The 55th annual Fort Vallonia Days Festival took place over the weekend in Vallonia, starting with pumpkin decorating contest entries being accepted Friday afternoon, followed by live music from Band u4ia.

Saturday’s festivities kicked off at 8:30 a.m. with the muzzle loading shooter’s meeting in preparation for the annual Wes Hartley Memorial Muzzle Leading Shoot. Even in 2020 when the festival was not held, the memorial shoot still took place, making this 56th annual shoot.

Multiple performers took to the stage throughout the day Saturday including the Southern Indiana Cloggers, Brownstown’s Dane Darlage and Country Kickers.

Throughout the day, those that specialize in older trades such as braiding rugs, quilting, spinning, blacksmithing, woodworking, fur dressing and many more sat at the fort with their craft, either showing off what they’ve made or making more.

Margaret Carson of Union Mills was tatting, which is a knotted lace made by hand with a small shuttle. She has been tatting for more than 25 years, but only really works on the craft during the festival.

Carson has been attending Fort Vallonia Days for at least 30 years, along with her husband. During the festival, it gives her an opportunity to see familiar faces along with making unfamiliar ones smile and look on with curiosity.

“It’s like a little vacation for us,” Carson said.

Sandra Kovener of Dudleytown joined Fort Vallonia Days for the first time as a participant this year. She was spinning a large spool of yarn, which she said would take her two or three days to finish.

Her journey with the hobby began with working on a loom 30 years ago, which led her to take classes, and she continued to expand her horizons on similar, fabric-related hobbies.

“One thing kind of leads to another,” Kovener said.

All of the ladies working with fabrics on the porch of the fort agreed that their hobby was relaxing.

“It’s kind of mindless and keeps your hands busy,” Marcia Mildenfurger of Scottsburg and Salem said as she knitted.

Working on the anvil was David Good of Seymour, who has been blacksmithing for five years. At the festival, he was working on a spatula to match a carving fork he made earlier.

With the items he makes, Good said they are usually given as gifts or donated to the Indiana Blacksmith Association.

A highlight during the event is the parade that started at 1 p.m., featuring local names and faces. Some of those represented were the Brownstown Central High School cheerleaders and marching band, Trinity Lutheran Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925, Distinguished Young Women of Jackson County, Bartholomew County Shrine Club, Miss Jackson County and more.

There also are always many vendors at Fort Vallonia Days that offer something for a wide range of people.

Nancy Crockett of Seymour said she loves coming to the fest for the cheese curds and the craft vendors.

For Dusti Hanner of Brownstown, she said she gets to see friends and family at the festival, which is what made Fort Vallonia Days particularly special.

“It’s a good place to catch up with old friends,” Hanner said.

On Sunday, Trinity Lutheran hosted a community church service at 10 a.m. at the Vallonia Gym. Performances were given by Sparkles and Spurs County Western Dancers, Brownstown Central High School show choir and First Baptist Church house band played live worship music.

A few contests were held on the festival’s final day including the 5K run, a cornhole tournament and a horseshoe pitch.