Garden Gate Festival Features Jazz, Art, Wine

Finally the weather has cleared and I’m geared to get outside and enjoy life! The Garden Gate Festival in Huntingburg in southwestern Indiana is the perfect opportunity to do that. It takes place on Saturday, April 16. With everything from cool music to food vendors and fantastic art work, it has enough variety to keep me entertained all day!

This is the fifth year for the Garden Gate Festival. It starts off the day at 8 am ET with the Huntingburg Kiwanis Car Show. I love old cars, classic and antique. Having never owned one I can only gawk at the vehicles that will line up on Huntingburg’s Historic 4th Street.

At 11 am the Art Market opens behind the Old Town Hall on Geiger Street near Huntingburg’s Historic Fourth Street. Among the 28 booths filled with handcrafted items and art pieces I’m looking for unusual garden items. I’m sure to find some!

I may feel enough excitement to tie on my running shoes and participate in the festival’s ‘JazzedUP’ 5K, beginning along Huntingburg 4th Street. Proceeds for this run/walk and a 10K benefits the Make a Wish Foundation. That’s enough motivation for me to kick up my heels!

 Of course, I will be hungry after trekking for miles through the area so a stop at local and regional food booths will be next on my list. They open at 11 am.

After paying for a sandwich, I’ll find a seat and relax to the soulful sounds of jazz with the University of Evansville Jazz Ensemble. They will take the stage at 12:30 pm ET. Other bands scheduled to perform during the festival include Rascals of Rhythm, Small Time Napoleon, Honey Roy Band and the Jasper High School Jazz Band. 

Local wineries will be on hand, eager to share the fruits of their Hoosier vineyards for a small fee: Best Vineyards, Blue Heron, Buck Creek Winery, Easley Winery, Ertel Cellars, Madison County Winery, Monkey Hollow Winery, Pepper Ridge, Quibble Winery, Windy Knoll Winery, and Winzerwald Winery. Craft Beer will also be available.

Admission for the festival:

Adults: $5

Children: free

Festival bracelets for those 21 and older can be purchased for $15. The cost includes admission, wine and craft beer samples, and a commemorative festival glass. Cool souvenir of a happy day!

For more information about the Garden Gate Festival contact Dubois County Tourism, 800-968-4578, info@visitduboiscounty.com.