SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE FALL FESTIVAL This year’s Middlebury Fall Festival will look a little different due to the pandemic. However, the festival will be as “homegrown” as ever! The festival takes place in downtown Middlebury parks on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12, and the theme is “Tough Times Don’t Last But Tough Towns Do.” Although the festival will downsize, old favorites will remain the same – homegrown vegetables and fruits, pumpkins, ornamental gourds, colorful fall mums, local woodcarvers in action, potters on-site creations, and Amish art. Bring lawn chairs to the downtown parks and tap your feet to spirited music entertainment throughout the weekend. At dusk, don’t miss the drive-in movie, an opening act for the incredible Friday night fireworks on the grounds of the Essenhaus Inn campus. Join the annual Saturday Corn Hole Tournament held at high noon in East Park. Order to-go BBQ on Bristol Street (adjacent to Middlebury Fire Department), a “Caring Hand” fundraiser. Don’t forget to grab your favorite Amish fried pie, kettle corn, wood-fired pizza, or corn on the cob from the Northridge Music Parents Association. All downtown shops will be open extended hours 16 inMiddlebury Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2020
during the festival for shopping convenience. Visit the new General Store located in downtown Middlebury. Please note: • Bring lawn chairs – due to the pandemic, this year’s seating in the entertainment tent is eliminated. • Everyone will be required to remain in vehicles during the outdoor movie and fireworks. Festival sites will request the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for COVID-19 social distancing and masks. • Please take advantage of the hand sanitizing/ handwashing stations while attending the festival. • Staff and signage will remind those attending the festival events to follow CDC Guidelines. If festival staff or Middlebury businesses explain what they’re doing to combat COVID-19, take heed and trust they have your safety in mind. We’re living in a new normal, and even though our new greeting norm may look different, familiar faces are excited to have you back at the festival in 2020. For information contact the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce at 574-825-4300, Executive Director Sheri Howland at director@middleburyinchamber.com or Community Outreach Coordinator Carmen Carpenter at carmencarpenter@middleburyinchamber.com.
