Dale: Discover the Fall Festival and Music History

If you choose Dale as your destination, there are several different reasons to visit. The Dale Fall Fest takes place in the city center every September and lasts three days. Dr. Ted's Musical Marvels is associated with a collection whose history began in 1973; the Dale Farm Market adds local produce, plants, and flowers to the picture. A historical reference to Abraham Lincoln adds another point of interest. The practical details vary depending on what you want to experience: festival dates, group arrangements, or seasonal opening hours.

The Dale Fall Fest in September

The Dale Fall Fest takes place every September in downtown Dale and lasts three days. Its annual return and the month give you a general framework for planning your trip; specific festival dates and the program may change. Therefore, check the dates and program details for your travel year before planning your stay around the festival. During the festival, local organizations serve festival food; individual vendors and menus may vary. The festival's roots date back to 1948, when the Kiwanis Club of Dale held the city's first fall festival. 1948 marks the origin of the fall festival; for your trip, however, the dates of that year's September edition are what matter.

Music History and Group Tours

The collection at Dr. Ted's Musical Marvels began in 1973. For planning a visit, the group format is also important: tours are offered for groups of 15 or more and can be arranged by calling (812) 937-4250. If you plan to take a tour, confirm the booking arrangements before you arrive.

Local Produce at the Dale Farm Market

The Dale Farm Market offers fresh local produce, seasonal plants and flowers, as well as jellies, honey, and other treats. The market is seasonal; current opening details may change. So if you plan to visit, check the opening details for your travel dates before making the market a fixed part of your itinerary. Unlike the three-day festival, planning a market visit depends primarily on seasonal opening hours. The offerings differ in form: the festival features food served by local organizations; the seasonal market offers local produce as well as jellies and honey.

A Historical Reference to Abraham Lincoln

A 2018 report by the historical society described a sign at a Y-shaped junction in Dale pointing to the place where Abraham Lincoln went to school. This reference concerns Lincoln's school years; the history of the festival, by contrast, begins with the 1948 fall festival. A Y-shaped junction is a fork where a road splits in two directions.

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