Visiting Shipshewana soon? In September, you’re liable to hear the kind of catchy music that makes you want to get up and dance.
For those who love to get out there and play music with others, we’ve got The MEC’s Weekly Food Truck Rally and Jam Session. Every Wednesday until September 15th, you can bring your instrument or your voice and enjoy a jam session with other local pickers and singers. All while trying amazing food from a variety of local trucks!
Food Vendors*
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Party on the Patio (Gourmet burgers and more)
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San Marcos Tacos & more
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Tailgate Treats
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El Zorrito American & Mexican Food
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Bob’s Bakery – Cupcakes
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Corner Cravings
*subject to availability
When September rolls around and it starts to cool down a bit, you can enjoy an huge assortment of talented musicians thanks to the The Blue Gate and the Shipshewana Retail Merchant’s Association.
Buggies and Bluegrass Week is in its second year and runs from Sept. 5th thru the 9th (Tues. thru Sat.) 2023 with one show each evening at The Blue Gate Performing Arts Center. Join other music lovers in this gorgeous indoor theater performance space, with a single featured performer nightly. Hosted by bluegrass favorite comedy duo The Moron Brothers, and with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder showing everyone how Bluegrass music is done on Thursday, this year’s event promises to be an even bigger blast than last year.
Says Andy Rohrer of The Blue Gate, “First and foremost, we love bluegrass, along with southern Gospel. It was one of the first genres of music we hosted at the Blue Gate Theatre when we started back in 2003. Then in the last few years, we have found great success with our Gospel Weeks, a ‘festival’ type format where a fan can see many of their favorite artists over several days, but in a Theatre setting. This provides comfort and wonderful extra amenities that a town like Shipshewana has in abundance. We’re thrilled that with the addition of the Music Fest at the Pavilion, there will now be even more options for music throughout the day for our guests!”
This year’s line-up: (all shows are in the evening, with start times of 7:30 or 8pm.)
- September 5 – Rhonda Vincent
- September 6 – Malpass Brothers
- September 7 – The Steeldrivers
- September 8 – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
- September 9 – Old Crow Medicine Show
Tickets are available on The Blue Gate Theater’s Website or through the ticket office.
The good times don’t stop there! During Bluegrass week, the SRMA is also bringing you a new event, the Down Home Music Fest. Dates are Sept. 7th, 8th, & 9th (Thurs. thru Sat.) 2023 daily from 1pm – 8pm at the Farmstead Event Pavilion. Each afternoon, five different groups will be preforming for an hour each, to bring guests a good variety of down-home music in the styles of Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass.
Says Mariah Contreras, President of the SRMA: “Come one, come all! This event has fun stuff for the kids, such as barrel-train rides, face painting, and balloon artists, all included in the ticket price, as well as free parking and a good variety of food trucks. We offer single day tickets or 3-day passes. Shipshewana has nice hotels, Airbnb’s, and camping, so there are plenty of options if you want to make it a multi-day visit! Stay a few days, do some shopping in the morning, and some jamming in the afternoon, and visit The Blue Gate Theater for the featured Bluegrass performer in the evening. There’s going to be a great variety of music and talent that we know our community and visitors will love!” Purchase tickets here!
And the line-up:
Thursday, Sept. 7th
1:00-2:00 pm Amos and Margaret Raber
2:30-3:30 pm John Schmidt
4:00-5:00 pm The Family Sowell
5:30-6:30 pm Darin & Brooke Aldridge
7:00-8:00 pm Southern Raised
Friday, Sept. 8th
1:00-2:00 pm Darin & Brooke Aldridge
2:30-3:30 pm Backwoods Bluegrass
4:00-5:00 pm Southern Raised
5:30-6:30 pm Royer Brothers
7:00-8:00 pm Ironwood Drive
Saturday, Sept. 9th
11:30 am-12:30 pm The Family Sowell
1:00-2:00 pm Aaron Stutzman
2:30-3:30 pm Ironwood Drive
4:00-5:00 pm Backwoods Bluegrass
5:30-6:30 pm Wagler Sisters
7:00-8:00 pm Amos and Margaret Raber
Attend one or attend all, either way you’ll have a toe-tapping good time!
