“When the frost is on the pumpkin, and the fodder’s in the shock, and you hear the kyouck gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock. Oh it’s then the time a feller is a feeling at his best. When he rises in the morning from a night of peaceful rest…” With these words Indiana’s poet laureate James Whitcomb Riley expressed his love for the arrival of fall to the Hoosier state in 1904. How fitting, in a state where we have the pleasure of enjoying four seasons, that one of the most beautiful of them should be immortalized in this way.
These many years later, the residents of Indiana carry on Riley’s sentiments by celebrating the autumn months with a variety of fall festivals. So, turn off the computer, leave the iPods and the cell phones on the kitchen table, grab the kids, and let’s go where “good old-fashioned fun” is the order of the day.
Greenfield, located on US 40 in east central Indiana, displays its pride in their favorite son with “Riley Days” Oct. 2-5. Heralded as Indy’s largest craft festival, this three day event also offers a car show, flea market booths, a tractor show and exhibits and competitions for quilters, antique collectors, and collectors of Riley memorabilia. If you love good food, don’t miss this chance to enjoy Hoosier home cooking, local specialties, and Indiana produce at it’s best. Hours for this years festival are 9-9 Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 9-5 on Sunday. For more info visit them online at www.rileyfestival.com.
The Parke County Covered Bridge festival, which begins on the second Friday in October and runs for 10 days, will be held Oct. 10-21. It is the largest covered bridge festival in the U.S. Headquartered on the courthouse lawn in Rockville, Indiana, this annual event is now in it’s 56th year. Vendors offering food and crafts, free entertainment, more than a dozen area antique shops, the Covered Bridge Art Gallery and performances at the Historic Ritz Theater make for a day of fun for the entire family. Plan to make Bridgeton one of your stops as you travel this county-wide event. There you can visit their gristmill, the 1878 House, Case Log Cabin, and the Mansfield Roller Mill. The beauty and history of Parke County make this one of the most highly attended festivals in the state. Their website has full details at www.coveredbridges.com
Eight years ago the artist of Brown County started the “Back Roads of Brown County Tour” as a way to meet the public and share their interpretations of this scenic area of southern Indiana. Again this October, many local artists and craftsmen will offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience the art for which the county is famous. Throughout the month over a dozen studios will be open and in production for this self-guided tour. For more information visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/backroadstour
Mississinewa 1812 offers the unique opportunity to witness a recreation of the War of 1812. Noted for being the largest living history event in the nation, this facility near Marion features both British and American camps, an Indian village, and a river town complete with inhabitants. This year’s reenactment runs for three days, Oct. 10-12. Visit them on the Web at www.mississinewa1812.com.
History, art, antiquity, great food, and a chance to share it all with your family — this is Indiana at it’s best. Until next time…. Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com