Smart Living Fort Wayne- August 2025

13

ts en Ev 28 er ge m Pa m S ee Su

Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • $1.95 • August 2025

Marshall County Blueberry Fest Bringing Big Fun to Northern Indiana Tradition Meets Taste at Yoder Crossroads The Francis Shoppe’s Legacy of Elegance Ruhl Furniture Delivers Style & Service Your Family Fun: 13 Upcoming Events

Quality, Smart Products & Services for Your Home, Family, Health & Entertainment!

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

1

2

Smart Living Fort Wayne

July 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

3

OW DE NTER A H S LA PAY

0NA% G NCIN E*

FI LABL AVAI

TAKE THE LABOR OUT OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE WITH OUR MAINTENANCE FREE PRODUCTS!

PERGOLAS

PATIO COVERS

AWNINGS

SHADE SCREENS

SUNROOMS

*UPON APPROVED CREDIT 12 MONTHS SAME AS CASH 24 MONTHS AT 0% INTEREST

4

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

HUNTINGTON & ELKHART

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

(260) 217-4464

WWW.WAZIMMER.COM

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

5

In This Issue

Right in Our Region ......................Cover & p. 16 Blueberry Fest Brings Big Fun to Plymouth

A pleasant surprise in the country!

Your Home & Garden ........................................11 Ruhl Furniture Delivers Style & Service Inspiration & Worship .......................................12 Fat in Fruit Your Style ..............................................................15 The Francis Shoppe’s Legacy of Elegance Your Community .................................................21 Tradition Meets Taste at Yoder Crossroads Your Home & Garden .......................................23 New Fabrics Can Refresh Aging Furniture Your Family Fun .................................................28

DINE

STAY

PLAY

Amish-Style Restaurant • Bakery • Village Shops • Inn

240 U.S. 20 Middlebury, IN • 800-455-9471 • www.essenhaus.com

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas Managing Editor Jim Taylor Assistant Editor Steven Bonifazi Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Janine Pumilia, Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes Distribution Kelly and Larry Fairbairn Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 www.SmartLivingFortWayne.com Smart Living.

Copyright 2025 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

6

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Make Time to Care

M

ost mornings, I’m in survival mode. It’s changing diapers, hunting for matching shoes, answering work emails with one hand while frying bacon with the other. By the time the day winds down, I’m drained — mentally, emotionally, spiritually. The news scrolls by in the background, but I rarely stop long enough to absorb it (which, as a journalist, is hard to admit). It’s easy to stay wrapped in the bubble of my daily routine that consists of mom duties, teaching a few dance classes here and there, and being an editor in a largely positive, upbeat magazine-land.

But lately, that bubble has felt thinner.

Maybe it was a headline I couldn’t ignore. Or a conversation with a friend whose family is being directly impacted by global conflict. Or a moment where one of my students asked a question about injustice that I didn’t have a good answer for.

Whatever it was, it shook me. It reminded me that while parenting and work are incredibly important, they can’t be the only things that consume my attention. There’s a bigger world out there, and I want to be awake to it.

So, I’ve started carving out space. Ten minutes of real news reading in the morning instead of doom-scrolling at night. Listening to a news podcast about climate policy while I unload the dishwasher. Donating to a cause that matters (specifically, NPR). Writing to my elected officials. Having age-appropriate conversations with my students about what’s happening in the world, if they ask.

It doesn’t feel like much, but it’s something. A start.

I’ll still deal with the grocery runs and laundry piles. But I don’t want to let the rhythm of the everyday lull me into apathy.

My kids are young, but they’re watching, and I know they absorb more than I realize.

I want them to grow up knowing that yes, life is busy, but we always have time to care. Even if it starts in small, ordinary ways. ❚

Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

7

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE FOR SCHEDULES & OTHER INFO.

CHECK OUT FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES

8

PARADE • ARM WRESTLING • CARNIVAL • CAR SHOW • TRACTOR PULL

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

9

10

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Your Home & Garden

Ruhl Furniture Delivers Style & Service

By Peggy Werner

R

uhl Furniture, a family-owned business in New Haven, has built a reputation for delivering quality service, stylish products and great value for customers looking to enhance their homes.

“Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you find the perfect pieces for your home,” says John Pape, owner. “We believe furniture should not only be functional, but also beautiful and expressive.”

Ruhl Furniture specializes in custom orders, most of which can be delivered in as few as six weeks. The staff has decades of hands-on experience to help customers through the selection process.

Customers can find upholstered furniture, dressers, cabinets, chests, bookcases, carpet and hard surface flooring, premium mattresses, home accessories and custom blinds. Products include England and Lancer furniture, Amish-made furniture and Shaw Industries flooring – one of the largest and most-respected American-made manufacturers of flooring, John says.

His son, Logan, recently joined the business, marking the beginning of the third generation to work for Ruhl Furniture, which just introduced Flooring Deals on Wheels,™ a free inhome service that helps customers make decisions in the comfort of their own homes.

“We bring samples, measure spaces, photograph the rooms and create a custom digital visualization using the selected flooring,” John says.

By entering people’s homes, the salespeople can get a better understanding of a customer’s lifestyle, budget, room dimensions, existing décor and personal style preferences.

For those who care about trends, transitional and modern farmhouse are today’s most popular styles, John adds. Color palettes lean toward warm neutrals in gray, creamy whites, natural wood tones and earth-tone accents. Texture also comes into play with a focus on soft, durable fabrics and matte finishes.

“Just about everything for your home is available through Ruhl,” John adds.

In operation since 1956, Ruhl has a long-standing reputation for quality, value and service.

“We are committed to giving every customer personal service and lasting satisfaction,” John says. “It’s our job to help every customer have a positive experience.”

The store is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and by appointment. Visit the showroom at 511 Broadway St., New Haven.

For a free consultation and estimate, call (260) 749-4717. ❚

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

11

Inspiration & Worship

Fat in Fruit S

ometimes, it’s standard sermon fare to promise wealth to those who live by God’s rules. Certainly, there are many indications in the Bible that God desires to take care of His people, and wants His people to take care of each other.

There also is much precedent for giving to God our “first fruits” – the first and best rewards reaped from our labor. In our culture, that generally translates to money, rather than the fattest sheep or tastiest grapes.

But the desire for wealth is not a reason for people to follow Christianity, says the apostle Paul. Life in Christ is never promised to be safe, secure or comfortable, in a physical sense.

To the contrary, hunger, persecution and pain were often part of everyday life for early church leaders like Paul and Peter, through no fault of their own. This remains true across the world today.

The trick, says Paul, is to keep our heads straight and right with God, whether we’re in a state of great need or great plenty. Either condition can tempt us to lose our way and veer toward a carnal, rather than spiritual, life.

And, wealth may cause us to think more highly of ourselves than we should, just as poverty may cause us to judge ourselves too harshly.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty,” Paul writes to the Philippians, who have sent him a gift of money to support his ministry. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:12 & 13 (NIV).

God directs us to cultivate the “fruits” that naturally result from living a Christ-centered life. As we practice “putting on the mind of Christ,” (Romans 12:12), which means training our minds to conform to God’s will, we reap “fruit of the spirit” – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22 & 23 NIV). These are fruits that no one can take away. No law can be made against them.

Being fat with fruit is better than having a fat bank account, in God’s eyes. Perhaps, from time to time, we should take time out to ask ourselves how rich we are in what matters most. ❚ -Janine Pumilia

12

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

13

14

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Your Style

The Francis Shoppe’s Legacy of Elegance

By Peggy Werner

T

rends come and go, but glamour never goes out of style at The Francis Shoppe, 65 W. Market St., Wabash, Ind. The business offers one of the largest selections in the area for mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom dresses as well as formal wear for any occasion. Customers receive special attention while in the store, which has an old-fashioned yet elegant, home-like atmosphere.

In addition to formal dresses, the store also carries quality sportswear, day dresses, slacks, tops, sweaters, coats, jewelry and accessories. Marjorie and Jack Francis opened the store in 1961, and ever since it has remained a locally owned family business for more than 60 years.

“When a woman leaves our store, her dress fits perfectly,” says Terri Francis-Ahlfeld, daughter of the store’s original owners and present-day owner. “We don’t buy a lot of the same gown because we don’t want women to see themselves coming and going, and we never sell the same dress to women going to the same wedding.”

Mother-of-the-bride gowns are formal, but they are unique in that they complement the overall style, theme and colors used in a wedding. They are never to be white and typically don’t match the colors in the wedding party. The Francis Shoppe has

a variety of fabric options and dress lengths available for such gowns.

Tea-length, midi or floor-length dresses are best for evening events, while knee-length or mid-calf are more suitable for lessformal daytime or semi-formal events, Terri Francis-Ahlfeld says. Dark colors are most popular for fall and winter, and today’s picks are often cranberry, sage, olive, and emerald green, she adds. Black, champagne and dark navy are top choices yearround, while pastels work best in the spring and summer. Floral prints, off-the-shoulder necklines and long or three-quarterlength sleeves are also trendy, Terri Francis-Ahlfeld says.

The store carries a large inventory of ready-to-wear dresses but can also custom design and custom order dresses.

A team of seamstresses tailor every dress before it goes out the door, Francis-Ahlfeld adds. She is serious about making every woman feel special. She likes to add special touches and has made a clutch purse and other items to match a dress with leftover fabric.

“We have always carried quality merchandise made from the best fabrics and in styles featuring clean and classic lines,” Francis-Ahlfeld says. “If you’re looking for something special and need help finding the right thing, this is the place to come.” ❚ 15 Smart Living Fort Wayne August 2025 Tell them you saw it in ...

Right in Our Region

Blueberry Fest Brings Big Fun to Plymouth

Blueberry Festival, in Plymouth, takes place Aug. 29-Sept. 1 and features live entertainment, a carnival, fireworks and a new Saturday night drone show.

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor very Labor Day weekend, Marshall County transforms fireworks display on Saturday, Aug. 30 at dusk; the Hoosier Old into a vibrant hub of music, crafts and blueberry-flavored Wheels Car Show on Sunday, Aug. 31, featuring more than 400 everything as the beloved Blueberry Festival takes over classic cars; and the parade on Monday, Sept. 1, which steps Centennial Park in Plymouth, Ind. This year’s festival takes off at 9:30 a.m. and features marching bands, floats and local place Aug. 29 from noon-9 p.m., Aug. 30 & 31 from 9 a.m.-9 organizations. The festival also includes pageants, tractor pulls, p.m., and Sept. 1 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. a tennis tournament and a splash pad for cooling off.

Festival Coordinator Tracy Houin says there’s all kinds of Houin is particularly excited about the addition of a drone fun at this free, family-friendly celebration. show on Saturday night.

“We’ve got three stages full of live entertainment, a beer gar“It’s something new we’re offering this year, and we think den, a carnival, fireworks and even a Saturday night drone show people are going to love it,” she says. “It’s a modern twist on that we’re especially excited about,” she says. “But what really traditional festival fun.” sets us apart are the 600 craft, commercial and food booths. You Unsurprisingly, Blueberry Festival is also a food lover’s can find almost anything.” dream.

While music lovers enjoy back-to-back performances across “We work hard to make sure there’s a nice variety of food the stages, families appreciate the free kids’ section and classic options,” Houin adds. “Really, anything you can think of, we’ve carnival rides. From pony rides to inflatable zones, the festival got it.” has entertainment for all ages.

Items include fresh-baked blueberry pies, donuts, muffins “We always want to make sure there’s plenty for the kids to and strudels; ice-cold blueberry slushies and smoothies; sweet do,” Houin adds. “The free kids’ zone is a hit every year.” blueberry sundaes, shortcakes and funnel cakes; plus savory fare Additional highlights of the 2025 festival include the like pulled pork sandwiches, giant turkey legs, loaded nachos, “Blueberry Stomp 5K/15K Run” on Saturday, Aug. 30; a corn dogs and grilled corn on the cob.

16 To Advertise Call 815-316-2300 Smart Living Fort Wayne August 2025

E

Right in Our Region

Entrance to Blueberry Festival is free, while parking at Plymouth High School costs $10 per car or $20 for a weekend pass. The festival began in 1966 to observe Indiana’s sesquicentennial and has grown over the years into one of the state’s largest festivals.

In addition, local church and nonprofit food booths offer secret family recipes and homemade flavors.

With so many vendors on site, Houin says it’s impossible to choose just one favorite.

“We’re proud of the diversity and quality of our vendors,” she says. “You’ll find handmade goods, unique gifts and plenty of blueberry-themed treats, of course.”

Admission to the Blueberry Festival is free, and parking is readily available, with Plymouth High School serving as the primary parking site. Parking costs $10 per car or $20 per car for a weekend pass, with free round-trip tram service to and from the Blueberry Festival for each person in the vehicle. Proceeds from parking provide thousands of dollars for Plymouth High School organizations, Houin says, adding that all the trams are handicap accessible.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and explore all the festivities the weekend has to offer.

More than just a good time, the festival has a meaningful impact on the community.

“We provide several nonprofit organizations with

opportunities to raise funds, often enough to support their operations for the entire year,” Houin says. “It’s one of the ways we’re able to give back while also bringing thousands of visitors to our amazing community.”

Volunteers have been the backbone of the event since the beginning, when the Plymouth Jaycees organized a Labor Day Celebration in 1966 to observe Indiana’s sesquicentennial. The celebration was such a success that a group of citizens formed a board of directors to organize an annual festival, Houin says.

At the time, Marshall County provided one third of Indiana’s blueberry crop, so, the board named the celebration “The Marshall County Blueberry Festival.” Now, 59 years later, the humble event has grown into one of Indiana’s largest festivals.

For Houin, coordinating the festival is a labor of love.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, the Blueberry Festival is a showcase of Marshall County’s charm, hospitality and spirit.

“I’m proud to be a small part of something so big,” she says.

“Our board members and volunteers work incredibly hard to make this happen, and I love seeing the joy it brings to people.

It’s all about community.” ❚

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

17

18

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

19

20

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Your Community

Tradition Meets Taste at Yoder Crossroads

By Peggy Werner

J

ust outside Shipshewana, Ind., Yoder Crossroads has become a must-visit stop for travelers exploring the region. Russ and Allyse Yoder own the bustling complex, which houses three of their well-known businesses under one roof: Yoder Popcorn, Corn Crib Café and Five Lakes. Together, these shops offer a mix of local flavor and hospitality that draws steady crowds in a city already known as a major tourist destination.

“Moving Yoder Popcorn, our primary business, to town from the country was the original vision,” Allyse says.

Yoder Popcorn’s roots trace back to 1936, when Rufus Yoder first launched the business. In 1999, Russ Yoder and his parents purchased the company, becoming the third and fourth generations to own and operate it. Nearly two decades later, in 2018, Russ and his wife, Allyse, took over as his parents prepared for retirement – a transition that sparked the couple’s plans to relocate the business closer to Shipshewana.

“This soon proved to be an overwhelmingly good decision,” Allyse says. “The retail store tripled in size but still offers all of the same great hospitality and quality product.”

The scent of freshly popped corn greets visitors at Yoder Popcorn, where each customer receives a complimentary sample of the signature Tiny Tender White variety upon arrival. Inside, shelves are lined with nine types of popcorn, a range of popping oils, a dozen seasoning blends and all the essentials for crafting the perfect batch at home.

Just 10 miles from the store, Russ farms 2,000 acres, dedicating 400 of them to the Premium Yellow and Tiny Tender varieties. The remaining popcorn is sourced from other Indiana growers. Among the shop’s most sought-after kernels are the Tiny Tender, prized for being nearly hulless; Premium Yellow; and the Ladyfinger, a completely hulless variety.

Yoder Popcorn also caters to gift-givers and large events, offering decorative tins, custom gift baskets for individuals or corporate clients, bulk orders for schools and special occasions, and gift cards. Freshly made caramel corn and popcorn are bagged daily and stocked on the shelves, ready for customers seeking a quick grab-and-go treat.

Yoder Crossroads is a must-visit complex of stores in Shipshewana, Ind. The flagship business, Yoder Popcorn, carries all the popcorn essentials.

“People and their relatives have been enjoying our product and service year after year and say no other product compares to Yoder Popcorn,” Allyse says. “Russ and I are trying to maintain this tradition and expectation that has been built by the previous Yoder generations.”

The Yoders also launched two additional ventures, Corn Crib Café and Five Lakes Coffee, born from their love of good food and encouragement from friends.

The Corn Crib Café is a cozy eatery known for its homemade daily specials and commitment to sourcing fresh, local ingredients. The menu features an array of distinctive breakfast and lunch options, available for dine-in or carryout, along with gift cards, boxed lunches and freshly baked Amish pies and cookies. Many dishes are served with house-made bread, while meats – never frozen – are seasoned or marinated for rich flavor.

Unique salads and creative side dishes round out the offerings, making the café a favorite for both locals and visitors.

Five Lakes Coffee became part of the Yoders’ lineup after coffee-loving friends suggested the need for an early-morning drive-thru in the area. The franchise sources premium coffee beans from around the world, roasting them in small batches at its facility in Sturgis to ensure optimal freshness and flavor. Known for its smooth, robust brews, the shop serves hot, iced and frozen beverages alongside breakfast bagel sandwiches and a selection of fresh-baked goods.

Other businesses located at Yoder Crossroads include Salon 4, a hair salon, Paige’s Books, a used bookstore, and two medical offices.

Yoder Crossroads is located at 0920 N. State Road 5, Shipshewana. Each business’s Five Lakes Coffee and The Corn Crib Café round out the Yoder’s businesses in Shipshewana. hours vary. ❚ 21 Smart Living Fort Wayne August 2025 Tell them you saw it in ...

22

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 260-212-8968

Your Home & Garden

New Fabrics Can Refresh Aging Furniture

Burcraft Fabrics in Fort Wayne offers more than 2,000 choices in fabrics that can cover everything from furniture to pillows purses and window treatments.

F

By Peggy Werner urniture can have many lives. All you need to do is update the fabric with new colors and patterns. Recently, Burcraft Fabrics, 7967 N. Clinton St. in Fort Wayne, doubled its showroom space with a new 5,000-square-foot building that houses leather, pillow forms, and indoor and outdoor fabric at a fraction of the manufacturer’s cost. The business also has a referral system of local upholsterers for customers who are looking to have upholstery work done.

With more than 2,000 fabrics in stock to choose from, Burcraft sells in-stock Sunbrella outdoor fabrics for $12 a yard and regular upholstery fabric for $10 a yard or under. The exact same fabric ordered from a catalog normally sells for $50 to $60 a yard, says Ken Worman, owner of Burcraft Fabrics.

“We have built good relationships with furniture manufacturers and wholesalers to offer fabrics at a discounted price,” he says. “After selling online and wholesale for more than 25 years, we decided to open a retail store in 2019. With so many of the fabric stores closing over the past few years, there was nowhere to buy fabric locally.”

The typical customer has a family heirloom piece of furniture to re-cover or wants a new look for an outdated piece of good furniture. It’s often less expensive to reupholster than to

buy something new, and the customer has a lot more options for colors, patterns and fabrics when reupholstering as compared to readymade, Worman says.

Melissa Willingham, store manager, says more and more people are choosing solid colors for sofas and decorating with patterned accent pillows. Another trend is covering chairs with a solid back and a print on the front, she says. In general, it takes about 5 to 7 yards of fabric to re-cover a chair. Sofas take about 12 to 14 yards.

In addition to servicing furniture, Burcraft Fabrics also helps those who are looking for printed vinyl and leather to make crafts, window treatments, pillows, purses, totes and more, Willingham adds.

“Our fabrics can be used for anything and everything – people are so creative,” she says. “The stain and water-resistant outdoor fabrics are also being used for indoor furniture because of its durability and wide selection of patterns available. Whether customers want to do the job themselves or have it done, they will be amazed at the extensive inventory of material.”

The store is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. ❚

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

23

24

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

25

26

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

27

Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

I Love Saturdays at Club Room at The Clyde Enjoy the best in pop, soul, R&B and funk every Saturday from 8-11 p.m. at the Club Room at the Clyde, 1806 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Visit clydeclubroom.com/live to see the complete lineup of performers.

Space Telescopes: New Views of the Universe Thru Sept. 7. This temporary exhibition showcases iconic Hubble images and data of planets, galaxies, regions around black holes.

Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, sciencecentral.org.

Fort Wayne TinCaps Thru Sept. 7. Lots of exciting baseball action along with special events and spectacles including fireworks on select nights, discounted food nights and more. Find the whole schedule at milb.com/fort-wayne. Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing St., Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne’s Farmers’ Market Thru Oct. 4, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This farmers’ market in downtown Fort Wayne brings the farm to your neighborhood and also offers the freshest vegetables, flowers and plants in season. 1620 Broadway, Fort Wayne, ftwaynesfarmersmarket.com.

Rock & Roar Thru Oct. 24 on select Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m. This summer music series features talented bands from Fort Wayne’s local music scene. Ages 21+. Fort Wayne Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, fwzoo.com.

Grabill Country Fair Sept. 4-6. This popular annual festival draws visitors to downtown Grabill, celebrating community with offerings like hundreds of

Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival returns from Sept. 12 through Oct. 26 this year on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors can find corn mazes, pumpkins, ice cream and more.

vendors, live entertainment, food and more.

Downtown Grabill, 13756 State St., Grabill, grabillcountryfair.org.

Roanoke Fall Festival Sept.4-7. Huntington County’s oldest festival brings the community together for live music, festival food, a demo derby, tractor pull, rodeo, scholarship pageants and more. Presented by Discover Roanoke, N. Main St., Roanoke, roanokefallfestival.org.

West Central Home and Garden Tour Sept. 6-7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Explore a curated selection of architecturally significant homes.

West Wayne & Union Streets, Fort Wayne, westcentralneighborhood.org.

Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival Sept. 12-Oct. 26, Fridays 6-9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m. Enjoy corn mazes, pumpkins, ice cream and, of course, the adorable calves. Kuehnert Dairy Farm, 6532 W. Cook Road, Fort Wayne, kuehnertdairy.com.

Culture Fest: A Gathering of Neighbors Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This celebration honors Allen County’s diverse communities through live music and dance, an artisan and entrepreneur market, a resource fair, food trucks and children’s activities. 500 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne, amanifamilyservices.org.

Fort Wayne Arts Festival Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. This festival is known for featuring masterful creations in an array of mediums from local and regional artists.

Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center, 4130 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, facebook.com/ FortWayneArtsFestival.

Johnny Appleseed Festival Sept. 20-21, Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.5 p.m. Celebrate the legacy of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) with food, crafts, demonstrations, children’s activities, antiques, a farmers’ market and more. Johnny Appleseed Park, 1500 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne, johnnyappleseedfest.com.

The Fort Wayne Farmers’ Market continues Saturdays from now until Oct. 4. Visitors can discover the freshest vegetables, flowers and plants in season.

28

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Fort4Fitness Fall Festival Sept. 27, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The year’s biggest community fitness celebration takes place downtown, offering fun runs, health-focused activities and energetic atmosphere, Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing St., Fort Wayne, fort4fitness. org/fall-festival. ❚

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

29

30

Smart Living Fort Wayne

August 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Fort Wayne

July 2025

31

32

Smart Living Fort Wayne

July 2025

To Advertise Call 815-316-2300