The first cool, crisp morning in early fall promises that the summer swelter is ending, and now, it’s time to celebrate a bountiful harvest.
Start this fall with a step back in time to what life was like on the farm at the Dubois County Museum’s Fall Harvest Day on Oct. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. On the farm, fall means that there’s work to be done to collect the spoils of a successful growing season. Learn how Hoosiers from the past harvested their crops using antique corn and grain harvesting equipment, the best way to shuck corn, and how to extract honey and make molasses from the experts.
Fall’s bountiful harvest offers more than food — it provides materials to make essential goods. Museum volunteers will demonstrate how to run a loom and produce woven rugs. A local quilt guild will deftly sew beautiful quilts. Artisans will showcase their hand-carving skills on tombstones and demonstrate how to operate hand tools. Sportsmen will share their knowledge about trapping, hunting, including furs and hides.
As you enter the past, savor the sounds of The Patoka River Stummers’ dulcimers while enjoying fall treats like popcorn, homemade ice cream, and apple cider. Face painting by Ruth Kuebler, pony rides, a petting zoo, and old-time crafts and games ensure the youngest visitors stay entertained all day.
Capture memories of this year’s Fall Harvest Day with the whole group at the event’s photo op area to make your new fall tradition official. Keep the fall fun going and come back for the museum’s Halloween event, Spooky Streets, on Oct. 23.
Admission to Fall Harvest Day is just $5 for adults, $3 for high school students, and $2 for middle school and elementary students. Visitors aged four and under and current Dubois County Museum members are admitted free of charge.
The Dubois County Museum
2704 N. Newton St., Jasper, IN 47546
View hours of operation, upcoming events, and membership information at duboiscountymuseum.org.
Natalie Derrickson is a writer based in Indianapolis.
Photos courtesy of the Dubois County Museum
