The 9th Annual Jay County Heritage Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 2 at the Jay County Historical Museum grounds.  The theme of this year’s event is From Farm to Factory–The History of Manufacturing in Jay County.  As usual, admission to the festival is free!

       On the menu are the customary ham and beans and corn bread on Saturday and chili on Sunday, both cooked over the open fire.  In Jay County tradition, foot long hotdogs will also be available.  These were the idea of Mrs. Nellie Smith of Redkey, who first served them at the Indiana State Fair. Also on the menu are porkburgers, carmel corn, strawberry shortcake, an ice cream Sundae bar, cotton candy, apple fritters, and other goodies.

     The children’s area will include the usual pumpkin painting, leather crafts, tin punching, hoop rolling, and walking on stilts, along with other activities–all free of charge.  A second stage will be added here for programs of special interest to the children.

      Returning after a year’s absence, the popular Voyagers Drum and Fife Corps from Lafayette will be appearing on Sunday.  Also returning from last year are Les Gustafson-Zook, a multi-instrumentalist,  the Jay Community Band, and Joan Witherspoon’s Harmony String Band.

     Appearing for the first time will be storyteller, Carol Knarr, the Robotics Team from Jay County High School, and the Asbury Bells, a handbell choir from the Asbury United Methodist Church in Portland.

     Along with the usual reenactors, demonstrators, and crafters who will be returning from last year, will be a stone grist mill and an exhibit from the Indiana Bee Keepers Association.  The lawn at the Gilpin Annex will again be filled with antique tractors and farm machinery.

     Displays of industries, past and present, will be located inside and outside of the museum, along with a Power Point presentation in the museum.  Nurses will again be in the medical room to answer questions, and classes will be conducted in the schoolroom.

     Next to the booth staffed by the Historical Society will be an area where guests may greet various Jay County authors and have books autographed.            

       A Meet and Greet area will be available on Sunday afternoon for festival goers to talk with Jack Imel, Portland native and retired star of the Lawrence Welk Show and his wife, the former Norma Denney.

     As in past years, Jane Spencer is preparing a book about early manufacturing in Jay County which will be available for purchase at the festival.

Festival Schedule of Events