Feasts & Festivals
Indiana has a wealth of feasts and festivals. Getting the word out isn't always easy for local communities. Indiana Foodways Alliance wants to help promote such festivities and help local communities be more successful.
Get a taste of some of Indiana's holiday special events
Here are festive events you'll want to taste this holiday season. Also, check back often for details about other upcoming holiday events or winter celebrations.
The Festival of Gingerbread, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Enjoy the culinary creativity at the 22nd annual Festival of Gingerbread in Fort Wayne, Ind. More than 100 gingerbread creations will be displayed at the History Center. The displays are judged in one of eight categories: children, teens, adults, culinary students, families, and professionals. A winner will be chosen from each category.
Museum tours, a lighting ceremony, Santa visits and live entertainment also will highlight the festivities. In addition, children will enjoy the stuffed animal give-away and face painting. Everyone will delight in the gingerbread refreshments available in the gift shop.
Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista, Muncie, Ind.
Minnetrista’s 40-acre landscape of gardens, artwork and museum provide a unique attraction to Hoosiers. Through workshops, exhibits, educational programs and events, Minnetrista is dedicated to educating people about nature, history and art.
This year’s 10th annual Enchanted Luminaria Walk is themed “Gingerbread Acres,” and will feature gingerbread house workshops leading up to the event. Approximately 3,500 candles will light the enchanted walkway. Enjoy a candle-lit carriage ride through the gardens and grounds of Minnetrisa. And later, vote for the best gingerbread house on display. Decorate your own gingerbread cookie to eat! Listen to live music as you stroll through the holiday walkway to spark that holiday spirit.
Dickens of a Christmas, Lafayette, Ind.
For the 11th year, downtown Lafayette will transform its streets to Victorian England for the annual Dickens of a Christmas. Characters from Dicken’s novels will be brought to life as actors mingle with visitors while enjoying carriage rides. Local choirs and musicians will perform throughout the downtown area. Live demonstrations of Victorian crafts such as spinning and lace making will also be featured. A special holiday farmer’s market will be set up with a variety of vendors, and the evening will conclude with the tree lighting ceremony.
Minnetrista Gingerbread House Workshop, Muncie, Ind.
The gingerbread house workshop is a great opportunity for families and groups to have fun learning the art of gingerbread house making.
Clabber Girl Country Christmas, Terra Haute, Ind.
The Clabber Girl Country Christmas in Terra Haute will feature the activities for both young and old. Enjoy breakfast with Santa and then snap a picture of him and Mrs. Clause with the children. Carriage rides will be offered, and carolers will perform throughout the festivities. Other events include a children's Santa shop, crafts and games and an assortment of holiday recipes.
While you're at the Clabber Girl Country Christmas, the Hulman family tradition of excellence in culinary manufacturing is preserved and celebrated in the Clabber Girl Museum. The museum is housed in a building that Herman Hulman and his sons built in 1892. Clabber Girl products from the past are on display in the “Hall of Memories,” along with other exciting exhibits. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. memorabilia and an authentic Indy race car is on display from the family’s deep involvement with the corporation.
After checking out the displays, be sure to visit Antonia’s Country Store, or grab a bite to eat in The Clabber Girl Bake Shop with a cup of 1879 Hulman blend Rex Coffee.
Clabber Girl is a member of the Indiana Foodways Alliance and a premier site on the Route 40 Culinary Trail.
'Winter With the Wineries,' Southern Indiana
Nestled along the hills of southern Indiana and situated on the remains of an unglaciated plateau, you will find the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail. A delight for wine connoisseurs and novices alike, these eight wineries offer complimentary tasting, along with tours, gourmet picnic foods and gift items.
While visiting the wine trail is a delight to the palette at any time of the year, the holiday season is especially tantalizing at the Indiana Uplands. Beginning November 16, the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail will host its third annual “Winter With the Wineries” event, which will run through January 27, 2008, or while supplies last.
At your first stop along the trail, you will receive a basket and a complimentary gift. Each winery along the trail will offer other complimentary winter goodies to add to your basket, along with award winning wine samples. The complete holiday gift basket has a retail value of $100.
After visiting all eight wineries, you also will receive an artist’s print signed by the winemakers of the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail.
The Indiana Uplands run from the Monroe County/Morgan County line north of Bloomington, Ind., and south to the Ohio River, a distance of roughly 110 miles. The greatest east-west distance is approximately 65 miles between Jasper in Dubois County to Henryville in Clark County.
For more information on “Winter With the Wineries” or on the wineries involved, visit the Indiana Uplands Web site at www.IndianaUplands.com.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at any of the wineries on the trail.
Wineries along the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail are as follows:
Brown County Winery
4520 State Road 46 E.
Nashville, IN 47448
812-988-6144
http://www.browncountywinery.com
Butler Winery
6200 E. Robinson Road
Bloomington, IN 47408
812-332-6660
http://www.butlerwinery.com
Carousel Winery
8987 State Road 37
Bedford, IN 47421
877-AWine4U
French Lick Winery
8498 W. State Road 56
French Lick, IN 47432
888-494-6380
http://www.frenchlickwinery.com
Huber Winery
19816 Huber Road
Starlight, IN 47106
800-345-WINE
http://www.huberwinery.com
Oliver Winery
8024 N. State Road 37
Bloomington, IN 47404
800-258-2783
http://www.oliverwinery.com
Turtle Run Winery
940 Saint Peters Church Road N.E.
Corydon, IN 47112
866-2TURTLE
http://www.turtlerunwinery.com
Winzerwald Winery
26300 North Indian Lake Road
Bristow, IN 47515
866-6WINZER
http://www.winzerwaldwinery.com
Minnetrista Winter Market Gingerbread House Demonstration, Muncie, Ind.
Mona Bever from Under the Sun Country Bakery will demonstrate the best techniques for designing and decorating gingerbread houses.
For more information:
November 15
9 a.m.
Orchard Shop Courtyard
http://www.minnetrista.net
Cost:
Free Admission
Downtown Christmas Stroll, Vincennes, Ind.
Historic Vincennes is home to the George Rogers Clark Historical Park, the Indiana Military Museum and the William Henry Harrison Mansion, as well as tearooms, ice cream shops, and specialty dinning restaurants that provide a wealth of culinary options.
During Vincennes' Downtown Christmas Stroll, Main Street is decorated, and the event's variety of activities capture the holiday spirit. Entertainment from school choirs and barbershop quartets serenade visitors taking horse-drawn carriage rides and on their way to have conversations with Santa.
Food booths will offer an array of refreshments, such as hot cocoa and cookies.
Forks of the Wabash Pioneer Festival, Huntington, Ind.
On the banks of the broad Wabash River, Historic Forks of the Wabash in Huntington conveys the history of this small plot of land and how so many cultures - Miami Indians, English, Irish and German immigrants and even travelers on the Erie Canal - intersected, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Military drills, a vintage baseball game and stage shows offer something for everyone in this small town festival.
Bring your curiosity and an appetite to Heirs Park for a myriad of mid-1800s activities, including history, good down-home cooking, gardens and wildlife. Open fire encampments demonstrate pioneer cooking from rabbit to wild boar. Get there early for cinnamon rolls and the pancake and sausage breakfast, and stay for the ribs, the church booth homemade soups, stews and pudgie pies.
Missisenewa 1812, north of Marion, Ind.
Mississinewa 1812 is the largest War of 1812 living history event in the country. It commemorates the battle fought here between 600 federal troops and British-allied Indians. The authentic portrayal of American and British military encampments, a breathtaking battle re-enactment, the Woodland Indian village, traders' camp and a Rivertown village combine to bring the sights, sounds and flavors of the early Indiana frontier to visitors.
Amongst all these activities are the open fires where period food, such as ham and beans made in a big cauldron, pork chops roasted over a fire, English trap pie - meat filled crescents of crusty dough, chicken and noodles, apple dumplings and French pastries such as cream puffs, is cooked. Drink some sasparilla, and don't expect soda pop here; carbonation is so 21st century. Authentic foods only, so make sure you taste the kettle corn still warm from the huge copper kettles stirred over open fires as you stroll along the river and watch the canoes glide by.
Feast of the Hunter's Moon, south of Lafayette, Ind.
The Feast of the Hunters' Moon, now in its 40th year, is about honoring and preserving our Colonial heritage. Held on the Wabash River just south of Lafayette, the feast takes place on 30 acres along the riverfront on land where the 1717 French fort once stood.
Listen to the muskets and cannons boom; smell the smoke from the many cooking and craft fires. There are so many events that make the feast special, but one not to be missed is the landing of the Voyageurs, a re-enactment of the French travelers who were hired to take goods to the forts that sat on the riverbanks in what was known as Indian country. These hearty men sang French chants to help them with both homesickness and to keep up the pace as they paddled for up to 16 to 18 hours a day. Meals were twice a day and consisted of a thick soup made from dried corn or peas seasoned with a little pork. Even today, watching them glide along the waters, arriving at the feast, creates a sense of awe.
This is a feast - more than 50 different dishes made from recipes culled from old books and journals - are prepared, much of it prepared over open fires, making the feast one of the 10 best food festivals in the U.S., according to Food Festival USA. Foods include buffalo burgers, hickory chicken, buffalo stew, fry bread, rock candy, pumpkin pie, venison sausage, sassafras candied apples, croquignolles, Voyageur stew and homemade root beer.
More Fall Fairs for Foodies
Chili Cook-Off, Vincennes, Ind.
September 15, 10 a.m-3 p.m. at Patrick Henry Square, Free
ICS Indiana State Championship Cook-off with samplings, river tube races, entertainment and music.
Johnny Appleseed Festival, Fort Wayne, Ind.
September 15-16, Johnny Appleseed Park, Free
Living history demonstrations, 1800s period food, crafts, entertainment and
apples, of course.
Angola Fall Fest, Angola, Ind.
September 21-23, Downtown, Free
Features a food alley, beer tent, lively music and a pet parade.
Conner Prairie Country Fair, Fishers, Ind.
September 21-23, $11 Adults, $7 Youth, 4 & under
free
1886 agricultural fair with Fair Oaks Dairy Classroom, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily,
heirloom apples and pie tastings, cider, roasted corn and turkey legs.
Dekalb's Free Fall Fair, Downtown Auburn, Ind.,
& Fairgrounds
September 24-29, Free
Started more than 75 years ago, this is one of only two original downtown street
fairs concurrent with the county's 4-H fair still celebrated in Indiana.
Church booths serve up chicken dinners, and the homemade doughnuts are worth
the wait in line.
Berry Street Festival, Downtown Greencastle, Ind.
October 6, Free
Unique food, antiques, and crafts across several blocks south of the courthouse.
Red Gold Chili Cook-Off, Elwood, Ind.,
on Main Street
(SR 13)
October 13, Free
Lots of tasty competition. Baked goods and entertainment are also featured.
Past Feasts & Festivals
September 2007 Festivals
October 2007 Festivals
November 2007 Festivals
December 2007 Festivals
January 2008 Fesitvals
February 2008 Festivals
March 2008 Festivals
April 2008 Festivals
May 2008 Festivals
June 2008 Festivals
July 2008 Festivals
August 2008 Festivals
September 2008 Festivals
