St. Henry Heinrichsdorf Fest

Join in on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, for another year of great food and great people at the St. Henry Heinrichsdorf Fest!

Enjoy their famous St. Henry barbecue chicken, pork chops or fried chicken. They also have a hamburger stand and beer garden. Food stands and the beer garden opens at 5:30 pm on Friday and 5:00 pm on Saturday.

Air-conditioned dining is available in the Catholic Financial Life building.

There will be activities for the kids including a bounce house, nerf gun shoot, ring toss, and duck pond.

For more information:

Check out their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/340988053478629/.

The Ferdinand Heimatfest takes place June 19-20, 2020, at 18th Street Park in Ferdinand, Indiana. Enjoy live music and entertainment, delicious food, a beer garden, and activities all weekend long.

There is something for everyone to enjoy at the Ferdinand Heimatfest. Round up friends and family for the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament, disc golf scramble or volleyball games. Test your culinary skills at the BBQ contest or bring the kids to the Best Home Furnishings Family Zone. Don’t forget the 5K on Saturday morning! Applications to register for the events are available on their website.

For more information

Visit FerdinandHeimatfest.com.

The Ferdinand Folk Festival takes place on September 19, 2020, at 18th Street Park in Ferdinand, Indiana.

About Ferdinand Folk Festival

Nestled among the hills and fields of southwestern Indiana, the Ferdinand Folk Festival, set in a beautiful 18th Street Park, provides a unique, family and earth-friendly opportunity for people from the region to share a day of live music, art, and environmental/wellness education.

Music

Check back for 2020 performance headliners.

Art

The shaded lawn of the art market is a festival in itself. Dozens of regional artists and artisans display and sell their handmade work while music fills the air. Pottery, photography, clothing, jewelry, Fair Trade items from Third World countries, recycled goods, hula hoops, baked goods, soaps, tie-dyed items, woodworking, and more grace the grounds. A Plein air painter might even set up an easel to capture some of the magic of the festival.

Environment and Wellness

In the center of the art market are about 15 – 20 environmental and community groups—one of the region’s largest assemblies of ecology, nature, health, and wellness educators, including solar energy installers, air quality authorities, forest advocates, LGBTQ awareness/support organizations, astronomers, pet caretakers, organic farmers, music, art, festival, and theatre promoters, and more. Each group is dedicated to creating vibrant communities and a sustainable environment for our children—seven generations from now.

Children’s Events

To honor the children, in and around the lower shelter house, organizers offer a full day of fun and educational programs specifically for the young ones, such as a children’s concert, live theatre, wildlife programs, holding or petting animals, pony rides, storytelling, a harmonica workshop, interactive art, a violin concert, an MLK-inspired Dream Wall, and more. Nearby, across a small bridge, is a state-of-the-art playground with a new “musical park”, a nearby big-bounce “Playtown”, face-painting, and more. Children might even have an opportunity to hold a live animal, handle and play a violin, participate in an interactive storytelling activity, a children’s play, take a train ride through the park, or a pony ride.

Yoga, Tai Chi, Drum Circles, etc.

The festival offers several opportunities promoting health, such as participating in a yoga session by Fire Horse Yoga or a Tai Chi session the morning of the festival, attending a drum circle, and other wellness activities.

Music Workshops and Jam Session

Patrons can participate in a songwriting or music workshop and/or an all-day jam session, where all ages and all talent levels can play together in a fun, informal, and welcoming setting. These events usually take place in the upper shelter house.

Eco-Friendly, Healthful Living

Each year, the festival offers a variety of educational, eco-friendly activities such as meeting regional solar energy installers, solar home tours in the neighborhood, meeting doctors sharing facts about our region’s air quality and health concerns about Indiana’s bottom-ranking environmental record, seeing a new Tesla, enjoying giant renewable energy puppets, touring a tiny house, morning, before-the-festival activities like yoga, Tai Chi, a hike, or a bike ride before the festival, etc.

Tent Talks

Tent Talks—inspired by the renowned TED Talks—are a series of presentations and discussions under two blue tents near the outdoor music instrument play area east of the main playground. Each talk, led by an enthusiastic, qualified volunteer, focuses on a specific theme related to the festival, such as renewable energy, clean air, ukulele playing, garden pollinators, forest protection, knitting, energy conservation, etc. Eight talks, usually two per hour, begin at the top of the hour from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

For more information about the Ferdinand Folk Festival, click here.

Haunted Huntingburg Blues Festival takes place Saturday, October 10, 2020, at Market Street Park in Huntingburg, Indiana.

About Haunted Huntingburg

Premier bourbon, spirits, craft beer, and wine are available for sampling and purchase. Grab a glass and kick back while you listen to outstanding blues music throughout the day. A limited amount of tickets are available for the VIP Lounge, upgrading you to no drink lines, appetizers and snacks, specialty cocktails, and upscale seating.

Food trucks will be onsite to keep you filled with delicious fare. Browse the offerings from talented artisan vendors, too.

Bringing the kids? The Kids Zone provides hours of entertainment and fall fun.

Admission

Tickets are available for purchase at the gate.

Plan Your Trip

Enjoy a fall weekend in Dubois County by booking a stay at a nearby hotel or bed and breakfast. Choose from lodging options here.

For more information about Haunted Huntingburg, click here.

Christkindlmarkt Eve takes place Friday, November 20, 2020, at the Monastery of Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana.

About Christkindlmarkt Eve

All who wish to experience the magic are invited to gather on the sloped, west side lawn of the majestically domed Monastery Immaculate Conception at 6:30 p.m. EST.  There, the Christkindl, or Christmas Angel, will appear (as she has done at Nuremberg, Germany’s Christkindlmarkts for over 500 years) and regale the assembled with her angelic, melodious voice.  Children will light the way as trumpeters herald in the markt, monks chant, choirs sing, and the Sisters of St. Benedict Bell Choir will perform.

This outdoor Christkindlmarkt Eve event is free and open to all who wish to live a little magic. The Sisters will be hosting their annual Monastery Baked Goods Bake Sale immediately following the 30-minute program. In the case of rain, the opening ceremony will be held inside the monastic crypt.

Dinner

Enjoy a German buffet dinner with entertainment at 7:00 p.m. EST in beautiful St. Gertrude Hall at Monastery Immaculate Conception.  Dinner reservations required ($32).  Parties interested in reserving dinner tickets can call (812) 367-1411, ext. 7345 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. EST.  All proceeds benefit the Sisters of St. Benedict.

Parking

Parking is available on the grounds at Monastery Immaculate Conception. Ferdinand is located on State Road 162, 1/4 mile north of I-64, exit 63, one hour west of Louisville, KY and 45 minutes east of Evansville, IN.

Planning Your Trip

On Saturday and Sunday, the annual Christkindlmarkt takes over the entire town of Ferdinand. Shop 200 booths of arts and crafts and antique vendors. Also, sample the tasty German fare, or take in a musical performance.

Plenty of nearby places to stay provide a relaxing overnight visit – view a list of local hotels here.

For more information, visit FerdinandChristkindlmarkt.com.

The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt takes place on November 21-22, 2020, throughout the town of Ferdinand, Indiana.

Held the third full weekend in November annually, features over 200 lavishly decorated booths spilling over with quality hand-created items, Christmas wares, antiques, art, delicious regional food and wine, live entertainment, free concerts, free tours, and so much more.

What is Christkindlmarkt?

In Germany, Christmas wares and gifts are sold in the festival-style setting of Christkindlmarkt. During the weeks of Advent, toymakers, basket weavers, woodcarvers, candle makers and other artisans set up booths in front of the local church, where browsers make their selections. The custom began in the 14th century and continues today in the charming “Bavarian” village of Ferdinand, Indiana.

Shopping

Handmade treasures and treats abound in over 200 stalls featuring table and wall décor, snowmen, folk art, primitives, Santas, original artwork, seasonal displays, inspirational, wood carvings, wooden signs, florals, rustic furniture, baskets, baby, herbal soaps, jewelry, scarves, purses, hats, wood crafts, quilts, candles, chocolates, gourmet fudge, jams, baked goods, cinnamon rolls, apple strudel, schnitzel, wine and much more.

Antiques Market

More than 40 booths will feature antiques, including glass, china, bisque, books, jewelry, primitives, furniture, pottery, linens, vintage, collectibles, Christmas, etc. If the warm wood tones don’t draw you in, maybe the cinnamon roasted nuts or wine surely will!

How to Become a Vendor

The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt committee handles all vendor approvals – find details here.

How to Get Here

Ferdinand is located on State Road 162, 1/4 mile north of I-64, exit 63, in Southern Indiana’s Hill Country, one hour west of Louisville, KY and 45 minutes east of Evansville, IN. Just park and ride; shuttle service is provided for free.

Shuttles travel between the six markt sites via the Green (North) and Red (South) Routes and loop through town to other attractions and shopping venues.

Planning Your Trip

Food and snacks are available throughout the markts – you can also find great local dining options in Ferdinand and the surrounding area.

With two days of shopping, you can make an entire weekend of exploring the quaint southern Indiana region. Book a bed & breakfast or a comfy hotel stay for a restful night of sleep; view a list of nearby places here.

For more information, visit FerdinandChristkindlmarkt.com.

Let downtown Jasper’s colossal Christmas tree welcome you to the Jasper O’ Tannenbaum Days celebration. Visit each store to see talented artists and artisans demonstrate their skills of wood-carving, pottery, quilting, and butter-churning.

Enjoy unique shopping, carolers, visits with Santa, carriage rides, special performances and tours of historic sites including the magnificent St. Joseph Church, an 1880 Romanesque, old world-style church listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Event highlights include:

• Artist and Artisan Demonstrations in many stores
• Santa Claus and Carriage Rides
• Church Bazaars and Cookie Walks
• St. Joseph Church Tour
• Krempp Gallery Exhibit of Local Artists
• Kids’ Activities and Santa at the Dubois County Museum
• Jingle Bell Jog at Riverwalk
• Christmas Craft Show at Jasper High School
• Holiday Bazaar – Cabby Gym
• Story Time with Santa

A Christmas Journey: Annual Candlelit Christmas Parade takes place on Saturday, December 5, 2020, beginning at 6:30 pm ET.

Meet inside St Mary’s Church for Christmas Caroling with the Jr/High School church choir or at the Huntingburg City Office with the Latino choir: Grupo Guanaco. Then, follow the Christmas Star along 4th Street, with Santa and Mrs. Claus riding in “Old Betsy,” and the SHS Band, walk by candlelight to Salem United Church of Christ. Once at Salem Church, experience a Starry Night in Bethlehem with interactive marketplace characters, crafts, and talking with Mary and Joseph in the stable with Baby Jesus.

Don’t forget to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole.

This is a free event to the community, family and children are encouraged to come. The City of Huntingburg Transit will provide free transportation back to St. Mary’s Church from Salem 7:00 – 8:15 pm.