The 18th annual Victorian Chautauqua Spring Arts, Crafts, and Garden Festival will take place on the grounds of the Howard Steamboat Museum, Jeffersonville, Indiana on Saturday, May 15th 10 AM to 6PM and Sunday, May 16th, 10AM to 4PM
Chautauquas have been around since the late 19th century, and historically have been adult education festivals. They were opportunities for the community to gather for education and entertainment, often featuring seminars, music, entertainment, arts & crafts, and fun for the whole family. Theodore Roosevelt once called Chautauquas "the most American thing in America."
The Howard Steamboat Museum Chautauqua features top notch arts and crafts vendors from across the country and typically draws around 3,500 visitors. This year, more than 60 juried exhibitors will display their arts and crafts. But that's not all! The festival will also feature antique dealers, book signings, an herb and perennial sale, lectures, food, music, and a family fun fest on Saturday in Port Fulton Park, across from the museum entrance. Free tours of the Howard Steamboat Museum and Mansion will also be available. This 1894 home features original furnishings, brass chandeliers, stained glass windows, a grand staircase, and intricate carvings throughout.
Saturday May 15th Musical Entertainment:
1:00 PM A Capella Fellas, barbershop
3:00 PM Thoroughbred Chorus, barbershop
5:00 PM Rivershyne, top 40 and original
Sunday May 16th Musical Entertainment
11:00 AM Royal Tragedy, teenage rock and original band
1:00 PM Franci Bond, gospel
3:00 PM River Cities Concert Band
The Howard Steamboat Museum is located at 1101 E. Market Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana, I- 65, Exit 0, 5 minutes from downtown Louisville. The Museum is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Howard Mansion, the Howard legacy and the history of the Great Steamboat Era.
Admission to the festival is $3.00, children 12 and under free with an adult. No pets please. All proceeds benefit the Operating Fund of the Howard Steamboat Museum.
For further information please contact: Lynn Perkins-Petri @ 812-725-1445or Yvonne Knight, 812-283-3728
[photo via Howard Steamboat Museum]
