Brown County Kicking Off Festival Season Later This Month
Not only will spring be in full bloom in Brown County April 23 through April 26, but so will the fun. During the last weekend in April, Brown County will host the 13th Annual Indiana Wine Fair, the 3rd Annual Morel & Music Festival, and the 30th Annual Wildflower Foray, kicking off its festival season.
On Saturday, April 25, visitors will be treated to a delightful day of wine, music, and food at the 13th Annual Indiana Wine Fair. From 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., guests will be able to savor complementary one-ounce pours of the state’s finest wines while relaxing to an afternoon of live music. The Indiana Wine Fair, which is the largest event featuring exclusively Indiana wines, will take place at the historic Story Inn. Glasses and bottles of wine also will be available for purchase, as well as food from the Story Inn.
The music line-up for the 2015 Indiana Wine Fair includes singer-songwriter Noah Smith, whose folk and Americana style with a southern Indiana twist is guaranteed to please; local Brown County bluegrass band, the White Lightening Boys; as well as The Indiana Boys, whose traditional bluegrass acoustic instrumentation is used to create a very untraditional Americana sound.
Admission to the festival is $30 per person for those consuming wine; $10 for designated drivers. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend and must present an ID upon arrival. The first 4,000 people under General Admission also will receive a Story Inn keepsake wine glass. No coolers are allowed at the event, but guests are encouraged to bring chairs, umbrellas, and/or blankets.
More information and tickets are available online at www.indianawinefair.com. Tickets also can be purchased in person at the Brown County Visitors Center, or by calling (812) 988-7303. A free shuttle service will be running from downtown Nashville (corner of Jefferson and Main Streets) to the Indiana Wine Fair the day of the event. Shuttle service made possible by the Bean Blossom Blues Fest and Hills O’ Brown Vacation Rentals & Realty.
The same weekend, Brown County also will be hosting the 3rd Annual Morel & Music Festival. On April 23 through April 25, the whole family can enjoy three fun-filled days at Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground. A mushroom festival by day, bringing together Morel enthusiasts and experts for classes, lectures, and guided hunts, this festival transforms to a full blown music bash at night, featuring well-known bands and musicians from across the country.
Two festivals in one, the Morel & Music Festival will include Morel mushroom seminars, the Indiana State Championship Morel Hunt and other guided Morel hunts, cooking demonstrations, a Morel mushroom auction, live music, a craft beer tent, arts and crafts, campfire jams and tons of activities for children. View a complete line-up of performers, as well as activities, online at www.morelfestival.com.
Admission varies, with both day and weekend passes available. Prices range from $25 to $75 for online early bird tickets. Children 12 years and under are free with paid adult admission. Tickets are available online.
Brown County’s third festival of the weekend is the 30th Annual Wildflower Foray. A celebration of spring, nature, and the beauty of Brown County, the Wildflower Foray will feature wildflower and bird walks, wetlands hikes, boat trips, nature photography, a Foray dinner, and more.
Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will learn the natural history and environmental concerns of the area, all while enjoying Brown County in bloom. Hikes and programs will be held at the T. C. Steele State Historic Site and several other DNR properties.
Admission to the Foray’s dinner, “Flowers, Friends and Food,” is $10 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (812) 988-2785. Most other events are free of charge; however, some require pre-registration. A complete schedule of events, along with activity details, are available online at www.browncounty.com/calendar/event/30th-annual-wildflower-foray.
From wine and wildflowers to morels and music, there is something for everyone to enjoy this April. Join in the excitement as Brown County welcomes spring in a big way with a weekend of festivals and fun, April 23 through April 26.