Shipshewana on the Road visits the Porter County Expo Center

The Porter County Expo Center and Fairgrounds in Valparaiso is hosting a Midwest holiday tradition this weekend. Thousands of people made their way out to shop at this year’s Shipshewana on the Road.

Greg Fountain is the event director for this gift, food, and craft show. Fountain has been involved with the event for the past 15 years, following in his parents’ footsteps, who started the business in 1992.

“We’ve been bringing this event to the area for about 25 years or so now,” Fountain said. “The people here seem like they are enjoying the show. We enjoy coming out here and absolutely love the turnout. This is our favorite stop for a lot of different reasons.”

The smell of freshly-made popcorn, roasted nuts, and a variety of other homemade goods filled the air.

“We have 219 booths this weekend,” Fountain said. “There’s quite a variety of products like fudge, summer sauces, cookies, food galore.”

Jennifer Cohen is the owner of O’Brien’s Bakery and Cafe in Valparaiso. She specializes in gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, and vegan baked goods. Cohen says events like this are important for small businesses like hers.

“I think it is very important to have events like this because it brings in so many people to see what you have to offer,” Cohen said. “This is my first time as a vendor, but I have been to this event many times. I know it brings in thousands of people and that helps our businesses, even if they don’t buy anything. They can still pass the word to others about our goodies.” 

For those who wanted to shop, there were plenty of options, such as clothing items, homemade jewelry, handbags, blankets, and even things for our furry family members.

Rhonda Boyd is the owner of Woof Wear If I Dare in Valparaiso. She specializes in handmade attire for pets, including cats, dogs, chickens, and rabbits.

“I like to take part in the Shipshewana on the Road event because it is well-advertised, well-organized, and people can come here and know they are not being scammed,” Boyd said. “This event is good for small businesses. We’re at a well-known location where we can all be together.”

Tammi Miller, of Portage, attended the event with her family on Saturday. She says she enjoys the wide range of vendors that this event has to offer.

“I came here looking for some holiday crafts and treats for the kids, but we ended up with more treats for the dog this year,” Miller said. “It’s nice to have so many booths to visit. There were lots of samples. We really enjoyed our time today.”

Shipshewana on the Road will continue on Sunday, December 14, at 10 a.m. Vendors will be open for business until 4 p.m. You can visit their website for more information: shipshewanaontheroad.com.