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Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival, Amish Exhibits, Art, Crafts, Educational Exhibits, Elkhart County, Family Fun, Indiana, Local Craftsmen, Nappanee
Nappanee, IN – Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort will host the 51st annual Arts & Crafts Festival August 1 through August 4, 2013. For the fifth time, Amish Acres has been selected by the American Bus Association (ABA)as a TOP 100 event in North America solidifying the festival’s standing in the top echelon of America’s festivals dedicated to the creative arts. In addition, the Arts and Crafts Festival was recognized for the first time as a top ten event in the state of Indiana by AmericaTheBeautiful.com and Top Events USA.
The event’s 2014 “Proud as a Peacock’s Plumage: The Colorful World of Art” theme is derived from the new “It’s A-Peeling” apple art, an Interactive outdoor art exhibit placing four foot high fiberglass apples designed and painted by local artists around Nappanee and funded through individual and corporate sponsorships. Amish Acres apple features a peacock in full plumage promoting Amish Acres historic Kuhn’s Apple Cider Mill, ranked one of the Top 10 Cider Mills in America.
Over 300 artists and crafter’s from 35 States, surround Amish Acres pond to ply their trade and sell their wares. The event brings to this northern Indiana historic farm a marketplace filled with the creations of artists and artisans from every corner of the country. Nearly 60,000 visitors, many representing third generations, descend on the farm annually for the celebration that includes live strolling musicians and entertainment on four stages throughout the day, festive food from apple pie to zucchini bread, and $5,000 in cash prizes awarded by professional judges from 900 entries in the competition tent.
The fourth generation of the founding family is now involved in the festival’s
The cider mill stood in two locations before being moved to the Amish Acre location in the early 1900s. It was used each fall to press cider from the orchands of neighboring Amish farmers. The press has a listed capacity of 3,000 gallons per day. It was powered by a steam engine. The stone grist mill was added by Amish Acres.
planning and production. Richard Pletcher, founder of the festival and Amish Acres, remains CEO and Jennifer Pletcher Wysong is the festival director. The event started as a clothes line show in downtown Nappanee during sidewalk days in 1962. Amish Acres was created and grew out of the demand from the early festival’s visitors for Amish related experiences and products.
Over $250,000 in cash prizes have been awarded over the last five decades. The Best of Show collection is on permanent display in the new Arts & Crafts Best of Show Museum located in the Barn Loft Wine Room of Amish Acres Restaurant.
Festival hours & Admission Prices are:
- Thursday-Saturday (August 1-3) 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday (August 4) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Admission price is $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors (60 & older), active military, and students 12 – 17 and free for children under age 12.
- Round Barn Theater Curtain Times 7:30pm
- Parking is free with several parking areas and six entrances for visitors’ convenience.
Amish Acres is located on U.S. Highway 6, one mile west of downtown Nappanee. Pre-event tickets and four-day passes can be purchased online. More information on Amish Acres, the Arts and Crafts Festival, and The Round Barn Theatre can be obtained online at AmishAcres.com
