Original Farmers Market Opens at the City Market May 1

Original Farmers Market at the City Market, just down the street from Monument Circle.
AroundIndy.com staff photo, (c) 2010, all rights reserved.

By Stevi Stoesz
Indianapolis City Market
http://www.indycm.com/

Indianapolis City Market presents the return of the Original Farmers’ Market for its 16^th year of providing delicious and nutritious Indiana products directly to hungry consumers every Wednesday from 9:30am until 1:30pm, May 1 through October 30, 2013. Each week a sundry group of eager consumers gathers on Market Street in front of City Market to shop for wholesome produce and artisan-crafted foodstuffs from local farmers who set up shop on Market Street between Alabama and Delaware Streets, and on City Market’s Whistler Plaza.

More than 50 producers travel to the heart of Indianapolis to share their locally-produced goods such as meats, eggs, cheeses, poultry, honey, syrups, plants, produce, fresh-cut flowers, baked goods and more! Here, Indy urbanites are able to see and taste the benefit of sourcing locally and supporting their community. Through the Original Farmers’ Market consumers positively impact their health, preserve Indiana farmland and foster the movement towards sustainable agriculture.

The rise in popularity of local farmers’ markets has reached every corner of the United States. The trend toward localization is due, in part, to mounting concerns regarding exactly where our food is coming from, and how it’s being produced. Large agricultural companies, or “Big Ag,” have come under serious scrutiny in recent years with respect to the process by which our foods are not only produced, but genetically modified and engineered. Our obesity rates have reached alarming statistics, and many are hearing challenges to eat healthier, more nutritious foods. In addition, concerns about food security and negative climate effects that correspond to eating foods from distant places have given pause to folks who are now looking locally for their food source.

The Original Farmers’ Market is truly an extension of exciting transitions within the historic Indianapolis City Market that foster artisan-crafted retail products like cultured vegetables, kefir waters, international cheeses and specialty gourmet foods.

“There are more reasons for the casual shopper to come inside the historic Market House, including a renaissance of merchants who produce and craft their goods in a gourmet and artisan manner,” says Stevi Stoesz, City Market’s Executive Director.  “Visitors can enjoy our family-friendly programming as the City Market continues to connect area locavores with those who produce the very best local product.”

The Indianapolis City Market is a non-profit organization, and the Original Farmers’ Market was established in 1996 to provide a platform for local producers to sell their Indiana products directly to consumers. For further information, call 317-634-9266, visit our website www.indycm.com, our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IndyCM?ref=ts or follow us on Twitter @IndyCM.

Things to do in Indianapolis, April 29-May 5, 2013

500 Festival Mini-Marathon, May 4 in downtown Indianapolis.

Things to do in Indianapolis

April 29 to May 5, 2013

• 37th Running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
• Indiana Pacers NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• 24th Annual ‘Orchard in Bloom’ Garden Show at Holliday Park
• First Friday Food Truck Fest at the Old National Centre
• Orleans Dogwood Festival in Orange County
• 52nd Annual Decorators’ Show House and Gardens
• Original Farmers Market at the Indianapolis City Market
• Highway 38 Yard Sale in Central Indiana
• Gordon Lightfoot in Concert at the Carmel Palladium
• 21st Annual Indiana Gourd Society State Gourd Show

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Things to do in Indianapolis, April 1-7, 2013

Indy Magic Monthly at Theatre on the Square, April 2.

Things to do in Indianapolis
April 1-7, 2013

• Indiana Artisan Marketplace at the State Fairgrounds
• Indianapolis Indians Baseball at Victory Field
• Willie Nelson and Family at the Indiana University Auditorium
• Naptown Roller Girls at the Indiana Convention Center
• Taylor Martin’s Indy Magic Monthly at Theatre on the Square
• Disney on Ice ‘Worlds of Fantasy’ at Allen County Coliseum
• Hoosier Horse Fair and Expo at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
• Indiana Pacers NBA Basketball at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• Indianapolis Men’s Chorus Live at the Indiana History Center
• Indianapolis Symphonic Band Live at Warren PAC

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Lafayette and West Lafayette Events in 2013

Lafayette Events for 2013

Shipshewana Holiday Celebrations Begin Nov. 10

Shipshewana Holiday Celebrations Begin Nov. 10. Photo provided by LaGrange County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and used with written permission.

By Tammy Tilley
On behalf of the LaGrange County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
www.visitshipshewana.org

The small town of Shipshewana celebrates the holidays in a big family-friendly way for nearly three months, beginning with its Light Parade on November 10, 2012.

At 6 pm on Saturday, festive floats guide through the downtown streets lined with several thousand guests. The parade ends near Blue Gate Restaurant where parade officials are decked out in period attire. Soon after the parade, the lighting ceremony takes place at the Blue Gate Restaurant, made complete with Christmas carols and a live nativity scene.

The Gospel music group The Chuck Wagon Gang performs at the Blue Gate Theater on November 9 and 10 as part of the Light Parade celebration.

Also beginning on November 10, stores unveil their holiday trees in the Shipshewana Shimmer walk. Visitors stroll through the shops and vote for their favorite tree. This event can be enjoyed through December 31.

The annual Gingerbread House contest and display begins November 23 at Yoder Shopping Center located on State Road 5 immediately south of town. Last year, these juried, ornate creations were spectacular enough that two entries were invited to participate in a national contest. The houses will be on display through December 31.

The town also hosts Kid’s Day on December 8 and a Chocolate Day on November 17. On November 27, shops stay open late during the annual ‘Wana Night Out.”

Numerous holiday concerts take place, with the new musical “Half-Stitched” wrapping up December 8, the Grand Piano Christmas Extravaganza taking place December 7 & 8, “Glory and Majesty of Christmas” staged December 12-17, and the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza featuring comedian Aaron Wilburn and gospel music’s the Brown Family.

Finally, December 27-29 features the three-day event, “Shipshewana Ice Festival.” This attraction garnered the attention of USA Today in 2008, and showcases the highest concentration of large ice sculptures (with 10 blocks or more of ice used) between Indiana and Alaska. Over 35 ice sculptures will be created throughout the downtown and surrounding businesses.

The LaGrange County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is the official agency for tourism marketing, planning and development in LaGrange County, Indiana. If you have any questions about LaGrange County or would like more information about Shipshewana and other LaGrange County attractions, please go online to www.VisitShipshewana.org or call (800) 254-8090.