Amish Country Blog

Last Sunday, I went to the Community Showcase of Arts Choir and Ensemble Recital at Goshen College Sauder Hall.

First, let me say that I forget how wonderfully intimate Sauder Hall is. It seats about 300 people, and you  feel very close to the stage and the performers.  This modern facility is a great asset to Goshen College, and a wonderful resource for the community.

The first group that played was the Ensemble groups.   They all did great, and the music was done well.  I loved seeing the New Horizon Orchestra play together.  Ages ranged from 8 to 80, and what a treat it was listening to the musicians.   They played a rendition of Autumn from the 4 Seasons, and a piece from Tchaikovsky.

The Shout to Joy and Rejoice choirs both sang.  The Rejoice Choir (grades 6-8) and Shout to Joy Choir (grades 3-5)  did a terrific job on “This Little Light of Mine.”

There are is a lot of talent in Goshen, and I am looking forward to the Spring Recital.  You can check out the Community Showcase of Arts events on the Goshen College website www.gcmusiccenter.org, along with all the events happening at Sauder Hall.

- 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

There are definite signs people are traveling shorter distances, so Amish Acres has adjusted its services and offerings to appeal to a more local audience. For example, it’s expanded its restaurant menu beyond the Threshers Dinner introducing fresh ideas such as the new Sunday Buffet, German Sausage Wednesdays, and Half-Price Thursdays with a ½ price rib dinner, ½ price theatre tickets (non-reserved seating) and ½ price hotel suites – encouraging people to start their weekend getaway early. And it seems to be working.

Amish Acres has also taken a totally different marketing approach and forged cooperative partnerships with CVS in over 400 of its Midwest stores and all Kroger, Owens, and Scotts stores in most of Indiana.

Richard Pletcher, Founder and CEO, Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort, Nappanee, IN

How far do you plan to travel for your summer vacation? Let us know.

I’ve been told that Hoosier use the word “enjoy” more than anyone other Midwest state I thought that was a strange observation, until I realized how much I use the word enjoy when I’m talking. So here are some things that I enjoy.

I enjoy all the good homemade baked items that we can buy in this area from the rosemary garlic cabatta bread at Artisan’s Bread in the American Countryside Farmers Market, to the doughnuts and pies from the Essenhaus Bakery. I also know too many people who enjoy all of our homemade baked-goods and now enjoy a trip to the gym five times a week to keep with their habit.

I enjoy all the festivals that come up in the spring through fall. The first one of the Spring is the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival, April 17 and 18th. and I hope you all go and have fun.

I enjoy this area. I enjoy living by the St. Joe River and being able to walk beside it every day. I enjoy how the ducks see a human, automatically recognize the human as a source of food, and come quacking. I enjoy living in a city that has three parks within walking distance of where I live. I enjoy having county parks within minutes of where I live.
This is just some of things that I enjoy about this area. Can you let me know what you enjoy when you visit this area? I can’t wait to hear from you – and if I receive enough responses, I’ll put them in a future blog.

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

I’m starting to see people coming back to Amish Country.  The pace is picking up in the Visitor Center and the  Heritage Trail driving tour CD and map are popular.  It’s fun to watch! I have a few things that I need to tell you about Amish Country before you come to help make your trip a little easier.

First is that you need to begin early and stop early.  Amish Country is a farming community at heart, and we get up with the sun, and close down as the sun is starting to set.  If you want to visit shops, or visit businesses, or go to a museum, plan your day for a 9am to 6pm.  You can always start earlier, but just keep that 6pm close time in your mind.  Restaurants do stay open later.

If you want to learn about the Amish, the best place to go is Menno-Hof in Shipshewana.  They are dedicated to telling the Amish and Mennonite story.

Great food is abundant in Amish Country.  Pack a cooler so you can keep all your food purchases fresh. Driving the Heritage Trail is the best way to take in Amish Country, and it takes 3 and a half hours if you follow the audio tour and don’t stop.  It will take most of your day if you want to make stops…and well worth it!  You should plan on making at least a few stops on your way.  And don’t forget to bring your camera.  There are lots of great photo opportunities in Amish Country.

So have fun when you’re out and about in Amish Country, and I hope you enjoy your stay.

Have you driven the Heritage Trail audio tour? Let us know. Leave your comment

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor

It’s after the holiday season in Amish country, and the snow is still coming.  I am having a hard time believing that this is the second week of January already.  Mina is still not happy with her Elmo Live, which is too mechanical in her dad’s and my opinion. She sees it across the room and says “scared”.

Although it’s cold and snowing there are a few things to do this weekend that would get your mind off of the weather for a couple of hours. I wouldn’t miss the Bobby McFerrin concert at Goshen College on Sunday.  I would also go to the Bristol Opera House to see Sherlock Homes:  The Final Adventure.  The Elkhart Civic Theatre puts on great shows. The Elkhart County Historical Museum is doing a presentation on researching your house.  If you have an older home, and want to know more about its history, this would be the place for you on Thursday.  (Please go to amishcountry.org/events to find out details on the above events.)

So while the weather outside if not so great, get out and do some the wonderful things that Amish Country has to offer indoors.

Mindy Engle, Amish Country Northern Indiana contributor