Amish Country Blog

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

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.

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

In case you don’t know, this weekend is the Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival.  It starts on Thursday, July 30 and runs until Sunday, August 2.  For $7, you can enjoy the 300 juried artists.  This is the area’s biggest Art and Crafts Festival.

There are always unique and fun things to see, and I can usually get an early start on my Christmas shopping.   There is so much to see.  I spend most of my day there, and I always try to be there when the gates open.  That way I can get close parking.  It makes going out to the car and emptying my arms of purchases much easier.

It amazes me every year to see the number of vendors who accept credit cards.  It’s a convenient feature, and makes sticking to my budget much harder.
Also, remember to enjoy the Amish Acres Restaurant when you’ve finished with the Arts and Crafts Festival.  A great meal on top of day of shopping is a wonderful way to wind down.  Then, if you didn’t come early, you have more strength to make that long walk out to your car.
I was also wondering what you like about the Arts and Crafts Festival.  Let me know what you buy when you’re at the Festival.

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

Borkholder Dutch Village is located in Nappanee. I went on a Saturday, and was surprised that I couldn’t find it very easily, but once I saw the broken down road sign, I knew my superior locating skills had not been at fault.

When I came up to the small group of building, I wasn’t sure that this would be worth my time. On the outside, it didn’t seem as big as I pictured it in my head. I almost thought of turning around, and going somewhere else. Then I thought since I’m here, I should go and look around. I went in expecting to spend about 10 minutes there. I couldn’t believe how many items are actually in the building!

If you want to find something old, unique, one of a kind, or crafty, come to Borkholder’s . They have antique items—dishes, books, furniture, glassware, trinkets, and toys. They also have a lot of crafty items. There are quilts and knickknacks, children’s toys and decorations. I was surprised by how interested I was in all the items. I walked up and down the aisles amazed at all there was to see.

They also have a restaurant attached to the Market, which is the first building you see when visit. I did not get a chance to eat there, but I did make a note to go back and try the food. It smelled wonderful.

So when you want to go to a flea market in Amish Country, visit Borkholder Dutch Village. It is time well spent.

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

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

In Amish Country, we do a lot of celebrating the holidays.  We like decorations, and trees and lights, and anything festive that warms up the winter weather.  I think people in the south don’t appreciate Christmas decorations as much as northerners do, because they have sunshine – and we – well we have snow, dark and cold.  The darkest day of the year is coming up too.  During the winter solstice, we’ll have exactly 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of nighttime. 

So I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I haven’t decorated for Christmas yet.  Well, OK, I’ll admit that we hardly ever decorate for Christmas.  I love other peoples light, and love going over to my friends and families houses to see how great their trees are, but me, I don’t like to put in the effort.  It’s too much work for such a small amount of time.  And now that we have a toddler, it seems everyone wants me to feel bad for not decorating for her. (I don’t feel bad!)

So, it’s a great thing that there are a lot of places to see winter lights and trees in Amish Country of Northern Indiana.  The American Countryside Farmers Market has trees decorated for charity.  Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Amish Acres and the Blue Gate Restaurant and Theatre are all decorated for Christmas.  Linton’s Enchanted Gardens is very festive, and when you visit, puts you in the holiday mood.  Our downtowns are decked out in lights and ornaments.  So while you’re out Christmas shopping, enjoy the effort others have made to make this area festive for the holidays.

Check out The Fantastic New Entertainment Line Ups!

Amish Acres Round Barn Theater promises a fun and exciting line up. The national home to Plain and Fancy will be hosting The Fantasticks, The Music Man, Carousel, Kiss Me Kate and A Wonderful Life in 2008. The theater season runs from April 15 to December 31st.

Subscribe to our blog feed to get up the minute information on shows such as:

Tom Netherton former Lawerence Welk show performer has found a home in Elkhart County. Tom will be performing exclusive shows at American Countryside Farmers Market. Beginning on Valentines Day Tom will perform his shows periodically throughout the year.

If you are interested in Gospel Music or Comedy you won’t want to miss a night out at the Blue Gate in Shipshewana, where they offer wholesome entertainment and great food.

Elkhart has a very talented community theater groups offering performances throughout the year at the Bristol Opera House and The Elco Performing Arts Center.