The Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana: Review

The Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana: Review - I have been attending the Johnny Appleseed Festival for several years now, and it never gets boring. This wonderful, inexpensive, entertaining, and family-friendly festival is held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, just south of the Coliseum. It is on Harry Beals Drive, just south of and off East Coliseum Blvd. The stall set up is always the same, or at least nearly so, so if you've been there once before, you won't get lost. It's huge, which is wonderful, and also a great opportunity to get outside and breathe some really fresh air. No matter how many times you go, you will never get bored, and you will never run out of things to do. There are activities for children, and adults, too, of all ages. There is something for everyone in the family when it comes time to grab something to eat. Available food runs from snacks to full meals, modern dishes to the old pioneer foods many travel miles to experience.

Many people come to the Festival, and it receives more visitors than the Indianapolis 500 does. The Festival is a well-run, well-organized event, suitable for individuals of any age, as well as couples, families, and large and small groups. There is live entertainment, stalls where all types of pioneer goods can be bought, fruit and vegetable stalls in the farmer's market area, crafts, antiques, odds and ends, authentic pioneer clothing, toys, and other items. The Festival has many people who volunteer in the different visitor booths as re-enactors, completely dressed in period garb. If you yourself cared to dress similarly, the opportunity to do so is available. Just head to one of the visitor booths and request an outfit. Borrowing is based on the honor system, so please be sure to return the garments before you leave.

Personally, my favorites are the corn on the cob stand, which has the best corn on the cob I have ever tasted, even besting my own, the lemonade stand towards where the bagpipe bands stake their tents, and the bagpipe battle itself, which is held at 2 PM sharp every day, in the middle of the campground area. If you've never been there and have trouble finding the campground area (go early, as it is a huge attraction), just ask around. The people are very friendly, and will readily help anyone with a question. One area you can't forget to visit is Johnny's grave. It's at the top of a hill, surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Whether his body was actually buried there or not is up for debate, but few discuss it, at least during the Festival.

When you go, don't forget your camera and an extra roll of film or an extra video card. You won't run out of subjects to take pictures of. One thing you should know is that there is paid parking up close to the Festival in the Coliseum parking lots, but there is free parking at IPFW, across Coliseum and across the bridge. It is walking distance for most, and there is a shuttle bus that is fairly inexpensive that will take you directly from the parking lot at IPFW to the entrance of the Festival. It runs fairly quickly, so the wait is not long. Most people use it on the return trip and walk to the Festival. It is much less expensive than the parking would be, unless you have several people with you.

More information about the Johnny Appleseed Festival can be found at its website at http://www.johnnyappleseedfest.com/ which states the Festival will be held on September 20th & 21st, from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, and from 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday, this year (2008). This site includes a map and several helpful articles about the Festival.