Dubois County features music festivals for all tastes
Jazz, Polka, Country, Latino, Folk, Blues…Experience it all in Dubois County
The rolling hills of Southern Indiana in Dubois County feature a variety of music festivals.
JAZZ
Kicking off the many music festivals in Dubois County is the annual Garden Gate Jazz, Wine & Craft Beer Festival that takes place on April 30, 2022 from 11 am until 5 pm.
Event Highlights: The Garden Gate festival features popular southern Indiana wineries and breweries offering samples with the option of purchasing wine and beer by the bottle, growler or by the glass. Admission including sampling bracelets is $25 at the door or you can save $5 when you purchase a couple of weeks in advance online at GardenGateFestival.com. General Admission is $10.
Talented jazz ensembles will take stage, creating a cool and relaxed environment while sipping on your favorite beverage of choice. This year in 2022, a jazz group out of Cincinnati, Ohio called Bumpin’ will perform on the main stage followed by a local high school jazz band on the back porch of Old Town Hall. A popular Latin-Jazz band Hermanos, from Louisville, Kentucky will be the headlining act for the day.
MIXED GENRES
Stay in Market Street Park for the next music event series, “Fourth Fridays,” appropriately named with being right off of Huntingburg’s historic Fourth Street and taking place the fourth Fridays of the months of May, June, July, and August; thus, May 27, June 24, July 22, and August 26 for 2022.
POLKA
In the first weekend in August, accordion notes can be heard as the polka band gets in full swing for the largest attended festival in the county – the Jasper Strassenfest – with the four-day street festival taking place August 4-7, 2022.
Brats, lederhosen, polka music and parades–just some of what you will experience at the annual Jasper Strassenfest. Known as one of Indiana’s finest festivals and recently featured on the front cover of the Indiana Festival Guide, the Jasper Strassenfest is a family-friendly street festival celebrating the area’s rich German heritage.
Features include Parades, an open-air Biergarten (beer garden), Polka Masses, Arts Festival, carnival rides, hot air balloon race, bed race, Autolauf scavenger hunt, a variety of musical entertainment and performances and dozens of unique events for youngsters and those young at heart.
Bring your appetite for the variety of food vendors! This annual, well-known German festival celebrates Jasper’s German heritage and is known for its great food and lively atmosphere. For more information, visit www.jasperstrassenfest.org.
COUNTRY
Get your boots on as the BIGGEST music festival taking place in Dubois County in 2022 is the Red, White and Brauen (RWB) Music Festival, featuring The Roots and Boots Tour with award winning country music artists on August 27, 2022.
Event Highlights: This tour offers the rare opportunity to see three of country music’s most-adored artists together with one band sharing stories and songs. Aaron Tippin (“You’ve Got To Stand For Something,” “Where The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly”), Sammy Kershaw (“She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer”), and Collin Raye (“Love, Me,” “My Kind of Girl”) headline this year’s event. Collectively, they’ve amassed over 50 top-twenty Billboard hits. Three-time CMA Award winner and Grand Ole Opry member Pam Tillis (“Maybe It Was Memphis”), fan-favorite Richochet (“Daddy’s Money”), and chart-topper Wade Hayes (“Old Enough To Know Better”) are also appearing in this year’s lineup. Purchase tickets today at RWBMusicFest.com for the event taking place behind Uebelhor & Sons Toyota, located in Jasper, IN. Gates open at 3pm (EDT).
LATINO
Switching genres once again, salsa on over to the Latino Culture Festival at Huntingburg City Park and League Stadium (one of the movie sites for filming “A League of Their Own,” starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis). This festival takes place over Labor Day weekend, September 2-3, 2022.
Event Highlights: The event is not only about coming together to celebrate Central American culture, but to share it with the entire community, says ALASI President Eber Menjivar. Festival-goers can enjoy a wide variety of options – papusas, tamales, tacos, and more – while listening to traditional Latino music played by notable bands.
“The music groups that we bring are renowned worldwide, and especially from certain parts of Central America,” Menjivar said.
Though the festival is a celebration of Latino culture, it truly is open to anyone, says Menjivar. “This event is for everyone – we get asked a lot, ‘Is this event only for Latinos?’” Menjivar said. “It’s a Latino-based festival, but it’s for everyone to go out and enjoy it, and really have a good time.”
Booths will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday.
More information about ALASI and the Latino Culture Fest can be found at: www.facebook.com/alasi.in
FOLK
Before the leaves change color, join in on the popular Ferdinand Folk Fest, the county’s longest running music festival, taking place Saturday, September 17, 2022.
Event Highlights: Bring the kiddos to enjoy this family and environmentally friendly (and FREE) festival as you relax on the lawn of Ferdinand, Indiana’s 18th Street Park. Throughout the park children can enjoy activities, interactive performances, inflatables and the playground. Usually hosting some nationally renowned artists, the line-up for the 2022 event has not been announced yet, so check back in to see who will be performing at this year’s event!
BLUES
Next up – With the slogan of “Join Us if You Dare,” the Haunted Huntingburg Blues Festival is a frightfully good time previously featuring a VIP Lounge, four talented blues ensembles, many kids activities and inflatables, food trucks, and some liquor in the form of wine and craft beer sampling.
Event Highlights: Musical line-up for the 2022 haunted event features the Carl Rodenberg Trio, Bleu Phonque, Warrior Kings, and Stillwell-Marsh Quintet. The backdrop for the festivities is a Halloween-decorated Market Street Park. Full event details are not currently available; however, mark this in your calendar and check www.hauntedhuntingburg.com for their event updates.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
In the beginning of November, Christmas season gets in full swing with the many events in Dubois County, including Huntingburg Christmas Stroll, Jasper O’Tannenbaum Season, and – the most-popular – Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt which features high levels of entertainment, including the Evansville Philharmonic Ensemble “Sounds of the Season” Concert.
Event Highlights: The Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt is spread in six markt locations throughout the charming “Barvarian-like” village. Held the third full weekend in November annually, the markt features over 200 lavishly decorated booths spilling over with quality hand-created items, antiques, art, Christmas wares, delicious regional food and wine, live entertainment, a free concert, free tours and so much more.
Talented members of the Evansville Philharmonic will be Music beautiful, seasonal selections and traditional Christmas carols on Saturday from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST at St. Ferdinand Church. As there is no admission, a freewill offering is encouraged.
For more information on the Christmas event visit www.ferdinandchristkindlmarkt.com.
MUSIC VENUES
In addition to these music festivals, Dubois County is home to many entertainment venues, hosting concerts throughout the year, including the following:
Jasper Arts Center – 675-seat theater that offers some of the highest quality professional performing arts events and programs currently on tour, drawing worldwide talent and experiences to an intimate setting.
Astra Theatre – located in the heart of Jasper, the historic Astra Theatre features concerts, comedians, special movies, and other performances to the public in this 357 seat theatre.
Calumet Lake Events Plaza – multi-purpose venue fit for concerts, weddings, fundraisers, and other live entertainment with a seat capacity upwards of 800 people.
(Just outside of the county – nearby) Lincoln Amphiteatre – one of the largest roofed amphitheatres in the nation, Lincoln Amphitheatre is a majestic 1,500-seat outdoor venue located in the very woods Abraham Lincoln walked as a boy. From the time he was 7 until he was 21, Lincoln lived and learned in what is now Lincoln City, Indiana.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
With all of these great music options, Dubois County can be your next destination to please your ears and feed your soul. While making plans to enjoy these offerings, be sure to check out the many relaxing lodging options available to guests, including some amazing bed and breakfasts and award-wining hotels. Also, be sure to shop the historic downtowns, reserve a tour at some of the top attractions, or bring the family to enjoy Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari.
