Blake Holloway, left, and Alba Burnett pose for a photo before the start of the 2023 Kewanna Fall Festival’s Tribute to Hometown Heroes parade in this InkFreeNews file photo. This year’s festival runs Thursday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 29.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

KEWANNA — Late Kewanna Fall Festival organizer, Tom Mate, was poor as a child, said Ashley Van Lake.

That’s why Mate wanted to offer activities for children at the event, which were either free or low cost, she said.

This year’s festival, set for Thursday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 29, continues that tradition.

“We have some less fortunate kids in the area,” said Van Lake, in her third year of running the festival.

Thanks to sponsors, the entertainment is free for kids and all ages to enjoy. It includes: bug expert, Dr. Insecta; magician, The Great Kalita; the Dinosaur Dimensions show; and the Kids’ Music Show, featuring Wesley Waffles.

New this year to entertainment will be the Flippenout trampoline show, said Van Lake. There will also be live pro wrestling, the Circus Classic, several ventriloquists and a number of musical acts, including Malachi Jaggers, who is new to the festival this year.

For a cost, there will be also be various carnival rides and vendors selling food and more. Due to the ride vendor being unable to be at the festival on Sunday this year, the festival is running four days, so there will be still be three days of rides, said Van Lake.

Kids ages 16 and under may eat for free at specified vendors two times during the festival, from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 27 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28.

The festival also includes a 5K at 9 a.m. Sept. 28, at the Kewanna fire station, with people able to register at 8 a.m. that day there.

The festival’s parade, once again featuring a Tribute to Hometown Heroes, kicks off at 1 p.m. running down Main Street. Lineup starts at noon at Winamac Coil Spring, 512 N. Smith St., with people able to register the day of or ahead of time by emailing [email protected]. For more information, call Van Lake at (574) 230-3756.

The cost is $10 per parade entry, but as local farmers are the honorees of this year’s parade, any of them may enter the parade for free, said Van Lake.

There’s also a motor show from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on Main Street, with anything with a motor able to be entered.

People may find the full festival schedule below.

Van Lake added continuing the festival helps draw attention to “our little town with a big heart.”

Thursday, Sept. 26

• 4 p.m. to close — Carnival, rides, games and food and craft vendors.
• 5 p.m. — Dr. Insecta, entertainment tent at the park.
• 5-9 p.m. — Crossroads Band, NIPSCO stage.
• 6 p.m. — Flippenout trampoline act, baseball diamond.
• 7 p.m. — Circus Classic.
• 8 p.m. — The Great Kalita magician, entertainment tent at the park.

Friday, Sept. 27

• 4 p.m. to close — Carnival, rides, games and food and craft vendors.
• 4-6 p.m. — Kids eat free (16 and under).
• 4:30 p.m. — Circus Classic.
• 5 p.m. — Dr. Insecta, entertainment tent at the park.
• 5 p.m. to close — Ham and beans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1121.
• 5 p.m. — Singing ventriloquist.
• 6 p.m. — Flippenout trampoline act, baseball diamond.
• 6 p.m. — Cornhole tournament, park tennis court, registration at 5 p.m.
• 6 p.m. — Christian Strutz on acoustic guitar, NIPSCO stage.
• 6:30 p.m. — Dinosaur Dimensions, entertainment tent at the park.
• 7 p.m. — NightShift band, NIPSCO stage.
• 7 p.m. — Circus Classic.
• 8 p.m. — Kids’ music show, featuring Wesley Waffles, entertainment tent at the park.
• 9 p.m. — The Great Kalita magician, entertainment tent at the park.
• 9 p.m. — Live pro wrestling, circus tent.

Saturday, Sept. 28

• 8 a.m. to noon — Biscuits and gravy breakfast, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1121.
• 8 a.m. — 5K race registration, Kewanna fire station.
• 9 a.m. — 5K race begins, Kewanna fire station.
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Book giveaway at the Kewanna library.
• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Malachi Jaggers, parade stage.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Customer appreciation at Kewanna library.
• 11 a.m. to close — Food and craft vendors.
• 11 a.m. — Circus Classic.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Kids eat free (16 and under).
• Noon to close — Carnival rides and games.
• Noon — Parade registration, Winamac Coil Spring.
• 1 p.m. — Tribute to Hometown Heroes parade, Main Street.
• 12:30-6:30 p.m. — Ham and beans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1121.
• 2:30-5:30 p.m. — Adam Gundrum, NIPSCO stage.
• 3 p.m. — Dr. Insecta, entertainment tent at the park.
• 3 p.m. — The HeARTery Talent and Wearable Art Showcase, 414 E. Main St.
• 3 p.m. — Flippenout trampoline act, baseball diamond.
• 4 p.m. — KTown Cart Crawlers (golf carts, buggies, side-by-sides welcome), registration at Kibitzer; must be 18 or older.
• 4 p.m. — Circus Classic.
• 4:30 p.m. — Kids’ Music Show, featuring Wesley Waffles, entertainment tent at the park.
• 5 p.m. — Flippenout trampoline act, baseball diamond.
• 5:30 p.m. — The Great Kalita magician, entertainment tent at the park.
• 6 p.m. — Beth Cummins, ventriloquist, NIPSCO stage.
• 6:30 p.m. — Dinosaur Dimensions, entertainment tent at the park.
• 7 p.m. — Circus Classic.
• 7:30 p.m. — Dr. Insecta, entertainment tent at the park.
• 8 p.m. — Flippenout trampoline act, baseball diamond.
• 8:30 p.m. — The Great Kalita magician, entertainment tent at the park.
• 8:30-10 p.m. — Crossroads band, NIPSCO stage.
• 9 p.m. — Dinosaur Dimensions, entertainment tent at the park.
• 10 p.m. — Live pro wrestling, circus tent.

Sunday, Sept. 29

• 8 a.m. to noon — Biscuits and gravy breakfast, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1121.
• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Food and craft vendors.
• Noon — The Great Kalita magician, entertainment tent at the park.
• Noon — Garden tractor pull, behind Kewanna fire station, registration and weigh-in at 11 a.m.
• Noon to 4 p.m. — Sixth annual motor show, Main Street; anything with a motor is eligible.
• 1 p.m. — Crossroads Band, NIPSCO stage.
• 1 p.m. — Dr. Insecta, entertainment tent at the park.
• 2 p.m. — Dinosaur Dimensions, entertainment tent at the park.
• 2 p.m. — Circus Classic.
• 3 p.m. — Flippenout trampoline act, baseball diamond.
• 4 p.m. — Conclusion of motor show, Main Street.