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Smicksburg celebrates Harvest Fest
As fields of sunflowers bow heavy heads and Amish farmers push back straw hats and pile wagons high with hay, the town of Smicksburg prepares for its annual harvest festival.
The festival will be held 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 7 in the small community tucked into the heart of Amish country in the northwest corner of Indiana County. Wagon tours of historic Smicksburg, homemade food and live entertainment at various commercial venues are all on tap.
The festival began as an apple dumpling fund-raiser at Smicksburg United Methodist Church, according to the Rev. Tim Spence, board member of the Smicksburg Heritage Society and former pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Smicksburg.
The church continues to sell apple dumplings with homemade soups and other treats at what has now blossomed into a community fall celebration. Most churches, businesses and organizations in town participate in the festival, lining streets with tables of crafts as musicians and artisans entertain.
One group, Jentz, will play Big Band, rock and country selections outside of Thee Village Sampler, where Bob and Martha Steele expect to sell a few hundred pounds of fudge and 600 to 700 apple dumplings.
AMISH TOUCH
The festival grows and changes every year, with plenty of new things for people to see and do and new attractions at local stores, many which feature Amish goods and accent Amish themes.
Business owner Sue Hurrt spoke about the upcoming festival as children climbed on a jungle gym and other play equipment outside her store, Yoder's Quilts and Country Living Shop. The Hurrt family lives in a former Amish home beside their business along the winding country road leading into Smicksburg.
"What makes this festival great is that everyone works together rather than competing with each other," Hurrt said. "We hope people will come and enjoy themselves."
She said DeAnna Dawn Dennings will entertain 1-4 p.m. Saturday at her shop. The singer has opened for Shania Twain, performed at the Grand Old Opry and is a Nashville recording artist.
Funnel cakes and barbecued chicken will be sold at Smickburg Amish Country, where the smell of oak and cedar fills the air and the breeze plays with wind chimes hanging on the porch. Saleswoman Ruth Shay said a chainsaw carving demonstration also will be presented at the site.
Local potters Donn and Betty Hedman said their shop, Smicksburg Pottery, will offer a demonstration of raku firing, a Japanese ceramic technique.
Windgate Vineyards and Winery on Hemlock Road is also welcoming visitors.
"People come from as far away as Texas and California to tour the winery," said saleswoman Elaine Chaivarlis.
People are intrigued by some of the names selected for wines at Windgate.
The winery's top seller is called Eye of the Buck, named after a deer who ate the vineyard soon after it was planted in 1972. After replanting the vineyard in 1972, the owners went on to create another favorite, Eye of the Shadow, named for Punxsutawney Phil.
At this year's festival, Windgate Winery will present live entertainment, an annual antique tractor show and a craft show.
WAGON RIDES
Founded in 1827, Smicksburg was named after a clergyman, the Rev. John G. Schmick. In the 1940s, the lower half of the borough fell within the flood plain for a new dam built 8 &*#189; miles downstream on Little Mahoning Creek.
Because half the town was torn down or moved, the heritage society decided to build a memorial park on the flood plain. Festival visitors may take walking excursions though the park, and Spence will conduct wagon rides on the Saturday of the Harvest Festival.
Wagon rides cost $1 per person. Proceeds will be donated to the heritage society, which plans to create markers for each building and grade the paths, Spencer said.
The festival will be held 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 7 in the small community tucked into the heart of Amish country in the northwest corner of Indiana County. Wagon tours of historic Smicksburg, homemade food and live entertainment at various commercial venues are all on tap.
The festival began as an apple dumpling fund-raiser at Smicksburg United Methodist Church, according to the Rev. Tim Spence, board member of the Smicksburg Heritage Society and former pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Smicksburg.
The church continues to sell apple dumplings with homemade soups and other treats at what has now blossomed into a community fall celebration. Most churches, businesses and organizations in town participate in the festival, lining streets with tables of crafts as musicians and artisans entertain.
One group, Jentz, will play Big Band, rock and country selections outside of Thee Village Sampler, where Bob and Martha Steele expect to sell a few hundred pounds of fudge and 600 to 700 apple dumplings.
AMISH TOUCH
The festival grows and changes every year, with plenty of new things for people to see and do and new attractions at local stores, many which feature Amish goods and accent Amish themes.
Business owner Sue Hurrt spoke about the upcoming festival as children climbed on a jungle gym and other play equipment outside her store, Yoder's Quilts and Country Living Shop. The Hurrt family lives in a former Amish home beside their business along the winding country road leading into Smicksburg.
"What makes this festival great is that everyone works together rather than competing with each other," Hurrt said. "We hope people will come and enjoy themselves."
She said DeAnna Dawn Dennings will entertain 1-4 p.m. Saturday at her shop. The singer has opened for Shania Twain, performed at the Grand Old Opry and is a Nashville recording artist.
Funnel cakes and barbecued chicken will be sold at Smickburg Amish Country, where the smell of oak and cedar fills the air and the breeze plays with wind chimes hanging on the porch. Saleswoman Ruth Shay said a chainsaw carving demonstration also will be presented at the site.
Local potters Donn and Betty Hedman said their shop, Smicksburg Pottery, will offer a demonstration of raku firing, a Japanese ceramic technique.
Windgate Vineyards and Winery on Hemlock Road is also welcoming visitors.
"People come from as far away as Texas and California to tour the winery," said saleswoman Elaine Chaivarlis.
People are intrigued by some of the names selected for wines at Windgate.
The winery's top seller is called Eye of the Buck, named after a deer who ate the vineyard soon after it was planted in 1972. After replanting the vineyard in 1972, the owners went on to create another favorite, Eye of the Shadow, named for Punxsutawney Phil.
At this year's festival, Windgate Winery will present live entertainment, an annual antique tractor show and a craft show.
WAGON RIDES
Founded in 1827, Smicksburg was named after a clergyman, the Rev. John G. Schmick. In the 1940s, the lower half of the borough fell within the flood plain for a new dam built 8 &*#189; miles downstream on Little Mahoning Creek.
Because half the town was torn down or moved, the heritage society decided to build a memorial park on the flood plain. Festival visitors may take walking excursions though the park, and Spence will conduct wagon rides on the Saturday of the Harvest Festival.
Wagon rides cost $1 per person. Proceeds will be donated to the heritage society, which plans to create markers for each building and grade the paths, Spencer said.
