Festivals abound in Indiana

by Kevin Lilly
Pharos-Tribune news editor

May 25, 2008 12:11 am

— Flipping through the pages of the 2008 Indiana Travel Guide quickly reveals that Indiana is a festival-rich state during the summer months.
The trend is no different in Cass and surrounding counties. Each offers numerous fun-filled opportunities for family merrymaking. Whether its fair food, community garage sales or experiencing history through reenactments, festivals are a popular way to spend a summer day supporting local communities.
Toni Savini of the Cass County Visitor’s Bureau says festivals offer special treats available only once a year, along with another preferred pastime — buying goods.
“They can do their favorite things outside — shop and eat,” Savini said.
Alex Haschel, Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce administrator and tourism director, gave several reasons to attend local festivals. Among them, gas prices are forcing many families to stay closer to home.
“Right now, we’re all getting hit with these horrible gas prices,” Haschel said.
With fuel nearing $4 a gallon, out-of-state trips may get ruled out. Haschel suggests attending local festivals, which allow families to spend less on gas and more on the local economy.
“The biggest thing I think we need to remember is when we’re coming to these local festivals we’re supporting the communities that these festivals are taking place in,” Haschel said. “We’re supporting not just the festival itself, but also the groups that are involved.”
Local school marching bands set up lemon shake-up stands to raise money for their cause. The 4-H programs that teach responsibility through caring for animals and meeting deadlines also need funding.
“So we’re really not just supporting the festival, but we’re supporting every single person involved, and that really is a responsibility that we need to take on as an individual,” Haschel said.
According to Savini, the economic benefits extend past festival boundaries.
“When people come in, they’re not just going to go to the festival and sneak out of town,” Savini said. “They may stay all night with us. They’re going to purchase gas, buy ice for their cooler. They may visit our local eateries. They may visit another attraction. They’re going to do other things in town.”
Another reason for festival-going is family.
“Festivals are definitely a good time to take advantage of having good, clean, inexpensive fun,” Haschel said.
The festivals are all family oriented with attractions for people of all ages. And even when food prices sometimes seem high, there are inexpensive options. Haschel says families should feel free to bring a picnic lunch to festivals held in parks.
Many festivals are annual events held at about the same time each year, which helps attract more people, according to Janet Dold, executive director of Chamber of Commerce and White County visitor’s bureau.
The festivals at Monon, Wolcott, Burnettsville and Brookston in White County draw thousands each summer. Dold attributes the large crowds to tradition.
Because of Indiana Beach and other warm-weather attractions, White County experiences an influx of summer visitors, many of which plan their trips around festivals. Dold said grandparents often have grandchildren from out of town visit during fair week.
There are also a few new festivals on the block. The Spirit of Monticello is less than five years old. It’s growing, too, Dold said.
Art on the Vine Meets the Classics at the Whyte Horse Winery is in its second year. Dold called the venue perfect for the theme. The event was so successful the first year, with about 500 people attending, event planners scheduled it twice for 2008, once in early summer and again in fall.
In Pulaski County, the Northern Indiana Power From The Past event is its 31st year and is set for July 16 to 20 at the Winamac Town Park. Many come from out of state to attend, but the event has more than just old tractors showing off their horsepower.
Activities include demonstrations in quilting and basket weaving and a horseshoe pitching contest.
Last year, the weather was great, Haschel said. She’s hoping for the same this year. Despite flood damage in the park, event organizers plan to carrying on.
“They are not canceling anything,” Haschel said.
The entire Winamac Town Park flooded earlier this year as winter rains sent the Tippecanoe River gushing from its banks.
“That was pretty nasty,” Haschel said. “I have to say out of the 30-some years I have lived in Pulaski County in Winamac this is the worst flood I have ever seen. It was pretty scary for a lot of people around here, but they’re hard at it. They’re really working hard to get everything repaired over there.”
Buildings in the park were severely damaged. The community is pitching in to get them restored.
A trend seen in Pulaski County similar to that in White County is folks from big cities such as Chicago coming to towns like Winamac for the small-town experience.
“We have something they don’t have and that’s the slower pace, quiet time, the rural feel,” Haschel said.
Those qualities are sometimes forgotten by permanent residents. She said the festivals are a nice reminder that, “Yeah, we have it pretty good.”
Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com

Who to call
• Cass County Visitor’s Bureau — (574) 753-4856; Online at visit-casscounty.com
• Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce — (574) 946-7600; Online at www.pulaskionline.org
• Greater Monticello Visitor’s Bureau — (574) 583-7220; Online at www.monticelloin.com
• Carroll County Chamber of Commerce — (765) 564-6757
• Fulton County Tourism Commission — (574) 224-2666; Online at contactrochester.org

More on the festivals
For a listing of festivals happening in the summer months throughout the state, visit the Indiana Travel Guide online at www.visitindiana.com