Group Events
Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival 
1600 W Market Street
Nappanee , IN 46550
Phone: (574) 773-4188 or 1-800-800-4942 ext. 240
Fax: (574) 773-4180
Email: amishacres@amishacres.com
Web: AmishAcres.com
Contact: Janis Logsdon
Description: Sunshine Artist 3rd Best Traditional Show in 2004 and ABA Top 100 Event for 2003, 2006 and 2008! 380 artists and crafters demonstrate, display, and sell their wares around the historic farm's pond. Paintings, jewelry, clothing, woodworking, and metalworking are just a few of the types of items for sale. Three entertainment stages offer continuous music, comedy, and children's fun. Plenty of festival. Pre-purchased admission tickets are available for groups.
Dates: July 31 - August 3, 2008
Admission: $8.50 per person packages available, group lunch voucher available
Cook's Bison Ranch Calf Days
5645 E 600 S
Wolcottville , IN 46795
Ph: 260.768.7911
FAX: 260.768.7911
Email: buffalopetes@aol.com
Web: cooksbisonranch.com
Contact: Erica Cook
Description: Celebrate the birth of buffalo calves during this exciting day on the farm. Indian dancers, kids games, guided tours provide information on the history of the Cook's farm, the wild buffalo along with the intricacies of raising bison in northern Indiana. Concession food is available on site.
Date: Call for dates
Icons: Motorcoach Parking, Free Admission
Classic Car Cruise-In at Das Dutchman Essenhaus
240 US 20
Middlebury, IN
Phone: (574) 825-9471 or 800-455-9471
Contact: Jill Garris
Web: essenhaus.com
Description: Weekly Classic Car Cruise-In at Das Dutchman Essenhaus
Give your groups a cruise down memory lane Thursday evenings, May through September. Everything from shining Model T’s to souped-up “Muscle Cars” are on display. Live entertainment and door prizes add to the fun. Best yet, it’s free!
Dates: Thursday evenings, May thru September
Icons: Free Admission, Motorcoach Parking
Downtown Shipshewana Mayfest
P.O. Box 637
Shipshewana , IN 46565
Phone: (260) 768-7589
Fax: (260) 768-7589
Email: director@shipshewana.com
Web: shipshewana.com
Contact: Executive Director
Description: Fun for all ages! Parade, live entertainment, music, contest/games, food.
Dates: First Friday and Saturday of May
Icons: Free Admission, Motorcoach Parking
Elkhart County 4-H Fair Senior Day
17746-D C.R. 34
Goshen , IN 46528
Phone: (574) 533-3247
Fax: (574) 534-3743
Email: info@4hfair.org
Web: 4hfair.org
Contact: Kristy Ambrosen
Description: The largest County Fair in the state of Indiana for nine days of family fun. Senior Day features free admission for seniors before noon and a variety of senior friendly artists on the grandstand stage. Enjoy agriculture demonstrations, displays, a giant Midway and top name performers.
Date: Fourth week of July, Senior Day is the 1st Friday
Admission: $5 per person fair admission; $15 per person reserved track seating.
Elkhart Jazz Festival
Downtown Elkhart
Contact: Sonya Harman-Nash
Phone: 800-517-9657
sonya@amishcountry.org
Web: elkhartjazzfestival.com
It's a musical party in the Band Instrument Capital! Your music loving groups are sure to get in the groove. Jazz it up with a behind-the-scenes tour the nation’s only family owned pianomakers and a step-on guided tour celebrating the area’s musical heritage.
Dates: Fourth Friday-Sunday in June.
Admission Fee
Stage or Multistage tickets available
Goshen College Quilt Exhibit
Contact: Ervin Beck
574.533.8163
ervinb@goshen.edu
Web: goshen.edu
The Heirlooms exhibit at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, will include quilts, coverlets and other folk art that has been passed down in Mennonite and Amish families. The quilt that the Goshen College quilt mural reproduces will be included in the display. The exhibit will open in the Library Gallery, in the center of campus, on March 3 and close on August 15, 2008. Free admission. For times of opening and to arrange a group tour, please call 574.535.7418. (July 12 to August 3, group tours only.)
To plan a guided group tour of the Goshen College campus, call 574.535.7588. Interesting spots on campus are the Mennonite Historical Library, the Church-Chapel, the Rec-Fitness Center, the Umble Theater, the John Mishler outdoor sculptures, and the state-of-the-art Music Center, which includes the Sauder Concert Hall, the Hershberger Art Gallery and the Rieth Recital Hall with its Taylor and Boody baroque organ.
Experience Mennonite and Amish handicrafts, some dating back to 1800, representing these religious groups' Pennsylvania-German culture originating in eastern Pennsylvania and brought to the Midwest. Mennonites and Amish did not produce FINE ART but did produce wonderful FOLK ART, as this exhibit will show. Get acquainted with the material folk culture of the Amish and Mennonites, many pieces of which are in the major museums in the eastern U.S., but much of which has been brought and preserved in Northern Indiana families. A special angle of the exhibit is the line of inheritance that each piece represents and narratives of the making or inheritance of the items.
Dates: Goshen College is open for tours year round.
Typical hours are:
During School Year: open from 8 a.m. to ll a.m. weekdays; noon to 5 Saturdays; noon to 11 p.m. Sundays.
May 22 to July 11,2008 9:30 to 4:30 weekdays; not open weekends.
July 12 to Aug 3,2008 closed; but can be opened for tour groups, arr. in advance.
Aug 4 to 15, 2008, 9 to 4:30 weekdays.
Please call in advance to be sure on your specific date/time interest.
Tour Length: 30-45 minutes
Admission: Free
Honeyville Quilt Auction
Ben Borntreger Residence & Honeyville
4110 S. 1000 W.
Millersburg , IN 46543
Phone: (260) 593-2640
Contact: Ben Borntreger
Description: A hugh variety of quilts, wall hangings, rugs, and more handcrafted by the Amish/Mennonite communities.
Dates: Early April and Mid Sept.
Admission: Free
Lolly’s Annual Pajama Sale
Davis Mercantile
PO Box 277
Shipshewana , IN 46565
Phone: (260) 768-4703
Fax: (260) 768-7304
Web: lollys.com
Contact: Elsie Miller
Description: Enjoy mega savings at Lolly's Fabrics in the Old Davis Hotel, Davis Mercantile and other merchants along Harrison Street. Must wear pajamas or no discount!
Dates: First Saturday in February
Hours: 6am- 9pm
Admission: Free
Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale and Quilt Auction
P.O. Box 243
Goshen , IN 46527
Phone: (574) 463-8373 or (574) 534-1735
Fax: (574) 463-7257
Email: mennonitesale@yahoo.com
Contact: Dan Byler or James Nofziger
Description: This sale is nationally known for its three large auctions featuring over 300 quilts, antiques, new and used items plus a smorgasbord of foods all sold to support worldwide relief. Located on the 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen and sponsored by local Mennonite churches.
Dates: Fourth Friday night & Saturday in September
Admission: Free
Topeka Annual Quilt Show
Methodist Church & Topeka
PO Box 357
Topeka , IN 46571
Phone: (260) 593-2050 or (260) 593-2860
Email: snyders@maplenet.net
Web: topekain.net
Contact: Doris Haggard or Martha Snyder
Description: One of the area’s largest and oldest quilt shows. A variety of quilts and quilted items for sale.
Dates: End of June
Admission: $3 per person
Fall Festival Weekend
Elkhart County CVB
Phone: (800) 517-9657
Fax: (574) 262-3925
Email: sonya@amishcountry.org
Web: AmishCountryTours.org
Contact: Sonya Nash
Description: Four very unique fall festivals within a 20 minute drive, on one spectacular fall weekend! Evening entertainment at Amish Acres or an in-home meal can be added. Hub and Spoke Itineraries are perfect during this Fall Festival Weekend...so much to do...so little time.
Dates: September 19-21, 2008
Misc: Free Motorcoach parking, handicapped accessible
Autumn Splendor Arts & Crafts Show
17746-D C.R. 34
Goshen , IN 46528
Phone: (574) 533-3247
Fax: (574) 534-3743
Email: info@4hfair.org
Web: 4hfair.org
Contact: Kristy Ambrosen
Description: Over 150 juried artists & craftsman provide high quality shopping for everyone. Free Admission
Dates: September 20, 2008
Hours: 8am - 3pm
Nappanee Apple Festival
Nappanee Chamber of Commerce
302 W. Market St
Nappanee , IN 46550
574-773-7281 or 877-APPLE75
FAX 574-773-7947
Email: nappaneeced@kconline.com
Web: nappaneeapplefestival.org
Contact: Larry Andrews
Description: Crafts, food, entertainment, parade, and contests galore. Groups can participate in their own apple peeling contest or apple pie eating contest. Enjoy a piece of the World's largest apple pie - 7 ft and 600 pounds!
Dates: Thursday - Sunday, September 18-21, 2008
Hours: Thursday: 5pm-10pm, Friday & Saturday: 9am - 11pm Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Middlebury Fall Festival
Middlebury Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 243
109 1/2 South Main St
Middlebury , IN 46540
574-825-4300
FAX 574-825-7541
Email: lbaxley@middleburyin.com
Web: middleburyIN.com
Contact: Linda Baxley
Description: Charming people welcome you to an enchanting fall festival. Groups enjoy the hometown atmosphere complete with entertainment, crafts, antique tractor displays, farm equipment displays and a farmers market. Free admission.
Dates: Friday - Saturday, September 19-20, 2008
Hours: 9am - 7pm
Bonneyville Mill Celebration
Bonneyville Mill
53373 C.R. 131
Bristol IN 46507
Phone: (574) 535-6458
Fax: (574) 535-6616
Email: jerry@elkhartcountyparks.org
Web: elkhartcountyparks.org
Contact: Jerry Good or Marlene Lantzer, Elkhart County Park and Recreation Department
Description: Hop aboard the horse drawn tram to visit a turn of the century agricultural. Enjoy watching historic crafters, steam powered equipment demonstrations and taste wholesome period food. Tour Bonneyville Mill, Indiana's oldest continuously operating grist mill.
Dates of Operation: Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 20-12, 2008
Hours: 8am & 5pm
Admission: $3 per person
Essenhaus Quilt Show
The Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center
US 20
Middlebury, IN
574.825.9471 or 800.455.9471
Email: jill@essenhaus.com
Web: essenhaus.com
Groups find gorgeous quilts irresistible and love to meet those who create them. They can do just that and more at the first annual quilt show at Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center in Middlebury. Demonstrations, vendors, "people's choice" award, and shopping discounts add to the excitement and perfectly complement the new Quilt Gardens Tour!
Stitches of Devotion
Elkhart County Historical Museum
April 20 to November 10.
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(574) 848.4322
Web: elkhartcountyhistoricalmuseum.blogspot.com
Thirteen of the finest examples were chosen for display from the museum’s collection of nearly 70 bedcovers. Selections were made based upon the quality of handwork and historical relevancy each textile provided. The museum staff also tried to pick bedcovers that represented most of the county’s cities and towns, as well as limit similar quilt patterns.Two centuries of quilts and coverlets will be shown, with most of the examples coming from the mid 19th Century. The exhibit will also display several incredible artifacts related to making bedcovers. Numerous sewing kits, a wooden floor loom, sewing machines, spinning wheels, and a quilt frame will accompany the textiles. Most of the artifacts that will be displayed are from the mid to late 19th Century. Natural dyes used to color coverlets will be shown, which included some peculiar ingredients like dried insects and urine.
Most importantly, this exhibit will tell the stories behind each bedcover and artifact. Visitors will learn about local quilting organizations or customs, as well as the entire process in making a bedcover during the 19th Century.
Groups are encouraged to contact the museum to schedule a special “behind-the-scenes” program to view the nearly 50 bedcovers that were not selected for the exhibit. The museum is also hosting a poetry reading that will include poems about quilts on April 20.
The exhibit was developed to coincide with the ECCVB’s Quilt Garden Tour. The museum is hosting a 15 ft x 15 ft mural based upon a bedcover to be shown in the exhibit.
Quilters - The Musical
Elco Performing Arts Center
401 S. Main Street
Elkhart, IN 46516
Box Office: 574.293.4469
Box Office Toll Free: (800) 294.8223
Web: Elcotheatre.com
Admission: $15 Adults, $12 Students and Children
Thursday, August 7, 2008 - 6pm Dinner / 8 pm show
Sat, August 9, 2008 - 8 pm show
Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 3pm show
Quilters is pieced together with love and stitched with pride…a thing of beauty, comfort and joy. - New York Post Nominated for 6 Tony Awards, Quilters is a magical musical about a pioneer woman and her daughters sharing stories and songs through their exquisite handmade quilts; each quilt block commemorating an event in their lives.
Quilters blends a series of interrelated scenes into a rich mosaic which captures the sweep and beauty, the terror and joy, the harsh challenge and abiding rewards of frontier life. Illuminating stories contained in various patches or blocks with music, dance and drama, the action depicts the lot of women on the frontier: girlhood, marriage, childbirth, spinsterhood, twisters, fire, illness and death. But, with this, there is also love, warmth, rich and lively humor and the moving spectacle of simple human dignity and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
Full Circle: Old and New Quilts and Quilters
March 29 – Aug. 14, 2009 (July 13 – Aug. 3, group tours only)
Goshen College- The Library Gallery 2008-2009
Located in the lower level of the Harold and Wilma Good Library
Goshen, IN 46526
574.535.7418
Mennonite and Amish quilts from the collection of Rebecca Haarer set a historical context for the original designs of master quilters Edith Shanholt, lifelong resident of Elkhart and LaGrange Counties, and Claire Baker, native of California. The exhibit demonstrates continuity in the local tradition as well as influences to and from quilters who come from around the world to quilt circle gatherings in north central Indiana. Rebecca Haarer, curator. Sponsored by the Mennonite-Amish Museum Committee. Opening reception Sunday, March 29, 2-4 p.m.
Regional Premier - Hats!
The Musical Elkhart Civic Theatre
210 East Vistula St. (SR 120)
Elkhart, IN
574.848.4116
Web: ElkhartCivicTheatre.org
Info & Group contact: Kellie Kelleher
June 5 - 20, 2009
Red Hatters and every woman over 50 will love this show written about them! Its heart-warming, laugh-out-loud entertainment when a woman facing her 50th birthday meets remarkable gals who show her the fun side of 50 plus. Hats off to the musical score too, with songs written by top-names like Melissa Manchester, Kathie Lee Gifford and Pam Tillis.
Elkhart Civic Theatre 2008-09 Season Preview
Ticket prices:
GROUPS (15 or more):
Musicals: $12 per ticket
Straight shows: $10 per person
Box Office: (574) 848-4116 (M-F; 1:00-5:30 p.m.)
Musicals: $15 adults; $13 students and seniors (62 and over)
Straight shows: $13 adults; $11 students and seniors
