The upcoming North Judson Mint Festival is getting some exposure in cyberspace. Organizers of the Father’s Day weekend festival have taped a web segment for South Bend-based WNIT Public Television’s “Experience Michiana” program. This year marks the festival’s 36th anniversary. The theme is “Mint is Green in 2013.” Festivities begin Friday, June 14 with the carnival in the Catholic Church parking lot, music from Hoosier Highway at Norwayne Field starting at 5 p.m. prior to the father and grandfather of the year presentation. Afterward the Joe Feingold Project will take the stage at Norwayne Field.
Saturday activities include the Dr. Ufkes 5k Run/two-mile walk, a pancake breakfast, Mint Festival Car show and the Cooking with Mint contest, along with train rides to English Lake, a pie eating contest, magic shows, a waterball fight, music throughout the day, the Kersting’s Mint Fest Ride, a frog jumping contest, corn hole tournament, pork chop dinner and the Taste of North Judson, arts and crafts and carnival rides. This year, visitors can get a close up look at the perennial cash crop on Saturday, June 15 with the 2 p.m. mint farm tour.
The Mint Festival Parade through downtown North Judson is the big attraction on Sunday, but plenty of other activities are on the schedule as well, including a pancake breakfast and bake sale at Grand Central Station, a pet fun walk/run, a book sale, puppet show, pet parade, music throughout the day at Norwayne Field, arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides and food. New this year is the North Judson Fire Department’s Fire Truck and Demonstration Show Sunday afternoon from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. north of the new fire house near Luken and Main Streets. . For a nominal fee, festival goers will get a chance to spray water, hold the Jaws of Life and watch other fire ground operations.
