Sunshine Artist Top 200 Arts & Crafts Festivals

Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival has been named the 21st of 100 Best Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows in American by Sunshine Artist magazine. Each voting artist is given a ballot that allows them to list the top ten grossing shows they attended. The winners are chosen on the total sales of each event. The Nappanee festival has risen from number 56 last year and has never been out of the top 200 shows since the magazine began its rankings twenty five years ago. “Every show’s ranking is so weather dependent, particularly in August in Indiana” said the festivals originator Richard Pletcher, “The artists rank their shows based on their sales; our show has been ranked as high as number 3 in the country.” Pletcher continued, “The increase in ranking in a testament to Elkhart County and the area’s ongoing economic recovery and their enthusiasm and support for the vendors’ creativity and creations.”

Of the top 20 Classic and Contemporary shows only two others have been in existence longer than Amish Acres, which will be celebrating its 56th year in 2018. The Kutztown Folk Festival in Kutztown, Pennsylvania celebrated 69 years this summer and Allentown’s Art Festival in Buffalo New York has reached the 60 year mark. Only Amish Acres show has been run as a business enterprise and integrated into an attraction by a single family. Many of the ranked shows are organized by promoters who rent indoor venues, mostly around the holidays. Of the thirty three honored shows in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan only the Frankfort Illinois’ Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Festival that includes carnival rides ranks higher.

The 2018 festival, which will be celebrating its 56th anniversary, will be held August 2 – 5. Early vendor applications are now being accepted. Contact: Becky Cappert of Amish Acres, (574) 773-4188 ext. 213, or BeckyMaust@amishacres.com.