Amish Country Blog

The snow if falling in Amish Country, and we’re suppose to have 6 to 12 inches by tomorrow night.  The weather man says the snow isn’t so bad, but the blowing and drifting that will follow will make traveling difficult.

The Visitor’s Center is also off Exit 92.   We can update you on current road conditions and make recommendations where to stay and eat.  There are lots of hotels and restaurants in the immediate vicinity.  It makes the decision to stop much easier.

For your safety, here are tips from AAA on winter weather driving to make the next couple days of driving that much easier for you.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

The Wakarusa Historical Society’s Educational Days in Wakarusa, Indiana is now open to everyone. This is usually a program for 2^nd to 4^th graders, and now, everyone has the chance to attend Educational Days. These tours are offered each year several weeks prior to our annual Maple Syrup Festival celebrations. 2010 tours will be available from Tuesday, March 16 through Friday,March 19.

The tours are designed for quality educational experiences and include the following FREE opportunities:

Tour the Wakarusa Historical Museum Buildings

Tour the Maple Sugar Camp. Sweet maple syrup will be available for purchase.

Popcorn fresh from the kettle.

Tour Historic Downtown Wakarusa.

A visit to the Wakarusa Dime Store. (shop at own discretion)

A bus will be met by a tour guide at the Wakarusa Town Cabin, located on Walnut Street next to the Town Park, then transport you to the Maple Syrup Camp and/or to the Historical Museum Buildings and back again.

For more information, please call the Chamber office at (574) 862-4344 between 8:00 A.M. and noon, Monday through Friday. The deadline for reservations is February 1, 2010.

-Deb Shively, Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce

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.

There’s a unique shopping experience in Nappanee this Friday. It is their Christmas Country Trail and 8 stores will be open from 6pm to Midnight.

The eight businesses participating are:

Little Nook Bookstore
Rentown Variety Store
Stettas Discount
Inkredible Art Stamps
Pine Hill Discount
Nappanee Country Store
Nappanee Bicycle Store

What a great way to experience Nappanee, enjoying the small hometown feel of Christmas, and then buying unique Christmas presents along the way. I hope this turns into an annual event, and that more businesses are willing to participate.

Click here for the map of the businesses. Let me know what you bought, and if you enjoyed your experience if you go.

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Children are invited to the Elkhart County Historical Museum to learn about the holiday customs immigrants have brought to Elkhart County.  This children’s activity day will be held on Saturday, December 12th from 10:00-4:00 and will feature crafts and activities for all to enjoy.

“The holiday season is full of fun and festive traditions and many of these traditions have been brought to us from cultures around the world,” says Curator of Education Rebecca Oestreich.  “This activity day will teach kids the history behind some of their favorite customs as well as introduce them to new traditions they can take and try out at home”.

For example, children will have the opportunity to explore the Swedish tradition of St. Lucia, the African American celebration of Kwanzaa, the European practice of St. Nicholas coming to fill shoes with treats, and the German immigrant custom of hiding a pickle on the Christmas tree.  “The Christmas tree pickle is a fun game where parents hide a pickle somewhere on the Christmas tree.  The first child to find the pickle gets an extra present and good luck all year long,” explains Oestreich.  It was originally thought to have come from Germany, but the tradition is now believed to have been started right here in the United States by German immigrants.

The children’s activity day will also focus on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  “The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a holiday celebration brought by Mexicans to our area.  It coincidentally falls on December 12th so we will be having special readings of Tomie DePaola’s book The Lady of Guadalupe throughout the day along with a craft,” says Oestreich.  “Additionally, one lucky child will win the DePaola book to take home.”

Admission to the Children’s Activity Day is $1/child.  For more information, please contact Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

- Rebecca Oestreich-Elkhart County Historical Museum

Exhibit Features Artists Diana Bennett & Lina Zerkle

Designs by Diana Photos

Designs by Lina Zerkle Photos

Have you seen this amazing exhibit? Share your comments with us today!

The ECCVB has long recognized the importance of cultural and heritage travel and developed the Heritage Trail to increase visitor volume, diversity, spending and economic impact for the entire destination. It’s the cornerstone for many programs. The nationally recognized route, along with a self-guiding audio tour, takes visitors into the downtowns of our cities and towns and along country roads introducing them to the area’s history, heritage, and people while directing them to must-see attractions. It’s dynamic; it’s popular; and it’s free. In 2009 alone, we’ve distributed over 3,200 Heritage Trail CDs. Add to that over 3,000 audio downloads from our website. When you consider our average visitor spends $52 per day and stays 2.8 days, then multiply that by an average 2.5 persons per vehicle, the economic impact of heritage travel is significant

-Diana Lawson, FCDME, ECCVB Executive Director

Have you driven the Heritage Trail Audio Driving Tour? Leave a comment and tell us about your experience.

Ahh, Halloween is on Saturday.  I have 500 pieces of candy, and I’m still not sure that it’s going to be enough.  Saturday is the big day, and it makes me nervous that there will be twice as many kids out as usual. This year,  I have out a half bale of hay and 4 pumpkins, and that’s the most festive I’ve been for Halloween in years.

Here are a few events that are going on in Amish Country to help get you in the Halloween mood.

Thursday, October 29
The Elkhart Environmental Center annual Monster Hike.  Bring your children out to trick or treat for Halloween with nature’s monsters. They will see live creepy crawlers. Costumes are encouraged. A $3 donation is appreciated. Please call 293-5070 to register.  It starts at 11am.

Friday, October 30
Hall of Heroes, the largest Superhero Museum in the world has been taken over by Doctor Doom and his fellow nefarious colleagues.  Experience this Halloween Extravaganza as seen from the villain’s point of view.  From 7pm to 10pm, admission is $5.

Trick or Treat on Main Street in Goshen.  Starting at Noon, you can visit participating Main Street businesses and do your trick or treating, and shopping all at once.  It’s a good way to get your little ones ready for the big day.

Saturday, October 31
American Countryside Farmers Market will give treats to all kids who dress in costume.  There will be games, clown, balloons, and entertainment.  It will be a fun time for all those who want to celebrate a little earlier in the day.

For more events, check out our events page at AmishCountry.org/events

Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Linton’s Enchanted Garden is one of my most favorite places in Amish Country. There is so much to look at, and many things to do there. The garden center is packed full of items for the house. There are always unique and lovely things to help make the inside of your house beautiful, especially during this time of the year. They have lots of fall and Christmas decorations. The Garden Center also holds the floral shop, so you can pick up your fresh flowers too.

Outside, are all the plants, trees, shrubs and flowers you could want. At this time of the year, there are also pumpkins, and you can get whole or half bales of hay. I bought 3 small pumpkins, one medium, and a half of bale of hay. I don’t know if we’re going to decorate the pumpkins, but it’s as festive as I’ve gotten in five years.

October 24 and 25 is Spooktacular. You can save on plants and flowers, and the kids get treats too.

So when you need that plant or flower, go to Linton’s. You’ll find the perfect plant, and a few other things to go along with it.

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