Uhl Collectors Society celebrating 40th Anniversary at annual festival in Huntingburg

Annual Uhl Fest on June 21 will feature rare pottery displays, beer tasting, and a silent auction to honor Southern Indiana’s pottery heritage

The Uhl Collectors Society is preparing to mark its 40th anniversary with the annual Uhl Fest celebration on June 21, 2025, at the Huntingburg Event Center. The event showcases the legacy of Uhl Pottery, which operated in Southern Indiana from 1854 to 1943.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT and includes several activities open to the public, including a member museum featuring rare pottery pieces, vendor sales, and free pottery appraisals.

The group brings over 200 people to the area for lodging, meals, shopping and other activities.

One highlight of this year’s event is the Member Museum, which will display rare and historic pieces of Uhl memorabilia. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is loaning the Huntingburg/Jasper Trophy Jug for the exhibition.

This unique piece, known as “The Little Brown Jug,” was created in 1934 as a traveling trophy for basketball games between Huntingburg and Jasper high schools. Louis Uhl of the Uhl Pottery Company donated the hand-turned jug in a golden brown hue for the trophy.

Other notable items expected at the museum include the last crock made at Uhl in 1944, a possible appearance of the 30-gallon display jug used at State Fair Uhl Pottery displays, and various whiskey jugs and ephemera.

The society has partnered with Yard Goat Artisan Ales, which will serve samples of their craft beers, including a new Bootlegger Ale. UCS members can obtain a co-branded UCS/Yard Goat pint glass, with a limit of one per membership.

The beer’s name references the “bootlegger jug,” a special all-white 5-gallon jug that actually held only 4¾ gallons. According to local legend, these undersized jugs were sold to bootleggers who were cheating their customers of a quart of moonshine in every jug.

“The answer seems to be lost in time,” said organizers in a recent newsletter. “Researchers date the Acorn logo to 1928, eight years after the beginning of Prohibition. Prohibition ended in 1933.”

Visitors can bring their own pottery pieces to the “Is it Uhl Assessment?” table for free appraisals. This service helps collectors and community members identify authentic Uhl pottery and learn about its history and value.

For society members, additional activities include Uhl Bingo with pottery prizes and a silent auction featuring items such as Dubois County Bombers tickets, signed sports memorabilia, and Uhl pottery pieces. Proceeds from the auction will support the club and its scholarship fund.

A light meal of sandwiches, chips, and fountain drinks from McAlister’s Deli will be available for purchase at 11:30 a.m. for $8 per meal.

The Uhl Pottery Company has deep roots in Southern Indiana. It was first established in Evansville in 1854 by brothers August and Louis Uhl, then relocated to Huntingburg where it operated from 1909 until closing in 1943.

The pottery’s legacy lives on through collectors and historians who preserve its cultural significance to the region. The Uhl Collectors Society, formed in 1985, plays a key role in this preservation effort.

“In celebration of our 40th year we are inviting the public to our show and sale, member museum of rarities, and the popular ‘Is it Uhl’ table,” the society announces in its promotional materials. “Come join us to hear about Uhl pottery, its history, and maybe the value of that treasure in your basement.”

The full day’s schedule includes vendor sales and museum viewing from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., beer tasting with Yard Goat Artisan Ales from noon to 2 p.m., and the Uhl appraisal table from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

For society members, the business meeting runs from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 4 p.m. and the Uhl Auction afterward.

The society welcomes new members, with annual dues set at $30 for a maximum of two members from the same household. Members can purchase commemorative items and attend the full convention, including the dinner and auction.

Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express in Jasper for Friday and Saturday nights for those attending from out of town. Reservations must be made before June 7.

More information about the Uhl Collectors Society and the upcoming Uhl Fest is available on the organization’s website at uhlcollectorssociety.com.