Barns Brews & Back Roads

It’s fall in the Midwest which means there is an unlimited amount of festivals in Indiana. Forty-one throughout the state today. And we haven’t hit October yet, when the Germanfests and Oktoberfest’s fire up. Today we went just a smidge southwest from central Indiana to the Anderson Orchard Applefest (369 East Greencastle Rd., Mooresville, IN)

There are roughly 69 orchards in Indiana, which does not compare to our northern neighbor – Michigan – where there are over 170. I think we’ve been to the Anderson Orchard once before, but not during the Applefest. In addition to the normal U-Pick apples, farm store and concession stand that is always in operation, there were 80+ craft vendors, food trucks, a pumpkin patch and fall mum sale.

We got there early – about 20 minutes after they opened and they had us parking out in the orchard because the parking lot was already completely full. As weird as it was to roll over a few stray apples and turn down a row of apple trees, we still got fairly decent parking considering as we were leaving there was a line of about 100 cars attempting to get in. We walked the craft fair first, which is always a good time to find unique crafted things. That’s also the reason we went – my nieces mother-in-law had a craft booth. Peep her adorable crocheted pumpkins 👀

There were a lot of booths with hand sewn items like book bags and stove towels (aka hand towels but Theo calls them stove towels). A few other crochet booths had cute little animals. There was some beautiful handmade silver jewelry and as always a lady selling Mary Kay cosmetics. There were a lot of hand baked muffins, cakes, cupcakes, pies too. Next to the crocheted pumpkin booth was Hoosier Sugar Daddy syrup, I sampled several flavors – strawberry, blueberry, vanilla bourbon, maple bourbon…. $11/each or 3 for $30 ($28 if you pay cash). I had cash. But the realistic side of me took over so we spilt the 3/for with my nieces. We got Butterscotch.

The U-Pick apples required us to get back in the car and drive to the other side of the orchard, so we decided the pre-bagged apples would do just fine. The kids played on the playground for awhile then we hit up the BBQ food truck, while everyone else went to the concession stand for elephant ears, fried biscuits with apple butter, roasted corn on the cob and cider slushies. The BBQ was okay, but not super – I kinda wish we would’ve just got corn and hot dogs and cider slushies. Oh yeah- and Funyuns, Addie had to have her Funyuns.

Our last stop was the apple barn where they sell preserves of all flavors, honey, syrup, fresh veggies, caramel apples, apple cider, popcorn and………. RED HOTS!! If you are new here, I have driven an hour and a half and wrote a whole blog centered around red hots. And my other two faves, candy corn and candy pumpkins. The best part about the apple barn is that you can taste an apple before you buy it. Since they sell nearly 28 varieties of apples that’s handy. Apples are $32 bushel, $18 1/2 bushel, $10 peck, $6 1/2 peck.

Of all the things I bought today at the Apple Festival – what is the one thing I did not buy?

Apples…..

I probably should have, so I can make an apple pie – not to brag but I do make a mean apple pie. And now I found a recipe for candy apples, which I thought looked complicated, but actually doesn’t seem too bad. I’m not sure why I didn’t get any, they had Honeycrisp and Gala which are some of my favorites. But I really like Fuji, Granny Smith and Pink Lady’s and they aren’t ripe until mid October.

This is fall in Indiana – endless festivals from now basically until Christmas if you count the Christkindlmarkt which starts after Thanksgiving. The weather today (81F) did not give off “hey it’s almost October” vibes. And it will be in the 80’s most of next week. 🫤

The easiest way to see what festivals are coming up is here: https://indianafestivals.org/

Some highlights include:

• Shipshewana Autumn Adventures in Amish Country, Shipshewana and Middlebury, IN (every weekend until October 25)
• Feast of the Hunters’ Moon, West Lafayette, IN (Oct 11-12)
• Seymour Oktoberfest, Seymour, IN (Oct 2-4)
• Riley Festival, Greenfield, IN (Oct 2-4)

All leading up to the massive Parke County Covered Bridge Festival (Oct 10-19). One county, ten days, nine different festival locations, 31 covered bridges (Covered Bridge Capital of the World) and hundreds of craft and food vendors in every location. We usually go to Bridgeton or Mansfield. Bridgeton is famous for their grist mill, and the bridge has a waterfall to one side of it. Mansfield has a roller mill and a lot of vendors. At Bridgeton the volunteer fire department always has a bean supper (ham, beans and cornbread), and Amish ladies selling whoopie pies. You haven’t lived if you haven’t had an Amish whoopie pie.

My advice if you’ve never been to Indiana and want to experience the true “fall festival” would be to visit during the Covered Bridge Festival or Shipshewana. Shipshewana is in the heart of Amish country – well northern Indiana’s Amish country, we also have a lot of Amish farms in the south. I can 100% recommend Das Dutchman Essenhaus (240 US 20, Middlebury, IN 46540). I can’t even describe how good the food is. They also have shops and a hotel. And Sam loves the Heritage Ridge Creamery (11275 W 250 N., Middlebury, IN), which is a collective of local dairy farmers who specialize in amazing cheese. They have samples 😏.

Here’s my shopping haul for today – minus the red hots, candy corn and Dave’s sugar pecans:

The pumpkins are adorable aren’t they? And here’s where they went:

HINT: Candles and holders all came from Dollar Tree – $29 for all. The pumpkins will stay up through Thanksgiving and then I’ll switch to Christmas trees and snowmen. The one Christmas tree on the left stays up year round – my mom made it – for Dave and my first anniversary, it’s firefighter themed.

So there you have it—your quick start guide to making the most of Indiana’s autumn abundance. Whether you’re in it for the hayrides, the handmade goods, or the apple cider slushies you’re bound to find something fantastic (even Funyuns 😁). Grab your calendar, plot your route, and get ready to enjoy the best of Hoosier hospitality and crisp autumn air. Okay it’s supposed to be sweatshirt weather – I don’t even know anymore!?!?