Jul. 19, 2016
The 54TH annual Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, August 4 - August 7, 2016 on the grounds of Amish Acres, an 80 acre historic Amish farm listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For the eighth time, Amish Acres Festival has been selected by the American Bus Association (ABA) as a TOP 100 event in North America.
The festival was
selected by "The Culture Trip" as one of Indiana's 10 Summer Events and Festivals "You Shouldn't Miss" in 2016, solidifying the festival's standing in the top echelon of America's festivals dedicated to the creative arts. The Culture Trip is a London based one-stop, global website, showcasing the best of art, food, culture and travel for every country in the world. Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival joins nine other Hoosier events for the summer of 2016 with seven of the 10 events residing
in Indianapolis including the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Marsh Symphony, and Indy Fringe Theatre Festival.
The event's theme "Crazy for Art" theme is inspired by The Round Barn Theatre's production of "Crazy for You". It resembles the patches of randomly varying sizes, shapes, colors and fabrics that make up this crazy quilt festival that puts smiles on faces of all shapes, sizes, and colors, from near and far.
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 with nearly 300 juried artists/crafters from 200 cities and 30 states. Visitors from across the state and beyond numbering almost 60,000, many representing third generations, descend on The Farm annually for the celebration. It includes entertainment on four stages throughout the day, strolling musicians, folk singers, bluegrass music, and more. Live Broadway musical theatre in repertory, Plain and Fancy and Crazy for You will be performed on the Joseph Stein Stage in The Round Barn Theatre for a combined total of six performances. In addition, selections of songs from both shows will be performed on the festival grounds. Festive food will be served including pulled-pork, soft-serve ice cream, fried vegetables, donkey ears, and more.
Highlights of the festival include the opportunity to receive $5 Amish Acres gift cards that will be given to the first 500 shoppers each day who spend $50 or more in artist purchases. In addition, drawings for visitor giveaways include theatre and overnight getaway packages. In addition to $14,000 in Gift Cards, $5,000 in Artist Cash Prizes and $2,000 in Amish Acres Products and Services will total $17,000 in Giveaways throughout the four days. Visitors may also register to win the $2,000 handmade Double Wedding Ring quilt given away at the end of the year. The quilt design is in celebration of the 30th anniversary of "Plain and Fancy" in The Round Barn Theatre. The top was designed and pieced by Amber Burgess, The Round Barn Theatre's Artistic Director. Elizabeth and Katie Borkholder quilt in the Gross Daadi house at Amish Acres throughout the summer and fall to finish the quilt for display in time for Fall Harvest Days. The drawing will be held on New Year's Eve.
$5,000 in cash prizes will be awarded by professional judges from the hundreds of entries in the competition tent, including two $1,000 Best of Show awards in two and three dimensional categories and for total booth presentation as voted on by visitors. Drawings for visitor giveaways include theatre and overnight getaway packages; wagon rides; guided tours; and documentary films. 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 Arts & Crafts Best of Show Blue Ribbon Museum located in the Barn Loft Wine Room of Amish Acres Restaurant.
The fourth generation of the founding family is now involved in the festival's 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.
Festival hours are Thursday-Saturday (August 4 - 6) 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday (August 7) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission price is $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors (60 & older), and students 12 - 17; active military and children under age 12 are free. 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. For more information on Amish Acres, the Arts and Crafts Festival, and The Round Barn Theatre visit AmishAcres.com
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