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Last updated on Monday, September 10, 2018
(MITCHELL) - The 72nd Annual Persimmon Festival is set for September 22-29.
Main St. activities will take place September 24-29.
The theme for this year's festival is "Industries and Businesses Supporting Our Community."
Special Events:
Persimmon Pudding & Novelty Dessert Contest
The event will be on September 29 and registration will be from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Mitchell First Church of God located at 405 12th St.
Awards:
The $1,000 first place prize is made possible by a donation in recognition of Fannie Lawyer, the first Persimmon Pudding contest winner in 1947.
All entries must be a 4x4 inch piece on a plain 8 or 9-inch white paper plate, covered with wax or plastic wrap. No topping will be allowed.
The novelty dessert can be anything except cookies and the main and largest ingredient must be persimmon pulp. The recipe for the novelty dessert is required at the time of judging, but not for persimmon pudding judging.
Last year Judy Shaw took 1st place for her Persimmon Pudding and Akaylea Kirkman won the Novelty Dessert Contest with her Persimmon Torte.
For more rules or questions, contact Chairwoman Alverta Hart at (812) 849 - 3441.
Persimmon Festival Parade
The Persimmon Festival Parade is Saturday, September 29 starting at 2 p.m. rain or shine.
The 2018 Persimmon Festival Grand Marshals are Lehigh Cement Co. & Holmes Hardware.
Click here if your business or organization would like to participate in the parade.
For more information contact 812-329-0511.
Z102 Persimmon Idol
There will be a youth division for ages 10-17 and an adult division for ages 18 and up.
The entry deadline is Monday, September 13th at 4 p.m.
Contestants will be required to sing during the preliminary round in order to qualify to perform on Mitchell's Main Street Stage on Tuesday, September 25th at 7 p.m.
The preliminary round auditions will take place on Thursday, September 13th from 4-7 p.m. at the Mitchell High School Auditorium. During the preliminary, each contestant will be allowed a small amount of time to perform their song in front of Persimmon Idol judges.
Auditions have a closed-door policy; no friends or family members will be allowed into the audition room. Contestants chosen to perform on the Main Street Stage will then be contacted by Wednesday, September 19, 2018.
The winners of the Z102 Persimmon Idol will receive the Grand Prize Package of a trophy, Z102 tee shirt and $100 cash.
Persimmon 5K Run & Walk, Free 200M, 800M & 1 Mile Fun Run for Kids
The Persimmon 5K Run & Walk will be Saturday, September 29th at the Mitchell High School.
The run/walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the kids run will follow at 10 a.m.
Registration can be completed online at this link. Those that register early will register for $18. Registration on the day of the race will also be available starting at 7:30 a.m. for $20.
There will be trophies and various prizes. There will be age and gender-specific categories. Each runner will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt.
Persimmon Festival Queen Pageant
Preliminaries will be held Sunday, September 23 at 1:00 p.m. at the Mitchell High School Auditorium. Admission to view the preliminary competition will be $2. Contestants will be judged on an interview, on-stage question and school wear portion.
Crowning will take place on Monday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. on the Main Street Stage at the Persimmon Festival.
Persimmon Festival Queen Pageant applications can be found at the Lawrence County Visitors Center/Mitchell Chamber of Commerce located at 533 W. Main St. and Mitchell High School.
For more information or questions, contact Katie Houchin at (812) 278-0200.
Little, Mini & Junior Miss Pageant
Preliminaries will be held Saturday, September 22 at 3 p.m. at the Mitchell High School Auditorium and the crowning is scheduled for Monday, September 24 at 6 p.m. on the Main St. Stage.
Registration will take place on Saturday, August 18 at Mitchell City Hall from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and the entry fee is $35.
For more information, contact Jen McNeely (812) 675-2175.
Baby Contest
Is your baby the cutest? The Baby Contest will be on September 22nd at 10 a.m. at Burris Elementary School.
The entry fee to enter the contest is $5. Winners of the contest will be announced Saturday, September 29th on the Main St. Stage. at 12:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Angela Edwards at (812) 583-2941.
Cornhole Tournament
The Persimmon Festival Cornhole Tournament will be Sunday, September 23 at noon. Registration forms are available at the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce located at 533 W. Main St.
The entry fee is $5 per person and the entry deadline is September 14. The tournament is limited to the first 32 teams to sign up.
First place will take home a game board and $50 and second place will walk away with $50.
For more information, contact Chairperson Dee Duncan at (812) 583-0692.
Antique Tractor / Machinery Show
The Antique Tractor / Machinery Show will be held on Saturday, September 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hoosier Uplands parking lot located at Sixth and Mississippi.
Visitors will see tractors of all types as well as antique implements used years ago that run as great as they did then. It's a show that attracts enthusiasts of all ages.
Rides
Brady Amusements will be at the Persimmon Festival Monday through Saturday, September 24-29. Rides operate 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Each night armbands for unlimited rides will be available for $20.
There will also be $25 armbands good for unlimited rides Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday according to the Persimmon Festival website. These armbands can be purchased in advance or on Tuesday night only. These will be for sale for cash only.
Pre-sale locations include:
Lost of broken armbands will not be replaced and pre-sale bracelets are only good for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. each night.
Photo Contest
The Photo Contest will be September 24-29 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. The photos will be on display Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The entry deadline for the contest is Saturday, September 22 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
The entry fee into the contest is $5 per photographer. The contest categories include Theme (Industries & Businesses Supporting Our Community), People, Landscapes, Animals, Flowers, Travel, Our Town and Young Photographers. The minimum photo size is 8" x 10" without mat or frame and the maximum photo size is 11" x 14" without mat or frame.
Grand Champion and Grand Champion of the youth category will be awarded a $50 cash prize. A gift certificate will go to the People's Choice awards and ribbons.
Arts and Crafts
Exhibits created by talented local residents in needlework, sewing, foods, canning, homemade ornaments and more.
The contest will be at the First Baptist Church CLC on Frank St. and held between September 24-29. Monday through Friday the exhibits will be open from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. and from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 29.
The entry deadline is September 22 from 2-6 p.m. and the entry fee is $5 per person.
There will be seven divisions, 50 classes with a first, second and third place prize from each class. There will be cash prizes for Quilt winners: $50 for first place, $15 for second place and $15 for third place.
For more information contact Susie Cessna at (812) 849-3082 or Barbara Wigley at (812) 849-3927.
Candle Light Tour
The Spring Mill State Park Historic Village will be brought to life as it was in the 1800s by Tri Kappa sorority members and their families on Saturday, September 22 from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Gate fees will apply, but annual park passes are accepted. There will be food available for purchase.
Art Exhibit
The Art Exhibit will take place September 24-29 at the Mitchell Community Public Library. The exhibit times vary. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the exhibit will be open 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. On Wednesday the exhibit will be open from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday the exhibit will be open from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Artists wishing to enter this event must be 18 or older. and must be current or former residents of Indiana. Art pieces must be wire-hanging, no saw-tooth hangers are allowed.
The entry deadline is September 22 from 9 am-3:30 p.m. and the entry fee is $5 per painting. There will be ribbons and cash prizes in five categories as well as Best in Show & People's Choice.
There are many styles of art represented, visitors are encouraged to stop by and see the local talent on display.
Artists are invited to enter a limit of three paintings, space permitted. Pick up art: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sept. 29th
Emergency Equipment Day
Come out and see all of the fire engines, police cars, and lifeline helicopters up close and personal at the Emergency Equipment Day.
Emergency Equipment Day is September 22 near the Mitchell High School on 12th St.
Persimmon Festival Cruise In and Motorcycle Show
The Persimmon Festival Cruise-In and Motorcycle Show is Saturday, September 29 in the Mitchell Opera House parking lot at Seventh and Brook St. from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
There will be something for every car enthusiast to enjoy, from street rods to classic cruisers. This is an event geared toward the entire family.
The cost to enter the Motorcycle Show is $10.
For more information on the Cruise-In, contact Billy Sanders at (812) 278-1185. For more information on the Motorcycle Show, contact Rob Stephens at (812) 797-4876.
Community Yard Sale
The Community Yard Sale will be September 22 from 8 a.m - 2 p.m. throughout the Mitchell Community.
Vesper Service
A Vesper Service will be held Sunday, September 23 at 7 p.m. in the Mitchell Opera House. The theme for the Vesper Service will follow the 2018 festival theme, "Industries and Businesses Supporting Our Community." Join the community at the refurbished Mitchell Opera House for a prayerful start to the annual Persimmon Festival.
Road Rally
The Road Rally will be held on Sunday, September 23 starting at the Mitchell High School student parking lot. Registration will begin at 2 p.m. while the Road Rally will begin at 3 p.m.
In this event, participants will be given a step-by-step set of directions at the beginning of the event, telling them where to go and which way to turn. Along the way, special instructions may instruct the participants to find a specific item (like a persimmon), which is where the scavenger hunt element comes into play. In addition, a series of questions will be included with the directions that participants must answer along the route.
At the conclusion of the event, the winners will be determined based on several factors, including the number of scavenger hunt items found, the number of questions answered correctly and the ability to finish the course in the predetermined time.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Spring Mill Stitchers Quilt Show
The Spring Mill Stitchers Quilt Show will be held September 24-29 at the Mitchell Community Public Library. Quilts can be viewed during library hours.
Commercial Tent
The Commercial Tent is where festival attendees can find local businesses featured. Attendees can vote for their favorite decorated booth and sign up for giveaways.
The Commercial tent is located on Sixth St. and will be open September 24-29 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday.
Only the first 46 vendors will be accepted and the entry fee to be a vendor is $175.
For more information, contact Mike James at (812) 849 - 5479.
Senior Citizens Day
Senior Citizens Day will be September 26 at the Main St. Stage starting at 1 p.m. There will be live music with dancing in the streets. There is no cost to participate.
For more information, go to the the Persimmon Festival website.
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