Nappanee Apple Festival Opens Sept. 16

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Staff Report-

NAPPANEE - Headlining the Nappanee Apple Festival entertainment this year is the Acrodunk Family of Performers, who have appeared nationally on "America's Got Talent", "The Steve Harvey Show" and "Ripley's Believe It or Not".

They also have acted for all but two of the NBA's basketball teams, as well as hundreds of NCAA Division I and II college audiences.

They have taken the stage for corporate gatherings such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Sherwin Williams, Bayer, plus other recognizable companies.

Acrodunk was a semifinalist on NBC's No. 1 TV show "America's Got Talent" in 2006 and 2009. The first of their eight shows at the festival, all taking place in the library parking lot, begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 17.

The Nappanee Apple Festival officially opens at 5 p.m. Sept 16.

One half hour later, Savannah Jack takes the NIPSCO stage. From playing honky-tonks on lower Broadway in Nashville, to opening arena dates for John Fogerty, Vince Gill and Kenny Rogers, Savannah Jack has honed their skills as live entertainers who captivate audiences. The trio's three-part vocal harmonies, musicianship and sound are poised to please the audience.

The trio, comprised of Don Gatlin, Mike Ulvila and Jay Darby, formed in 2004 and has toured both nationally and abroad ever since.

Festival goers will also enjoy the comedy shows of Mike Hemmelgarn, juggler and ventriloquist. Each of his six shows, Sept. 17-19, is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

The John Kirkwood Band, opening Sept. 17, believes the moment is worth celebrating. Jumping Johnny and the band put all their heart and soul into a dancing and rocking performance. His style of intimate, personal attention singing gets everyone involved in the show and his energy is contagious. He will also have a Saturday noon performance.

Charissa Mrowka returns to the Apple Festival stage Sept. 18 at 12:45 p.m. with her tribute to Hannah Montana. Hailed to be the next Taylor Swift, she is a singer/songwriter and recording artist with the dream of becoming a famous country/pop artist. She is a veteran of the stage, who has been performing all around Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio and Tennessee since she was 7 years old, and with her own band, Charissa & Auburn Sky since she was 10 years old. She will perform again at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

Sept. 18 also features Spike and The Bulldogs performing in the NIPSCO entertainment tent. This rock band plays the vintage music of the '50s and '60s and takes you back to the days of the sock hop and drive-in movies. They have been the opening act for such artists as The Beach Boys, Chubby Checker and Herman's Hermits.

The ever-popular kid's puppet show with Grandpa Cratchet will make appearances Sept. 16-19.[[In-content Ad]]Other entertainment throughout the weekend includes the popular Guitar Hero contest Sept. 16; Bill Dee, country gospel singer John Schmidt, Barbershop Quartet, Heartland Country Cloggers, all appearing throughout the day Sept. 17; Amarillo Star Line Dancing and Touch of Texas, Sept. 18; Diener Quartet, Due Process, NorthWood High School Music Dept. and talent show Sept. 19.

Throughout the festival weekend you will find crates of apples dotting the downtown sidewalks and plenty of opportunities to indulge in apple favorites like apple pie, apple dumplings, apple fritters, apple turnovers, apple bread, apple cider and apple butter. There will be contests, tournaments and more attraction venues.

This 35th annual festival is expected to attract more than 70,000 people and is made possible through the financial support of local retail sponsorships, City of Nappanee employees, Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteers. Major sponsors include the Elkhart County Convention Visitor's Bureau, Martin's Supermarket and WSTB-TV.

For more information and lodging options, visit www.nappaneeapplefestival.org or call the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce at 574-773-7812. The 2010 Apple Festival Events Brochure is available for download on the website.

NAPPANEE - Headlining the Nappanee Apple Festival entertainment this year is the Acrodunk Family of Performers, who have appeared nationally on "America's Got Talent", "The Steve Harvey Show" and "Ripley's Believe It or Not".

They also have acted for all but two of the NBA's basketball teams, as well as hundreds of NCAA Division I and II college audiences.

They have taken the stage for corporate gatherings such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Sherwin Williams, Bayer, plus other recognizable companies.

Acrodunk was a semifinalist on NBC's No. 1 TV show "America's Got Talent" in 2006 and 2009. The first of their eight shows at the festival, all taking place in the library parking lot, begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 17.

The Nappanee Apple Festival officially opens at 5 p.m. Sept 16.

One half hour later, Savannah Jack takes the NIPSCO stage. From playing honky-tonks on lower Broadway in Nashville, to opening arena dates for John Fogerty, Vince Gill and Kenny Rogers, Savannah Jack has honed their skills as live entertainers who captivate audiences. The trio's three-part vocal harmonies, musicianship and sound are poised to please the audience.

The trio, comprised of Don Gatlin, Mike Ulvila and Jay Darby, formed in 2004 and has toured both nationally and abroad ever since.

Festival goers will also enjoy the comedy shows of Mike Hemmelgarn, juggler and ventriloquist. Each of his six shows, Sept. 17-19, is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

The John Kirkwood Band, opening Sept. 17, believes the moment is worth celebrating. Jumping Johnny and the band put all their heart and soul into a dancing and rocking performance. His style of intimate, personal attention singing gets everyone involved in the show and his energy is contagious. He will also have a Saturday noon performance.

Charissa Mrowka returns to the Apple Festival stage Sept. 18 at 12:45 p.m. with her tribute to Hannah Montana. Hailed to be the next Taylor Swift, she is a singer/songwriter and recording artist with the dream of becoming a famous country/pop artist. She is a veteran of the stage, who has been performing all around Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio and Tennessee since she was 7 years old, and with her own band, Charissa & Auburn Sky since she was 10 years old. She will perform again at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

Sept. 18 also features Spike and The Bulldogs performing in the NIPSCO entertainment tent. This rock band plays the vintage music of the '50s and '60s and takes you back to the days of the sock hop and drive-in movies. They have been the opening act for such artists as The Beach Boys, Chubby Checker and Herman's Hermits.

The ever-popular kid's puppet show with Grandpa Cratchet will make appearances Sept. 16-19.[[In-content Ad]]Other entertainment throughout the weekend includes the popular Guitar Hero contest Sept. 16; Bill Dee, country gospel singer John Schmidt, Barbershop Quartet, Heartland Country Cloggers, all appearing throughout the day Sept. 17; Amarillo Star Line Dancing and Touch of Texas, Sept. 18; Diener Quartet, Due Process, NorthWood High School Music Dept. and talent show Sept. 19.

Throughout the festival weekend you will find crates of apples dotting the downtown sidewalks and plenty of opportunities to indulge in apple favorites like apple pie, apple dumplings, apple fritters, apple turnovers, apple bread, apple cider and apple butter. There will be contests, tournaments and more attraction venues.

This 35th annual festival is expected to attract more than 70,000 people and is made possible through the financial support of local retail sponsorships, City of Nappanee employees, Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteers. Major sponsors include the Elkhart County Convention Visitor's Bureau, Martin's Supermarket and WSTB-TV.

For more information and lodging options, visit www.nappaneeapplefestival.org or call the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce at 574-773-7812. The 2010 Apple Festival Events Brochure is available for download on the website.
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