5 things to do: From a 'Silent Sky' to fests for culture and apples

Tribune Staff Report
·4 min read
The Nappanee Apple Festival returns with tons of entertainment and apples.
The Nappanee Apple Festival returns with tons of entertainment and apples.

Celebrate the cycles of life this weekend, like perhaps one of the bike and trail events that are featured in this week's Outdoor Adventures column from Joseph Dits. Or explore how women helped us to see the heavens. Groove to gospel in a garden. Fill up at a fiesta rich in Latino music and food. Munch on apples until you pop at Nappanee's blow-out fest. Or delve into history as it's re-enacted in Rochester.

For more events, check out The Tribune's online events calendar. Here are five suggestions:

Nappanee Apple Festival returns

NAPPANEE ― There are big pies and big fun at the 46th annual Nappanee Apple Festival, running now through Sept. 18 with three stages of entertainment, more than 150 exhibitors, carnival rides, a parade with a military aircraft fly-over, a Miss Apple Blossom scholarship pageant and an antique tractor and engine show, among other contests and a 5K run/walk.

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Headliners for the entertainment include Flippenout with extreme trampoline shows, twisting triple flips, complex acrobatic routines, stunts that reach heights of 25 feet or more and snowboards and skis. Shows start at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and run through 2:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

Naturally, there’ll be lots of apple pie, fritters, dumplings, turnovers, fry pies and so on.

For a full schedule, visit nappaneeapplefestival.org.

Final show of ‘Silent Sky’ at South Bend Civic

SOUTH BEND ― Stargazers, before you look at the heavens, you might want to slip into South Bend Civic Theatre to see the story of a woman whose experiments in the early 1900s ― when she couldn’t touch a telescope in the Harvard Observatory ― led to an amazing discovery.

In the drama “Silent Sky,” we learn how astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, a Radcliffe College graduate, discovered a method for measuring the distance and brightness of stars. But we also explore how women like her broke through barriers in science for other women whose ideas were dismissed.

Arts and Entertainment'Silent Sky' brings a tale of astronomy, history and women's empowerment to Civic

The 2011 drama written by Lauren Gunderson has its final performances at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17 at 2 p.m. Sept. 18 at South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St., South Bend.

Tickets are $32-$27. For more information, call 574-234-1112 or visit sbct.org.

Folkloric dancers return for Radio Sabor Latino’s Mexican Independence Day celebration at the Marycrest Building in South Bend
Folkloric dancers return for Radio Sabor Latino’s Mexican Independence Day celebration at the Marycrest Building in South Bend

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day fiesta

SOUTH BEND − A celebration of Mexican Independence Day with food, music and culture returns Sept. 17 to the parking lot of the Marycrest Building, 2015 W. Western Ave.

The "Patriotic Fiestas" will start at noon and run until 11 p.m., when Mayor James Mueller will help to do “El Grito,” or the shouted ceremonial "cry” that recalls Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's cry in 1810 that started the Mexican war against Spanish rule. There is no admission fee. Local food vendors will serve an array of Mexican cuisine.

Entertainment throughout the day includes a singing contest, kids games, folkloric dancers and the bands Los de San Rafael, Grupo Fuerza de Michigan, Oasis La Fantasia and TNO Net.

The radio station Sabor Latino (93.5 FM) is organizing the festival with other local partners.

The annual Trail of Courage Living History Festival comes to Rochester on the banks of the Tippecanoe River.
The annual Trail of Courage Living History Festival comes to Rochester on the banks of the Tippecanoe River.

Trail of Courage fest slips back in time

ROCHESTER ― The 46th Annual Trail of Courage Living History Festival returns to the Fulton County Historical Society grounds on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, 37 E. County Road 375 North, just off of U.S. 31.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18.

Historical encampments will range from the French and Indian War to Western fur traders to Native Americans of the planes and woodland wigwams.

There will be a log cabin trading post, 1832 post office, storytellers, food booths and traditional crafts. Programs on two stages will include period music and dance, historic skits and Native American lore, plus Native dances at 2 p.m. in the dance arena.

Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for ages 6 to 11 and free for ages 5 and younger. No pets allowed.

Learn more at fultoncountyhistory.org.

Gospel in the Garden comes to museum

SOUTH BEND ― Radio station WUBS 89.7 FM invites you to enjoy "Gospel in the Garden” from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 18 at The History Museum, 808 W. Washington St.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: 5 things to do this weekend in South Bend: Mexican Independence, apples