Avilla.org

Noble County Fun Guide

Summer fun in Noble County

Here’s some other interesting events planned in Noble County this summer. Find more at the Noble County Tourism website’s calendar.
Have fun and enjoy our community!

Windmill/Gas Engine Buy-Sell-Trade Swap Meet
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Windmill enthusiasts and antique gas engine collectors will gather on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 at the Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville, IN for a Buy-Sell-Trade Swap Meet.
For more information, contact the Mid-America Windmill Museum at 260-347-2334 or Sara Hobson at 260-347-5273 or email at hobshill@ligtel.com

Bluegrass Jam Session
Saturday, June 27, 2009
6 pm-10 pm
Bluegrass is coming back again to Bixler Lake Jansen Pavilion, Kendallville, IN. The next monthly jam session will start on Saturday, June 27 from 6:00 p.m. til 10:00 p.m.
Other jam session dates are Saturday, July 25, Saturday, August 22, and Saturday, September 26. Come enjoy the music!

Independence Day Fireworks
Friday, July 3, 2009
Join the celebration and watch the Independence Day Fireworks on Friday, July 3 at dusk at the Central Noble School campus in Albion, IN.
Bring a chair or blanket and see the sky light up!
For more information, contact the Albion Park Department at 260-636-2246.

Nashville Rebels
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Nashville Rebels are coming on Saturday, July 11 to the Chain O'Lakes State Park, Albion, IN.
For more information, call 260-636-2654.

Black Pine Animal Park Kids' Camp
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Kids and animals just belong together. Bring the kids for their own Kids' Camp at Black Pine Animal Park, Albion, IN on Saturday, July 11. This 3-hour event will take place at the park.
More details to be determined. Stay tuned. Some activities require pre-registration. For more information, call 260-636-7383 or visit www.blackpineanimalpark.com

Hayden’s ATA in Kendallville hosts its first regional ATA Tournament on Saturday, July 18, at East Noble High School from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Owner Zach Hayden told the Mall-NooZ, “Join Hayden's ATA as we host our very first regional tournament. We've got some great things planned like one of the coolest demos you'll ever see!”
Warriors of Excellence is a sports tournament that will draw competitors from around the Midwest. The public is invited.

Summer Fest at Black Pine Animal Park
Saturday, July 25, 2009
10:00am-5:00pm
Join the animals and staff for the Annual Summer Fest at Black Pine Animal Park, Albion, IN on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This annual summer celebration will provide a fun day of zookeeper talks, animal encounters, kids crafts, games and much more! Lots of activities for the whole family.
Some activities require pre-registration. For more information, call 260-636-7383 or visit www.blackpineanimalpark.com

Wolf Lake Onion Days
Friday, July 31, 2009
Grab your kleenex! Onion Days are coming to Wolf Lake, IN from Wednesday, July 29 to Saturday, August 1.
There will be plenty of family activities and even more good food. Come join the fun.
For more information, contact Sherry Hurd at 260-693-1199.

Kid City
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Gather up the parents, grandparents and kids and come to the annual Kid City, Saturday, August 1 at the Noble County Community Fairgrounds, Kendallville, IN.
This annual event is an interactive learning fair for kids and families.
Kids have the opportunity to learn about six different areas from "The Community" to "Arts & Culture" to "Careers & Industry".
For more information, contact Becky Calhoun at 260-347-3540 or email at rdcalhoun2003@yahoo.com

Safari Supper--Kids' Camp at Black Pine Animal Park
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Back by popular demand at Black Pine Animal Park, Albion, IN, is the Safari Supper--Kid's Camp on Saturday, August 15.
Kids ages seven to 12 will love this four-hour afternoon camp where they work side by side with keepers to prepare and dekuver meals to the bears, primates, birds, and other exotic animals.
Camp will include the feeding tour and a snack for the campers, too. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 260-636-7383 or visit www.blackpineanimalpark.com

Chautauqua Days
Saturday, August 15, 2009
12:00pm-4:00pm
Come back to the lake and help celebrate Gene Stratton-Porter's birthday at Chautauqua Days, Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, at the Gene Stratton-Porter Historic Site, Rome City, IN.
Originally it was a means of adult education and enlightenment in the late 1800s. Now it is a celebration of the author, tours of her cabin and Wildflower Woods, children's activities and much more.
Festivities take place each day from noon to 4 p.m. Cost is $3 per person. Plan to attend this special event.
For more information, contact 260-854-3790 or on the web at www.indianamuseum.org

Ice Cream Social
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ice Cream Social on Sunday, August 30 at Chain O'Lakes State Park, Albion, IN.
For more information, call 260-636-2654.

Marshmallow Festival
Ligonier Marshmallow Festival, Ligonier, IN. Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7.
For more information, call 260-894-4159 or www.themarshmallowfestival.com

Albion Harvest Fest
Saturday, September 19, Noble County Saddle Club grounds, Albion, IN.

Apple Festival of Kendallville
Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4, 2009
9:00am-6:00pm
Apple Festival of Kendallville, IN. Noble County Fairgrounds and Downtown Main Street.
For more information, call 260-347-1064 or www.kendallvilleapplefestival.org.

Read the Noble County, Ind., Fun Guide online here.

Quit Corner, Fashion Farm fun, Tri-State Blugrass Festival

Black Pine Animal Park
Up close with Cody the cougar

By Jody Grismore Vance
Sitting in the new commissary at the new Black Pine Animal Park in its new home at the 4-H Park just west of downtown Albion, Director of Development Lori Gagen talks about an old and growing problem—the exotic pet trade. She stresses repeatedly the need for people to understand that pet ownership is a responsibility and mentions some of the animals that have lucked out and found a new home at Black Pine—just as the park itself has found a new home.
“Big cats, small cats, primates, birds, camels, reptiles…” Reptiles? Reptiles? She is asked if there are any snakes and she answers, “A Burmese python, two red-tailed boas and a ball python.” She is asked, “Are they within 50 feet of me now?” She answers that there is one right next to me.
That’s the type of answer that will get your attention. And it is a funny situation: I’m amazed that I have been sitting next to a SNAKE for 20 minutes or more…and am not even on a plane. We laugh.

Step away from the rush, to solitude at Quiet Corner, and be serenaded

By Jody Grismore Vance
Off a country road and down a lane and into the woods – go there and you will find a tearoom. In the middle of the dining area with curving walls full of windows, under the wooden-beamed roof that reaches up toward the sky, you will find a scaled down baby grand piano. It is a rustic place with a feel of casual elegance.
This tearoom – The Quiet Corner Tea and Coffee Room – is a personal place of relaxing atmosphere that the owners – Richard and Shirley Rinker – want to share as much as it is a business. In fact, after talking with Dick Rinker, the argument can be made that it is more a labor of the heart than an economic enterprise.
Why do I begin this piece with gentle talk of mood rather than the specifics of teas and coffees available and sandwiches on homemade bread? I think I do because it is the mood of the place that is actually the chief item on the menu.

Years and years of fun at Fashion Farm

By Jody Grismore Vance
Russ Becker makes the homemade ice cream at Fashion Farm in Ligonier.
For those of you unfamiliar with Fashion Farm, it is not a clothing mall, nor design business; it is a restaurant, an “Old Memory House,” a greenhouse, a 200-acre farm, the old Ligonier Jail…and the site of October’s Pumpkin Fantasyland. As to the name – Fashion—well, that relates to a heifer purchased in the 20’s by the founder, Charles (Charlie) Williams, Russ Becker’s father-in-law. The animal’s name was Ole Fashion…and the 200-acre farm was her farm.
For those of you unfamiliar with the old-fashioned ice cream machines, they had cranks on them and on hot summer days, family members would take turns turning that crank. Being allowed to crank was almost a rite of passage event – albeit one that was more fun anticipated than performed.
Ask Becker about his ice cream machine while miming the cranking motion, and his response is a hearty chuckle as he himself cranks the air and says, “My ice cream maker is almost to that point because it is 32 years old.”

Top of page

Family Reunion without in-laws

By Jody Grismore Vance
We know what to expect when the Apple Festival is at the fairgrounds – and we’ve had over a 100 years of experience with the Noble County fair. But twice a year since 1990—on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends – the Tri-State Bluegrass Festival pitches camp there and, well, we’re not so well versed in its protocol.
The main point is this: It can be a destination for enjoyment. Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association President Jim Winger compares it to a family reunion atmosphere, only here you don’t have to share genes or put up with in-laws – here the connection is music, playing or listening.
Read More

Top of page

Thanks to These Local Sponsors of the Noble County Fun Guide (Click to see their ads)

Noble County Convention and Tourism Bureau
St. James Restaurant
Noble County Historical Society
Klingler Jewelers

List your Local Business Ad above for just $50 per year. Ads at right are $100 per year (animation is extra). Top Banner ad is $150 per year. Call 260-897-2674 or email us for more information or to place your ad here on the Noble County Fun Guide pages.

noozmall@yahoo.com or 260-897-2674