CUMBERLAND — The annual summer celebration of the arts and the richness of the agricultural community in the area will add a new dimension this year: Indiana’s Bicentennial. This year on August 20 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors can be entertained by a wide variety of music, storytelling, cloggers, enjoying food and buying from local artisans. The festival is located in Cumberland between East Washington and the Pennsy just off Saturn Rd. Parking is available, a few blocks from Cumberland Town Hall.
Be sure to check out the History Stations, picking up your Tour Card at the festival entrance, and learn about Hoosier history. Turn in your completed card and receive a festival original art keepsake if you are among the first 300 visitors.
At 10 a.m., there will be a ceremony for the re-burial of remains at Cumberland Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place of at least eight Civil War veterans and, historians believe, one Revolutionary War veteran.
At 4 p.m., there will be a burial of a 2066 Time Capsule. visitors are encouraged to come by the Cumberland Honors Park to write a note for the hopes and wishes for the future, which will be buried in the capsule.
The entertainment line-up for this year’s festival is exciting at the Shirley Brothers Entertainment Pavilion. At 9 a.m., the Warren Central Choirs perform. At 10 a.m., the Indianapolis Liederkranz German Brass Band belts out tunes. AngiCat from Silly Safaris will amuse everyone with exotic animals at 11 a.m. Don’t miss storyteller Sally Perkins when she presents “When Cumberland Went Rogue” at noon — learn about Cumberland’s varied past. For a change of pace, there will be Victorian Era Ballroom Dancing to music of the Irish Airs at 12:30 p.m. Then, they’ll play their traditional Celtic music beginning at 1:30 p.m. Haley Jonay begins at 2:30 p.m. with more great music.
At the entrance on Saturn St., the Hearts Ablaze Cloggers perform. If you’ve never seen this group in action, you’ll love their creativity.
Several local foods will be available, including a special Bicentennial candy from J. Evelyn Confections, Sweet Corn Caramels. The Cake Hole will be on hand with delicious cupcakes and cake pops, plus Da Blue Lagoon, Der Pretzel Wagon, Memories Concessions, Soladine Concessions, Johnson’s BBQ Shack, and Son’s Kettle Korn.
While you’re there, bid at the Silent Auction to benefit Cumberland Arts and Cumberland First Baptist Church. Bidding closes at 2 p.m. so that you can take your item home with you. Take a look at the Solar Art Streetlamp made from a historic 12-foot door, hand-painted and outfitted with a solar light panel at Cumberland First Baptist Church. Walk the Chartres-style labyrinth outside.
The far eastside’s nicest town can be found on East Washington St. just past German Church Rd.
