this area a fantastic place to visit if you have an interest in quilting. Enjoy shopping at places such as Yoder’s Department Store, The Quilt Shop and Lolly’s Fabrics. Stocked with thousands of fabric bolts and quilting supplies, hard to find items are often located here. Take time to admire the work of local women and purchase an Amish quilt at Little Helpers Quilt Shop or Martins Quilt Shop.

Are you searching for the perfect color pattern or a special design to match your decor? Custom quilt designs and one of kind treasures made to order can be found in Goshen at Quilt Designs.

Annual quilt auctions are just around the corner. Plan a visit during the Michiana Mennonite Relief sale September 22 or the Goldenrod Benefit Auction September 7, both events feature quilt auctions for a worthy cause and great locally made foods.