Swiss Festival

ABOUT THE 2008 NATIONAL SWISS FESTIVAL TOURS.

The Swiss Festival National Rally is a “two for one” rally. You not only get to experience the nationally acclaimed Swiss Festival of Sugarcreek, Ohio but you also get to meet, learn and get to know the wonderful people known as ‘The Amish” in the largest Amish settlement in the world.

The tours do it all. This year the Rally includes five tours. You’re going to love it! Obviously you can’t do them all, so you will have to come back again and again.

Check the description of the tours, and decide which one you want to take each day…Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Then arrange your car pool and check for departure time in your program book. Listen for the P.A. announcement to line up for your tour. Be sure you have a good CB (CH14) and a full gas tank. Admission fees or charges for stops on the tours are included in your Rally fee. Lunch stops will be on your own.

Most tours pass through and visit beautiful Amish farms and businesses. PLEASE! respect these wonderful people who are allowing us to meet them up close and personal.

Remember some businesses will not have electricity. Therefore they may be dark or at least dimly lit by kerosene or propane lamps. Be careful, there may be steps or uneven floors, or equipment on the floor , etc. Some of the businesses we will visit may be in their barns, so again — BE CAREFUL!

PLEASE!! WE ASK YOU! do not take pictures of the Amish. Leave your camera in the car if it’s Amish. Feel free to talk and ask questions of the Amish. Remember, the Amish children do not understand or speak English until they go to school. Do not give gifts to the Amish children or ask them for their addresses.

Driving safety is our #1 concern. Remember to run with your lights on. Obey all traffic laws. Tune your CB to CH14, and watchout for “slow moving buggies!”

TOUR NO. 1 LEAVE WINKLEPLECK GROVE AT 8:35 AM MONDAY–TUESDAY–WEDNESDAY

PLEASANT VALLEY AMISH SCHOOL. We are so fortunate to get to visit the Amish Schools. The Amish children are so beautiful and bright. We are one of the very few who get to visit two of the Amish schools.

PEARL VALLEY CHEESE CO. You will get to see how cheese is made and learn how much milk it takes to make a pound of cheese. Take a cooler with you if you want to stock up. This is the place! Pearl Valley has been making cheese for over 75 years and it continues to receive awards year after year. Recently an International award winner.

WILDCAT WOODCUTTERS. This Amish farm based business will show you how they produce and market bird boxes and feeders as well as Martin houses. An example of true Amish ingenuity.

HISTORIC BALTIC MILLS. You will be treated to a tour of one of Ohio’s oldest flour and feed mills and one of the very few left in the country. You can buy fresh stone ground corn meal and flour or Amish jams and jellies.

BICYCLE MUSEUM - (NEW) We will visit with a gentleman who restores antique bicycles. You may see the first bicycle you owned.

TOUR NO. 2. LEAVE WINKLEPLECK GROVE AT 8:45 AM MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY

STONY POINT SCHOOL. How very fortunate we are to again get to visit with these Amish children and their teachers. Please support the Amish Parents Bake Sale on Thursday.

ABE’S CASKETS. Have you ever wondered about Amish funerals or Amish burials? You will learn here from the Amish man who makes caskets for the Amish in the area. He makes around 100 a year.

JACOB’S SHOW HORSES, INC. This lavish horse farm is a breeder of world champion quarter horses that win prizes at shows throughout the United States. You will get a real education at this beautiful facility.

ALPINE HILLS HISTORIC MUSEUM. This outstanding museum depicts the early days of the Swiss and Amish that settled in this area.

TOUR NO. 3. LEAVES WINKLEPLECK GROVE AT 8:55 AM MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY

WARTHER’S CARVINGS. This is the most popuar of the stops on all the tours. The Swiss Festival Rally has toured Warther’s each of it’s 46 years. It is a one of a kind museum of carvings. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world. Some come back every year to see it again.

P. GRAHAM DUNN GALLERY. Described by others as ‘Moving”, Stunning”, “Breathtaking”. You will be given a guided tour of the entire operation at their new location. This ultra modern operation located in the heart of Amish country.

LUNCH

SMUCKER’S (NEW) “It Has To Be Good”. We will visit their newly remodeled store and cafe and on site museum.

THE CAT’S MEOW VILLAGE. You may find a memento of one of your favorite places.

LEHMAN’S HARDWARE. When you enter this “general store” you will think time has stood still since 1890. This is world renowned as one of the largest hardware stores in the country that stocks every conceivable item. It has been serving the Amish and English since 1955. You can buy things here you haven’t seen since you were a kid.

TOUR NO.4. LEAVES WINKLEPLECK GROVE AT 9:05 AM MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY.

ERB’S COLEMAN MUSEUM. (NEW) This private collection of Coleman products is probably one of the most extensive and complete collections you will ever see.

R.W. LEATHER. Amish do not wear belts, but this Amish family will make a belt for you. I bet it will outlast you too.

YODER’S AMISH HOME. This tour has always been popular with our guests. You will be given a guided tour of two homes and the barn and told the customs and history of the Old Order Amish.

AMISH & MENNONITE HERTIAGE CENTER. Time & time again we are told that “BEHALT”, the 10 Ft. by 265 Ft. Historical Circular Mural, should be required for everyone visiting Amish Country. You will be given a 30 minute tour by knowledgeable guides who will also answer your questions.

BERLIN FURNITURE. A long time friend of WBCCI. Their beautiful handcrafted furniture is some of the finest Amish made furniture anywhere.

TOUR NO. 5. QUILT TOUR. LEAVES WINKLEPLECK GROVE AT 9:15 AM MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY.

GRANMMA FANNIE’S QUILT BARN. Locally hand made quilts and wall hangings. They store over 2000 bolts of fabric.

HELPING HANDS QUILT SHOP AND MUSEUM. Hundreds of quilts in stock. You will see local ladies making these beautiful quilts.

COUNTRY CRAFT CUPBOARD. This may be your source for patterns, fabric and accesories and everything you need to start or complete your own quilt.

MILLER’S DRY GOODS. This is the original quilt shop in the Holmes County area.
They stock over 3000 bolts of calico and other fabrics.

MINOR REVISIONS MAY BE REQUIRED.