Celebrating 75 years: Persimmon Festival bigger than ever

Bigger, better and more live entertainment. Organizers of the 75th Persimmon Festival are pulling out all the stops to make the 2022 festival one that lives up to its 75-year tradition of bringing thousands of people to downtown Mitchell.

Three years of planning have gone into this year's festival, Sept. 17, 19-24. Tonya Chastain, one of the committee chairs, said the committee's focus was honoring the festival's tradition and bringing more free entertainment.

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To that end, Diana Bishop Chastain, whose father George Bishop founded the festival in 1947, will lead the Sept. 24 parade as the grand marshal. There will be parade floats for all past chairmen and past Persimmon queens to ride on and the Glenn Miller Orchestra will play a free concert of the Big Band music popular when the festival debuted.

"We're fortunate to have our founder's daughter Diana Bishop Chastain in the festival. We're excited she can share her stories of her father's vision and that he created a festival that 75 years later, people want to come home and be part of the tradition," Chastain said. "We are on the front cover of the Indiana Festival Guide and we're very proud of that."

Chastain is also director of the Lawrence County Tourism Commission and said her office has been fielding numerous calls for information about festival events.

"This being the 75th, people have really planned to come back home for it," she said. "Lots of family and class reunions are taking place on both weekends of the festival."

In addition to more live entertainment on the Main Street stage -- there will be at least two live performances each night from Sept. 20-24 -- the parade also has been beefed up.

Parade Chairman Vicky Schlegel said parade-goers will see giant helium balloons and Circle City Clown Band, Chase Briscoe's car in the parade.

It's been 21 years since helium balloons were in the parade.

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"We wanted to have some throw-back units to demonstrate the history of the festival so we have balloons, former chairmen, former queens and a few other surprises," Schlegel said.

Schlegel has been involved with the festival since 2002, has chaired several events and been general chairman. Everyone is a volunteer and there are no paid staff.

"Yes, it's hard work and stressful and by the end of the week you're exhausted, but it's also a magical week," she said. "We have vendors who come back every year because they love it. You build friendships and the festival is a great way to showcase our city."

Schlegel anticipates 75 units in the parade, which takes off on Main Street and winds through neighborhoods.

In addition to the festival committee of Chastain, Mark Bryant, Don Caudell II, Krystal Shetler and Larry Caudell, other volunteers are 2023 co-chairs Carol Chambers and Aimee Carlisle and 26 event chairmen.

"We are so grateful for our event chairs. Those jobs and those events would not get done without them," Chastain said.

Vendors, amusements and food tents will set up on Sept. 18 and the festival will be in full swing Sept. 19.

Festival highlights

Sept. 16: The festival kicks off Sept. 16 with a fireworks display at Lehigh field following the Mitchell High School football game and the unveiling of the new turf field.

Sept. 17: The annual Tri Kappa Candlelight Tour starts at 4 p.m. in the Pioneer Village of Spring Mill State Park. Spend the evening listening to music as you explore the village. The Tri Kappa members will be selling candies, hot dogs, caramel corn and persimmon pudding.

Sept. 18: The Glenn Miller Orchestra from Plant City, Florida, will play Big Band tunes at 3 p.m. at the MHS auditorium. Admission is free.

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Sept. 19: Crowning of the Festival queen and little misses at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. followed by Persimmon Idol at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 20: MHS Stingerz perform at 6 p.m., MJHS Stingerz at 6:30 p.m on stage followed by Rockland Road at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21: Senior Citizen Day, activities include dancing, begins at 1 p.m. Gospel music at 6 and 8 p.m. with Worth the Journey and Open Heart.

Sept. 22: Indigos perform at 6 p.m., 45 RPM at 8 p.m. on stage.

Sept. 23: OCD Band at 6 p.m., Endless Summer Band 8 p.m. on Main Street Stage.

Sept. 24: Persimmon 5k, runners check-in at 7:30 a.m., race at 8:30 a.m. Races begin at Mitchell City Park.

Sept. 24: Persimmon pudding and novelty contests. Entries due by 11 a.m. at Mitchell First Church of God, 405 12th St. Pudding top prizes are $500, $300 and $200; novelty prizes are $100, $75 and $50.

Sept. 24: The Persimmon Festival parade steps off at 2 p.m. and proceeds down Main Street. The parade will honor past chairmen, queens and the festival founder George Bishop.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Celebrating 75 years: Persimmon Festival bigger than ever