It's Swiss Days at Berne This Weekend

Discover Switzerland in Indiana during Swiss Days at Berne 24-26 July.

On the schedule are polka dancing, children's activities, factory tours, quilt show, steintoss, horse pulling contest, craft vendors, sidewalk sales, parade, musical entertainment on the downtown stage and high school auditorium, sports competitions and Swiss foods. (That's the Hank Haller Band in the photo.)

New in 2008: champion yo-yo performer and showcase open to all performing with locally made wooden, Amish yo-yos. Swiss Days Furniture Frenzy back by popular demand for second year with $1,000 grand prize.

More information on the website, or call 260:589-8080.

Indiana's International Festivals

Major thanks to the F.C. Tucker Company of Indianapolis for publishing a brochure the Nationalities Council of Indiana has been trying to get funded and printed for decades! "International Festivals", mailed to its extensive list this week, includes details on sixteen different cultural celebrations around the state, from "Taste of Noble County Ethnic Festival" on 17 May in Ligonier to our very own International Festival 20-23 November in Indianapolis (all the festivals -- and more -- are on our calendar). As it says in the brochure, "We embrace our mixture of heritages and ethnicities with annual city festivals that feature crafts, entertainment, demonstrations, parades, and, most of all, food (because Hoosiers have never met a cuisine that wasn't worth celebrating!)." Next time you see a Tucker agent, say thanks!

Festivals included (in chronological order): Taste of Noble County Ethnic Festival (17 May), Dragons on the Ohio (6-7 June), Indiana Highland Games (14 June), International Festival of Arts and Culture (14 June), Oldenburg Freudenfest (18-19 June), Middle Eastern Festival (18-20 June), Swiss Days (24-26 July), Pierogi Festival (25-27 July), Jasper Strassenfest (31 July-3 August), Schweizer Fest (4-10 August), Swiss Wine Festival (21-24 August), Little Italy Festival (29 August-1 September), Greek Festival (5-6 September), Columbus Scottish Festival (13-14 September), Seymour Oktoberfest (2-4 October) and Indy's International Festival (20-23 November). Of course, there are many more ethnic festivals than these in Indiana, but this brochure is a great start!)