Mitchell Persimmon Festival

04/10/2026

Last night at our Chamber dinner, the Grand Marshals for our 79th Annual Persimmon Festival were announced!

Our first Grand Marshal is, Mr. Albert Chastain.

In keeping with our generational theme, our second Grand Marshal is, Mrs. Tonya Chastain

“After my theme was set, the list of potential grand marshals shrank considerably. I needed to find individuals with deep persimmon roots, and generational dedication to our festival, and I find that in these two individuals.”

- Katie Houchin, General Chairman

04/10/2026

Our general chairman, Katie Houchin, along with her co-chairs, Jodi Clark and Mike Miller, are excited to announce our theme for the 79th Annual Mitchell Persimmon Festival

“From Generation to Generation, Our Persimmon Roots Run Deep”

This theme is dedicated to the generations of volunteers who came before us, and those who will come after. They are truly the foundation and the roots of this festival’s success!

🧡🧡

02/03/2026

Martha’s Color Game was a family favorite on 6th Street during the festival for many years.

We are forever grateful for the years Martha spent with us!

Please look back in old festival photos and send us any photos you may have of Martha’s Color game!

MITCHELL – Martha May Naugle-Johnson, 100, passed away Friday, January 30, 2026, at Redcrest Hospice House in Bloomington. Born July 27, 1925, in Warren County, Illinois, she was the daughter of Wi…

01/28/2026

Our beloved Persimmon! Thanks for the shout out United State of Indiana!

INDIANA’S MOST FAMOUS FRUIT?

The persimmon may not be the first thing you think about when you picture the Hoosier state, but the tasty fruit has become so popular that a bill was even introduced to make it Indiana’s official state fruit. Unfortunately it died on the House floor, never making it to vote. Perhaps in the future, but for now we celebrate this sweet orange delicacy as an Indiana staple.

The fall fruit is often used in jams and other traditional dishes such as persimmon pudding which consists of a combination of persimmons, eggs, sugar, buttermilk, eggs, butter, cinnamon, maple and vanilla.

Persimmons are so beloved that the town of Mitchell, Indiana has held an annual Persimmon Festival since 1947. The multi-day festival held each September celebrates the fruit while bringing the community together.

10/02/2025

09/28/2025

👋🏻

Goodbye to you, 2025 Mitchell Persimmon Festival!

This year was one for the books! We gave you our very best, and we hope you enjoyed all the festival had to offer this year!

From entertainment, to foodies, carnival rides, and games; we sincerely hope you made memories to last a lifetime!

Thank you. Thank you to all our sponsors, chairpeople, and volunteers who made the 78th Annual Persimmon Festival so successful!

We can’t wait to get back to the table to begin preparations for 2026!

See you next year! 🧡

Bryan, Katie, and Jodi
Persimmon Festival Committee

09/28/2025

Congratulations to our 2025 Half Pot Winner, Carla Kacher! Thank you to everyone that purchased a ticket and supporting the future of the Persimmon Festival!! 🧡

09/28/2025

09/27/2025

And our Persimmon Pudding and Novelty Winners!!

Novelty:
1st: Candie Earl
2nd: Annabelle Wever
3rd: Savannah Brock

Pudding:
1st: Suzanne Patton
2nd: Ronna Roberts
3rd: Toni Maranto

Congratulations!!!!!!

09/27/2025

Pudding and Novelty Top 3!!!

If your name is listed, please be at the Main Street stage no later than 3:55 PM