Part of the Banister Family Bluegrass Band is shown performing last year. They will play at the annual Reeves Festival on Saturday.
How will the Bartholomew County Historical Society keep folks down on the farm Saturday?
Simple — with a lengthy list of wide-ranging and unique activities and entertainment to take them deep into the past.
So it will be beginning at 9 a.m. at the annual Reeves Festival at the historic Henry Breeding Farm near Edinburgh.
How many times do most people get to see the IU Steam Calliope? Or take a Reeves steam engine ride? Or learn a bit of blacksmithing?
More than 500 people attended last year.
“This is always just a really fun opportunity for families to spend a day together on old-fashioned farm — something that not all that many people ever get to do,” said Diane Robbins, the historical society’s executive director.
The event celebrates the local Reeves family and commemorates the role the Reeves companies played through the years in Bartholomew County.
Besides the steam calliope and steam engine rides, there will be food, expected to include burgers and brats, live music, hands-on history stations, plein air painting, farm animals, antique cars, garden tours, wagon rides and more. Organizers say that all ages will enjoy experiencing the variety of planned activities.
“With the calliope, IU people especially find the nostalgia of it really cool,” Robbins said.
The instrument, transported on a flatbed truck, is anchored by a 32-key keyboard with 32 corresponding pipes. It was restored in 2016.
The calliope was rescued from the university’s showboat, “The Majestic,” when it was sold in the mid-1960s. It was previously used to accompany productions by the IU Theater Department.
The day’s entertainment schedule is as follows:
- 10 a.m. to noon: The Bettis Band with hammered dulcimer
- Noon to 2 p.m.: Banister Family Band
- 2 to 4 p.m.: Cottonpatch
Robbins, as always, waved away any concerns about late summer heat. She pointed out that the farm offers its share of shade and cooling breezes.
Tickets are available at the Bartholomew County Historical Society Museum at 524 Third St. in downtown Columbus, at Viewpoint Books, or at the gate on Saturday. Cost is $10 per car. Historical society members will be admitted free.
The Historic Henry Breeding Farm is located at 13730 N County Road 100W, Edinburgh.
Information: bartholomewhistory.org
About the festival
What: Annual Bartholomew County Historical Society Reeves Festival, featuring food, live music and a host of old-fashioned activities from steam engine rides to a calliope.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: The Henry Breeding Farm, 13730 N. County Road 100W near Edinburgh.
Admission: $10 per car or free for historical society members.
Information: bartholomewhistory.org
