Johnny Appleseed Festival
The Johnny Appleseed Festival has a different perspective on fair food. Vendors are required to prepare their offerings using the methods employed during the mid-1800’s, the period during which John Chapman (better known as Johnny Appleseed) lived.
Cooking is done over wood or coal fires – electricity and propane are not permitted – and the foods prepared must be appropriate to the time period as well. Check the details specified in the vendor rules — even the mode of dress is early to mid 19th century.
You won’t see elephant ears, fried Twinkies, or frozen ices in bright plastic cups at this event. The food at the Johnny Appleseed Festival hearkens back to the days of the pioneers: chicken cooked over an open-fire grill, ham and beans with freshly made cornbread, grilled turkey legs, buffalo burgers, and of course apple dumplings, caramel apples, fried apples rolled in cinnamon sugar, apple pie, and plenty of cider.
The annual fest takes place September 16 and 17, 2017, in Johnny Appleseed Park near the Memorial Coliseum, 1502 Harry Baals Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The pioneer nurseryman died March 18, 1845, in Fort Wayne, and he’s buried in the former Archer family cemetery in Johnny Appleseed Park.