Amish Acres is a tourist attraction in Nappanee, Indiana. Arts and Crafts Festival was held between 5-Aug-2010 to 8-Aug-2010.
The Arts and Crafts Festival has evolved from a clothes line art exhibit begun in 1962 in front of the Pletcher Furniture Village in downtown Nappanee. Held during sidewalk days, the exhibit displayed the water colors created by the arts and crafts program from the parks and department. Joseph Wrobble, well known teaching artist from South Bend, Indiana and Dory Crane a Nappanee promoter were instrumental in the early years of the event.
Over the next several years vendors were allowed to sell their arts and crafts from booths along the city 
streets and alleys. Professional judges were employed to choose winning art work from entries. Food offerings were expanded. Entertainment was added. Visitors began asking for Amish related products and services. Baked goods, meats, jams and jellies were added. Horse and buggy rides plus countryside tours were added to the festival. By 1968 the festiva
l had taken on enough Amish flavors that became in essence the feasibility study for the creation of Amish Acres. In 1969 during restoration of the farm the festival remained downtown. Visitors were shuttled to the farm for preview tours. An Amish church held a homemade ice cream social in the bank barn. A year later the festival was moved to the courtyard of the farm which included the original relocated barn that became Amish Acres first restaurant. As the festival grew and the number of booths expanded into the farm’s orchard, the decision was made to move the marketplace to surround the pond.
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