Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NAPPANEE - It's that time of year again, when artists and craftsmen gather to sell their wares and compete for prizes in the annual Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival.
In its 36th year, the festival begins Thursday and runs through Sunday. For the fourth year, the festival was selected as one of the top 200 arts and crafts festivals in America by "Sunshine Artist Magazine."
More than $7,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winning paintings and crafts entered by the 365 artists chosen from the more than 900 applicants to compete in the juried exhibit. Judges for this year's event are Max Gwin, a Nappanee native and professional cartoonist, and Jack Appleton of South Bend, a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago and a talented painter. First-, second- and third-place winners will be chosen in each of 11 categories, with a Best of Show winner named in both the two- and three-dimensional categories.
Among the local entries will be Elona Adney of Leesburg with painted hot plates and Lori Slater of Warsaw with handcrafted baskets. More than 20 percent of the exhibitors will be new to the festival, while 45 of the artists and craftsmen are veterans of 10 years or more at this annual event.
The four-day artists' weekend is designed around the Amish heritage and folk art of the historic restoration and the Nappanee area. Hay wagon rides, guided tours and demonstrations provide an intriguing background for the art display and market. This festival is considered the area's largest arts and crafts marketplace, according to a press release from Amish Acres.
In addition to the arts and crafts booths, there will be musical artists entertaining on the main stage and throughout the festival grounds, clowns, storytellers, a children's theater, a dancin' tent and an "Old-time Medicine Show" on stage with continuous entertainment. In all, more than 100 entertainers and performers have been assembled for the festival.
Also, the Broadway musicals "Plain & Fancy," "My Fair Lady" and "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" will all be taking place.
Admission to the festival is $5 for adults and children under 12 are admitted free. Parking is free. The festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Amish Acres is located one mile west of Nappanee on U.S. 6.
For more information, call 800-800-4942 or 773-4188, ext. 215.
