This weekend is the 48th annual Mint Festival in North Judson, and Saturday’s event list is jam-packed.
The Herb Ufkes 5k / 2 Mile walk registration begins at 6:30am under the water tower, with the walk itself beginning at 7am. From 7 to 11am will be the Masonic Lodge pancake breakfast, and from 8 to 11am is registration for the Car Show at the corner of Highway 10 and Ufkes Drive. Judging for the car show will take place at 11am and the car show trophy presentation will take place at 1:30pm.
North Judson San Pierre Middle School will host a Farm Toy Show, with an antique Tractor show taking place at North Judson San Pierre High School Parking Lot.
The Cooking with Mint Contest Registration will take place from 9 – 10:30am, with the judging to take place at 11am at the North Judson United Methodist Church.
Registration for the golf cart poker run will begin at 9:30am at North Judson Fire Department, with the poker run going from 10am to 1pm.
From 10am to 2pm, Starke County Historical Society will have a booth in the lobby of the North Judson Public Library, where they will be asking people to share stories and memories.
The Homerun Derby will take place from 10am to 1pm at North Judson Town Park.
Many events will kick off at 10am, including a puppet show by Mousetrap Puppets. There will be puppet shows throughout the day, with puppet shows being scheduled for 2:30pm, 4pm, and 8:30pm.
At 10am there will be a book sale at the Public Library, and train rides from Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. The train rides will continue running throughout the day, with more rides occurring at noon, 2pm, and a Twilight train at 8:15pm.
Beginning at 11am the beer garden will open, the pedal tractor pull will take place, and there will be a volleyball tournament at Town Park.
The Kalita Magic show will begin at 11:30am, with additional shows at 3:30 and 6pm; Bingo will be starting at noon at the American Legion. Also beginning at noon is live music by Aftermath, at Norwayne Field Pavilion. More live music throughout the day will include Main Streets from 5-7:30pm, and Eliminator Band from 8:30 – 11pm.
There will be a book reading with Merry Lopez at 12:30, and a petting zoo to take place from 1-4pm at Main and Keller. Book reading with Emily Max will take place at 1:30pm.
Beginning at 2:30pm the Starke County Historical Society will kick-off the county’s America250 celebration. Speakers will share information on the semiquincentennial and local plans and musicians from all three Starke County high schools will perform, playing a variety of patriotic tunes.
Pet Parade registration will begin at 3pm north of the library, with the pet parade to take place at 4pm.
There will be a Mint Tour of the Wappel Farm at Highway 10 West beginning at 3pm. Also at 3pm, a frog jumping contest on main street, and the Kerstings Mint Festival Ride will take off.
There will be a corn hole tournament and donut eating contest both beginning at 4pm. A silly safari show will take place at 5pm and 6:30pm, and the fireworks show will begin at Norwayne Field at 9:30pm.
The events don’t stop on Saturday; WKVI will share a list of Sunday’s Mint Festival events in the coming days.
