Amish Country Blog

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

Amish Country is a great place to celebrate Christmas, and for those wanting a worship service for Chirstmas Eve, here is a small list of what is available in our area.

ELKHART

Bethel United Methodist Church,1200 N. Michigan St., Christmas Eve service of Scripture, carols, solos and a choir presentation will be at 7 p.m. 574.264-3455.

Grace Lutheran Church, 831 W. Marion St., offers two festival worship services on Christmas Eve at 7 and 11 p.m. Pre-service music will begin 15 minutes prior to both services. 574.294.1951

Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 4206 E. Bristol St., will have a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. 574.264.3240.

St. John’s United Church of Christ, 2701 E. Bristol St., will have a candlelight service on Christmas Eve, “From Joy to the World to Joy in My Heart,” at 8 p.m. 574.264.4640.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 405 W. Beardsley Ave., will have Christmas Eve candlelight services at 7 and 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. “Emmanuel: The Birth of God’s Presence” will be the service’s theme. 574.293.0482.

Christmas Eve Masses at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., include a 4 p.m. children’s Mass, a 6 and 10 p.m. Mass. Christmas caroling starts at 9:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, Masses will take place at 8 and 10 a.m. 574.262.1505

At St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, a children’s Mass takes place at 4 p.m., Christmas Eve, followed by Mass in Spanish at 7 p.m. and the Vigil Mass of Christmas at 10:10 p.m., which includes prelude music and the office of readings and will be conducted in English, Spanish and Latin. Christmas Day Masses will be at 8:30 a.m. in English and 10 a.m. in a trilingual format. 574.293.8231

On Christmas Eve, Trinity Lutheran Church will have a “Lessons and Carols” Eucharist at 11 a.m., worship for children followed by “A Birthday Party for Jesus” at 4 p.m. and a candlelight Eucharist at 10 p.m. at the south campus. The north campus at 30888 C.R. 6 will hold “A Candlelight Christmas” at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, celebrate 10 a.m. Eucharist at the south campus, 400 West Blvd. S. 574.522.1491

Trinity United Methodist Church, 2715 E. Jackson Blvd.,  offers a 5 p.m. children and family service, a 7 p.m. Night of Hope Service and a 9 p.m. candlelight communion and message. No services on Christmas Day. 574.294.7602.

GOSHEN

The annual Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols will be at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve at College Mennonite Church, 1900 S. Main St. This service will feature the reading of the Christmas story interspersed with congregational carol singing and anthems presented by the adult and youth choirs. The service will conclude with a traditional candle lighting service.  574.535-7262 / CollegeMennonite.org.

The candlelight Christmas Eve worship service at First Presbyterian Church, 215 E. Lincoln Ave., begins with an organ concert at 7:40 p.m. Christmas Eve, followed by a church service at 8 p.m. 574.533.7845.

Crossroads Community Church, 57415 Alpha Dr., will conduct Christmas Eve Services at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. 574.875.4479

A Christmas Eve service will take place at 7:30 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 105 S. Sixth St. 574.533.4984.

At St. John the Evangelist, 117 W. Monroe St., Christmas Eve services include a family Mass at 5 p.m. in English,7 p.m. in Spanish and a midnight Mass in English at 10:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, Masses will take place at 9:30 a.m. and noon. 574.295.1725

MIDDLEBURY

First Mennonite Church of Middlebury, 203 E. Lawrence St., will conduct a Christmas Eve service at 8 p.m. 574.825.5135.

On Christmas Eve, First United Methodist Church, 301 S. Main St., will serve communion in the sanctuary from 6 to 6 :45 p.m. A candlelight service of lessons and carols begins at 7 p.m. 574.825.2585.

NAPPANEE

Nappanee Missionary Church, 70417 S.R. 19, has scheduled a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service in the worship center and a 7 p.m. Connection service. 574.773.7773.

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

Earth Day is April 22 this year. I have to admit, we don’t recycle a whole lot, and we definitely don’t compost, and I can’t remember the last time I used a homemade cleaner. And I have to admit that I spend little time worry about the well being of our Earth after all the day to day activities of my life is done. Earth Day does help me reconnect with what I’m supposed to be doing, and it makes me feel that at least on one day of the year, I can accomplish a little bit to help our Earth.

The Elkhart Environmental Center will hold their Earth Day Celebration on April 18th from 11am to 2pm. They will have a talk about reptiles and frogs, and then a talk on birds of prey. There will be activities and food. The cost is 5 dollars per car, which is a very inexpensive way to have family fun and support a good cause. I hope all of you celebrate Earth Day, and if any of you do something special for Earth Day, let me know. I hope to collect some traditions for Earth Day.

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

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is seeing what downtown cities do for Christmas decorations.  No matter how big or small, it seems like no city wants to be left out.  There are usually lamppost decorated, and lights on building.  Some have a town Christmas tree.  Businesses generally have decorations in their windows.  This is a great time of year, and this weekend Goshen is the place to be.

On November 15 and 16, The Old Bag Factory, in Goshen, is hosting its annual Renaissance of the Arts Festival.  Check out times on our events calendar.  There will be musicians, family activities, and guest artists.   

Outside, a forge will be burning as blade smithies create medieval style instruments.  That would make a very unique gift for your hard to shop for person.  There will be activities for children along with artist demonstrations for everyone. A variety of tasty treats will be available this year with special menu items at the Trolley Cafe and other specialty foods, and a roomful of model train displays will be on-site and running. Members of the local train club will be on hand to answer questions.  The Old Bag Factory is a great place to shop for that hard to find gift, and this weekend should be a great time to gather all those items in one place.

On November 16^th from noon to 5pm, downtown Goshen will be hosting its holiday open house.  Downtown business will be opening their doors for early Christmas shoppers. This annual event helps kickoff the holiday season for Goshen. There will be carolers, string musicians, carriage rides.  Santa will even show up at Goshen Floral from noon to 4pm.  For a great meal, stop at Kelly Jay’s. 

So this weekend, come out and discover Goshen!

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor

 Within the past year, Elkhart County has updated its firework law, however, that will not hinder your fun on the 4^th of July at all.  This is one of the only days that fireworks are allowed. While there are still state laws you must follow about the types of fireworks you can use, you can feel free to blast away in Elkhart County from June 29-July 9. Just remember to please use extreme caution. Spending the night in the hospital is not fun no matter what day of the year it is.

July 4 – Upper St. Joseph River Flotilla. Theme for decorating boats is anything relating to Elkhart city history. Boats form at Six Span Bridge at 12:30pm., head down to the Johnson Street dam at 1pm and then return to Martin’s Landing for presentation of awards. Best viewing from Martin’s Landing. Bleachers available. Live coverage including music and interviews on 88.5 FM from 1 to 4pm.

Fireworks Sky Concert, beginning about 10:30pm at Central High School’s Rice Field. Gates open at 7pm. Music by the band Route 66. Admission: $2. Parking $1

Click here for a complete listing of Michiana Fireworks provided by WNDU