Welcome to your source of the latest information concerning the 2011 Persimmon Festival in Mitchell, IN - a 65^th year tradition in celebration of the vision of George Bishop "to celebrate the persimmon" - no, not the Japanese hybrid import variety, the native American tree that grows in the wild in southern Indiana.
As detailed information becomes available the links on the left will become active giving you access to more information.
The festival will run from Saturday, Sept. 17^th through Saturday, Sept. 24^th. The parade will be held on the closing Saturday. If you wish to participate in the parade, use this entry form (entry form is in Adobe Acrobat format - if you do not have Acrobat, download a free version from Adobe).

Activities on Main Street do not begin until Monday, Sept. 19^th.

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Now’s the time for details to be confirmed, as organizers have entertainment, vendors and other events well established.

If you’re a vendor looking to set up a food concession stand, contact Larry at 583-5249.

If you’re a vendor looking to set up a gift trailer or to sell other items, you may call Mike James, 849-6770, to be put on the waiting list for the commercial tent, or call Larry, 583-5249, to set up in our “Crafts in the Park” event on Saturday, Sept. 24^th. We do not have space for concession or gift trailers.

If you’re interested in joining our grand parade on Saturday, Sept. 24^th, please download a parade entry form from our website or call Gary Rayhill at 797-0427.

Please look at all of our events and get ready for the festival. Now is the time to start taking pictures for the photo contest, and getting recipes for the cooking contests. There’s much to do at the Persimmon Festival, and we hope you’ll join us for another year of festive fun!

MITCHELL — The 65th annual Persimmon Festival will celebrate the history of the Persimmon Festival and all of the people who continually amke the evnet a success. The Theme fo the 2011 festival is "Serve and Protect," and the grand marshals of the parade will be two firefighters - Larry Caudell and Jimmie Zeeks.

Larry Hardman, chairman of the 65th annual Persimmon Festival, said he chose Caudell and Zeeks to represent the sacrifices firefighters make and the service they provide. Zeeks was serving as the fire chief of Marion Township Volunteer Fire Department when he collapsed of a heart attack at the scene fo a car crash on August 15, 2009, and died a short time later. His widow Myra, will represent him in the parade. Caudell spent many years overseeing operations with the Mitchell Fire Department. He retired from the department in 2006 after 32 years of service, 22 years of which he served as cheif.

"After Jimmie Zeeks died, I got to thinking about volunteer firefighters," Hardman said, "I've known Jimmie and Larry all my life. Volunteer firefighters do a lot in the community. If you go there, you'll see it's a family-type of atmosphere because it is like one big family. Look at the Zeeks family, for example, at Marion Township, or the Duncan family in Mitchell. What can be better for the community than this type of relationship? I just awant to thank them for taking care of our community like they do."

Hardman also made note that the festival, scheduled for September 17-24, will take place a short time after the 10-year anniverary of September 11, 2001.

"We're inviting all volunteer fire departments and other departments to take part in the parade as well," Hardman said. "These guys do a lot for the community. We want to honor them."

Helping Hardman with this year's festival are co-chairman Steve Dobson, 277-6526, and Lori Quebbeman, 277-6491.

Last year’s Pudding Contest winner at the Persimmon Festival used buttermilk, heavy cream, butter and eggs, a little vanilla and a touch of cinnamon.  What’s that, you say?  You’ve never had persimmon pudding?  You’ve never had persimmons?  Well, that’s as good a reason as any to hasten to Mitchell, IN for the 65^th Annual Persimmon Festival.

The Persimmon Pudding contest takes place on Saturday the 27^th.  There’s also a Persimmon Novelty Dessert category; last year, the winner made Persimmon Gooey Butter Cake.  Recipes for both of last year’s winning dishes can be found in the Festival Booklet online.

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