57th annual Fort Vallonia Days this weekend

This weekend will mark the 57th annual Fort Vallonia Days in Vallonia with two days of crafts, food, music, contests, and an excellent look at the popular fort that resides in the community.

The festival runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, October 17, and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, October 18, at the fort grounds in Vallonia, on S SR-135. Admission and parking are free. It has been called one of the premier fall festivals in southern Indiana, and crowds have been estimated as large as 30,000.

“Vallonia is justly proud of its heritage that predates the birth of the state,” the festival site states. “That is why we will be bursting at the seams with people the 3rd weekend in October, at the annual celebration of Fort Vallonia Days.” The money raised goes to upkeep of the fort, grounds, and museum, as well as purchasing more property for the event.

Vallonia was a late-18th-century French settlement between the Muscatatuck River and the east fork of the White River. Around 1810, with hostilities rising, territorial governor William Henry Harrison ordered a fort built to protect the roughly 90 families living there. Two companies of Indiana Rangers were stationed at the fort during the War of 1812. The replication of the fort began after a 1968 discussion at the local Lions Club. The first Fort Vallonia Day in 1969 was an immediate success and drew about 3,000 people. The museum was dedicated and the fort gates opened in 1972. A pavilion and stage were added in 1985, and the Garrison House in the center of the grounds was finished in 1991.

Festival attendees can expect to see demonstrators spinning, quilting, and braiding rugs inside the fort all weekend. The grounds will also have a model steam and old gas engine display, handmade crafts, a flea market, homemade food, and raffles. A merchandise shop will be open in the Joe Jackson Community Center.

Friday evening kicks things off with pumpkin decorating contest entries happening from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, and live music presented by the band “u4ia” beginning at 7:00 pm.

Saturday starts early with the muzzle loader shooters’ meeting at 8:30 am. The Mick Gray Memorial Trail Ride and the Wes Hartley Memorial Muzzle Loading Shoot both begin at 9:00 am. Baby contest (sponsored by Brownstown Tri Kappa) registration opens at 9:00 am at the gym, with the contest beginning at 10:00 am. Pumpkin decorating winners in the ages 6–11, 12–17, and 18+ divisions are announced at 10:30 am. The Southern Indiana Cloggers perform at 11:00 am, and “u4ia” is back at noon and 2:00 pm. The parade launches off at 1:00 pm, and at 3:00 pm there is a tomahawk and knife throw with live music from Dane Darlage. Western dancing with the Country Kickers is at 4:00 pm, and karaoke with Tee Jay Entertainment closes the day at 5:00 pm.

Sunday opens with a community church service at 10:00 am in the Vallonia Gym, hosted by Vallonia Christian. Baking contest (sponsored by Vital Farms) entries are due at the gym from 11:00 am to noon. Judging looks at presentation, taste, texture, and recipe, and winners are announced around 1:30 pm. The Taste of the Season winner receives a three-month supply of eggs, a cast iron skillet, and other prizes. Full rules and divisions are on the festival website.

Also on Sunday:

• Sparkles & Spurs Country Western Dancers at noon

• Cowboy Posse re-enactments of 1800s-era cowboy and Wild West scenes at noon and 2:00 pm on the field behind Vallonia Christian Church

• Team cornhole tournament registration at 11:00 am beside the fort, with play at noon

• Horseshoe pitch sign-up at 12:30 pm and pitching at 1:00 pm

• The Brownstown Exchange Club 5K run/walk registration at noon and start time at 1:00 pm

• Brownstown Central High School choir soloists at 1:30 pm

• Live music with Less Like Me at 3:00 pm

• Drawings at 4:00 pm

Contact information:

• General information – Desiree Prater at (812) 569-0776

• Craft and flea market questions – Ariana McMahan at (812) 498-6735

• Food vendors – Tayler Garland at (812) 528-5878

• Parade entries – Erica Sommers at (812) 525-0511

• Trail ride and horseman’s camp details – Laken Reynolds at (812) 216-1985.

The full schedule, contest rules, and lodging lists for Seymour, Salem, and other nearby towns are at fortvalloniadays.org, and updates are also posted on the Fort Vallonia Days Facebook page.