Crisp air, colorful backroads, cozy shops and enough homemade treats to require a cooler in the car. Fall in Shipshewana just feels right.
Whether you’re planning a girls’ day, a family outing or a much-needed getaway, here are seven ways to fill your fall day with shopping, seasonal flavors and small-town fun in the Heart of Amish Country.
1. Start with a Cozy Cup
Stop by Kitchen Cupboard Coffee House inside the Davis Mercantile for a latte, cappuccino or seasonal specialty drink. You can also pair your morning coffee with a homemade donut or cinnamon roll from Country Lane Bakery 2.0 or settle in for a comfortable, homestyle start at Hoosier Banquets & Cafe inside Yoder’s Shopping Center.
Pumpkin spice, caramel, chai or plain black coffee all count. Consider it your official toast to fall in Shipshewana.
2. Find the Giant Straw Bale Creations
Forget ordinary fall decorations. Around here, we think bigger. Much bigger.
From August 31 through October 24, 2026, giant straw bale creations appear outside businesses throughout Shipshewana, Middlebury, LaGrange and Howe. Each one is designed by a local artist and participating business, so you never quite know what you’ll find around the next corner.
Pick up a free map at the LaGrange County Visitors Center and make a game of finding your favorites. Take plenty of pictures and tag #AutumnAdventures26 and #VisitShipshewana.
Learn more about the Giant Straw Bale Art Trail.
3. Shop Your Way Through the Autumn Adventure Shop Hop
Now it’s time to put those shopping shoes to work.
The Autumn Adventure Shop Hop leads you to locally owned boutiques, bakeries, restaurants and unexpected finds throughout the area. Participating businesses offer special deals and discounts, giving you plenty of reasons to peek inside “just one more” shop.
You might discover home décor at Joyfully Said, a new outfit at Eminence Home + Boutique, something sweet from Coblentz Chocolate Company or a gift you absolutely did not plan to buy at one of the many shops inside the Davis Mercantile.
Collect a sticker at each participating location. Every 10 stickers earns you one entry into the prize drawings. The 2026 Shop Hop runs from August 31 through October 24.
4. Go Off the Beaten Path
Some of the best fall finds are waiting beyond the main streets.
Pick up the free Off the Beaten Path map and set out on a self-guided drive through the Amish Country Indiana backroads. The route leads you past Amish cottage shops, colorful barn quilts, family farms and peaceful countryside scenery.
Stop for locally made goods, watch for roadside stands and enjoy the brilliant fall colors along the way. There’s no need to follow a strict schedule. Choose the stops that interest you and let curiosity lead the way.
Remember to travel carefully around bicycles, buggies and farm equipment. Slow down, leave plenty of room and enjoy the journey. Around here, taking the long way is often the best part.
5. Taste the Flavors of Fall
By this point, you’ve earned lunch. And dessert. Definitely dessert.
Sit down for homestyle favorites at Das Dutchman Essenhaus, enjoy a meal at Country Corral Restaurant or stop at Destination 814. Save room for the fall treats waiting around town, including homemade pie, apple butter, cinnamon rolls, chocolates and plenty of baked goods.
Our best advice? Bring a cooler, forget about counting calories and never turn down a fried pie.
Explore more local restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops.
6. Add a Little Fall Fun
Check the Shipshewana events calendar before your trip and build your day around a concert, craft show, family activity or seasonal celebration.
If you would rather enjoy the scenery, take a walk or bike ride on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. The Shipshewana trailhead at 315 Depot Street offers free parking, public restrooms and an air pump for bicycle tires. It’s also within walking distance of downtown coffee, shopping and food.
You don’t have to tackle the entire trail. A short ride beneath the changing leaves still earns you full fall credit.
7. Stay for Supper and Something Special
Don’t let a perfectly good fall day end too early.
Finish with a hearty dinner, catch a show or concert at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center and turn your day into an overnight getaway.
Staying the night gives you more time to explore the Shop Hop, find the straw bales you missed and revisit the bakery section. Strictly for research purposes, of course.
Browse local accommodations and upcoming events to finish planning your getaway.
Make It Your Perfect Fall Day
There’s no single right way to spend fall in Shipshewana. Follow the entire list or choose the stops that sound most like you. Just leave extra room in the car for shopping bags and something sweet for the drive home.
Begin your adventure at the LaGrange County Visitors Center, located at 350 S. Van Buren Street in Shipshewana, for free maps, shopping passes, local recommendations and visitor information.
Share your fall finds by tagging @VisitShipshewana and using #AutumnAdventure26. We can’t wait to see what your perfect fall day looks like!