Ohio Amish Country Entertainment

When visiting Ohio's Amish Country, guests of the Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast are sometimes left wondering what there is to do after 5 p.m. when most of the shops close down for the night. Actually, Holmes County is central to many activities going on in surrounding counties!

New to Holmes County will be the Amish Country Theater. It will be held at the old flea market building between Berlin and Walnut Creek and will host performances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children. There will also be a new musical held in Sugarcreek called The Confession. It will be based on the novels of best-selling author, Beverly Lewis. Adult Tickets Monday - Thursday are $34.50 each; Friday & Saturday $36.50. Kids, ages 6 -12 Monday - Thursday are $17.50; Friday & Saturday $19.50. Performances will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Barn Inn is packaging this tickets along with our room sales, so be sure to mention the musicals at the time of booking!

Wayne County has the Ohio Light Opera performed at Freelander's Theater at the College of Wooster, which is about 20 miles North. The season runs from June 16 - August 11, 2012 They offer a variety of performances throughout the week and weekend at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $48 for adults, $20 for students and $10 for children.



The Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell

To the west in Ashland County is the Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell that is located in Brookside Park. It is about 40 miles away, but all of the shows are free and open to the public. Performances are held on Thursdays and Sundays at 8:00 p.m. from June 10 - August 12, 2012.

In Tuscarawas County, 35 miles to the east, there are many forms of entertainement including 2 amphitheaters and Kent State University's Performing Art Center. Ticket prices and shows here vary from family events, musical and broadway shows, and more! Another exciting event is Trumpet in the Land. These performances are about life on the frontier in Ohio during the Revolutionary War. Shows begin June 13, 2012 and run through August 25, 2012 with performance times at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults- $17, Seniors- $15 and Children- $8.

Amish Country Lodging Council Visit Troyer's Trail Bologna

Today I had the pleasure of joining the Amish Country Lodging Council as we visited some of the area's leading businesses, among them was Troyer's Trail Bologna, now operated by 4th generation descendents of Michael Troyer, who in 1912 established the business.  This year marks the 100th anniversary in the production of specially seasoned, hickory-smoked, cured beef bologna, a prized "Staple" in Holmes County.

The plant is located in the little hamlet of Trail, a "spot in the road," located a few miles north of Walnut Creek, Ohio.  We learned that originally Trail Bologna got it's name, not from the name of the hamlet; but, because it could be taken on the trail without spoiling quickly.  For safety reasons, the cured meat is labeled with refrigeration requirements; however, it will travel well for a number of hours without refrigeration providing it is not exposed to too much heat.  Consider how convenient it must have been for travelers in the early 1900's, to have meat that did not spoil quickly. It must have been the "Fast Food" for travel by horseback or buggy.

Visit Troyer's restaurant/store, built in 1933, where you will find old-fashioned round seats that turn on a post.  Treat yourself to a hot Trail Bologna and Swiss Cheese sandwich and enjoy a soda and some munchies.  It's a nostalgic place to take your grandchildren to show them how it "Used to be."

Exciting news is that soon Troyer's Trail Bologna will open to national sales with the conversion to newer equipment which will offer greater efficiency and the establishment of a Federal inspection program.

Our tour took us to the Amish Home at Yoders and businesses in the Winesburg, Ohio area.  Plan a trip to Holmes County Ohio with a stay at the Millersburg, Ohio, Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast, where the owners share area information to their guests at breakfast time.

Submitted by Loretta Coblentz
May 24, 2012

Ohio Amish Country Greenhouses

Spring has sprung, which means it is time again to plant all of the beautiful flowers, work in the gardens and get our lawns looking just right. It is time once again to visit the many greenhouses that Ohio Amish Country has to offer.

Berlin Seeds is located just outside of Berlin on County Road 77. They carry a wide variety of herb plants, strawberry plants, native fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, grass seed, pasture mix, wildflower mix, cover crops, and more.

Unfortunately, Raber's Greenhouse in Berlin is closing this year. They are having a large sale on any remaining merchandise they have. However, just down the road towards Millersburg is the Petal Path. This will be the third year they have been open and they carry flowers, hanging baskets, vegetables, etc.

Bowman's Greenhouse, located in Fredericksburg, sells organic vegetable plants. They are open only in the Spring season. Yoder's Produce is another great place to find vegetable plants for your garden. Fredericksburg Greenhouse & Nursery and R&K Flowers are also located in Fredericksburg. They carry a large selection of flowers and plants.

You will also find a lot of people selling plant starts from their homes and various businesses. Holmes County is a wonderful place to find small home businesses for almost anything like eggs, baskets, fruit and more.



Stay at The Barn Inn, a bed and breakfast located in the heart of Amish Country, and find all of the beautiful flowers your home needs as well as vegetables and fruit for your gardens and the right fertilizers to take care of all of your plant needs.

Amish Country Theater comes to Holmes County

New to Holmes County for the 2012 season is the Amish Country Theater. Beginning on May 24, 2012 this musical will be held in the old flea market located between Berlin and Walnut Creek. It has been completely renovated to resemble an Amish Barn where the barnyard is the lobby and the hen house is a gift shop. Local talent will provide the acting, including two audience-interactive Amish stand-up comedians.

Opening May 24, 2012, performances will be Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on Saturdays performances will show at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. All performances are family friendly and suitable for all ages. Tickets are $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 3-11. Children 2 and under are free. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more adults. The show will run through October 27, 2012.

The Millersburg, Ohio Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast, located just 9 miles from the theater, will be selling tickets for the performances. Book your stay with us and receive a complimentary, full country breakfast before exploring Holmes County and attending this fun show!

Submitted by Loretta Coblentz
May 8, 2012

The Confession Musical Theatre in Ohio Amish Country

The Confession, a captivating musical theatre production portraying the life of Katie Lapp will be presented in Ohio's Amish Country June 7, 2012 through December 15, 2012, with matinee and evening shows.  Last week I had the privilege of previewing this outstanding musical when I and about 45 other persons traveled to Indiana to view it.  The music is professional, the acting outstanding, and the production itself was absolutely wonderful! The script was written by Martha Bolton, a Dove Award winner who is best known for her work with Bob Hope, Mark Lowry, Jeffa Allen, President Ronald Reagan, Phyllis Diller, and others.

Based on novels by best-selling author, Beverly Lewis, The Confession Musical is the story of a young Amish woman whose life is tangled with secrets, scandal, love lost and love found, heartache, and healing.  The story is incredibly relavent and, in many ways is reflective of the kinds of things that could, and sometimes happen in the Amish culture.

We at the Millersburg, Ohio, Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast are delighted to announce that we are packaging tickets to this musical with overnight stays at the inn.  For years people have been wanting something to do after hours. This is now something special to do after 6 p.m.!

Adult Tickets Monday - Thursday are $34.50 each; Friday & Saturday $36.50.
Kids, ages 6 -12 Monday - Thursday are $17.50; Friday & Saturday $19.50



Standard Deluxe Room at The Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast



Tickets are non-refundable; however they are transferrable. We can package them with your choice of room. We will check availability both for show times and accommodations.  I have learned that there are several days when show tickets already are sold out.  The production will take place in Sugarcreek, and various area merchants and inns are collaboring with producers to bring you this lovely package.

Submitted by Loretta Coblentz
May 1, 2012

Ohio Amish Country Annual Dandelion Festival Event

Plan another fun Event in Ohio Amish Country, where on May 4 and 5, 2012, Breitenbach Wine Cellars will be hosting the 19th Annual Dandelion Festival. There you will find the Great Dandelion Cookoff where 15 finalists are chosen, competing using their best recipes made from dandelion flowers. The cookoff will take place on Saturday and guests are welcome to try samples after the winners are announced. Cookbooks will be available for sale.

Tempting your senses will be a wide variety of products to try such as sausages, mushroom soup, jellies, lasagna, and ice cream all using, you guessed it, dandelions! Breitenbach will be using an old German recipe to make dandelion wine as well as dandelion gravy over mashed potatoes.

You'll find the most unusual - arts, crafts, and jewelry made out of the little weed. Items such as windchimes, candles and soap will be offered. There will be plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained as well, such as a scavenger hunt and a dandelion picking contest. Festivities will be held on Friday from noon until 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Stay at the Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast, located just 20 miles west of Breitenbach Wine cellars, and receive a full country breakfast before leaving for the day.

Submitted by Loretta Coblentz
April 23, 2012

Ohio Amish Country Discount Grocery Stores

The Amish, a people of thriftiness, save money by shopping at local discount grocery stores as well as other discount outlet shops throughout the county.  Scattered throughout Ohio's Amish Country are bulk food and dented can stores where salvage foods, paper products, cleaning supplies, and many other useful products are offered at remarkable savings. For the Amish, whose travel is by horse and buggy, such a "Convenience Store" is most appreciated.  Imagine if you needed something and you had to hitch up a horse and buggy and travel 6 or 8 miles to get what you needed.  The more liberal of the Amish hire van drivers to take them shopping; however, stricter sects are not so privileged.

Here is only a partial listing of some of the discount grocers who typically also incorporate bulk foods in their stock, or even other salvage goods.  You will notice that the Amish do not always clarify addresses and locations, because, after all, this is a close-knit community and everybody knows everybody.  If you want to shop where the Amish shop, a drive to some of these stores will offer you a great opportunity to interact with them, save money, and get a closer glimpse into the Amish way of living.  All Amish stores are closed on Sunday.

Cardinal Hill Grocery, 8221 CR 192 Holmesville

Country Hills, 8229 CR 201, Fredericksburg

Country Salvage Ltd., 9420 Kidron Rd, Apple Creek

German Village Market, 4933 W. Main St., Berlin (behind Sol's Craft Mall)

J & F Discount Groceries, (Joe & Fannie Bowman) 1 1/2 mi. SW Mt. Hope

Maple Valley Bulk Foods, 2430 TR 183, Baltic, closed Wednesday & Sunday

Miller Bent & Dent Groceries, (Daniel & Esther Miller) 3953 Twp Rd 414, Dundee,
2 mi north of Berlin off Rt. 62, closed Thursday & Sunday

Pleasant Hill Bulk Foods, 3577 TR 606, Fredericksburg, closed Thursday & Sunday

Prairie Lane Market, 7841 CR 373, Big Prairie, closed Thursday & Sunday

Route 62 Bent N' Dent, 1295 US Rt 62

Weaver Basic Foods, 8439 TR 527, Shreve

Weaver Ridge Surplus, 2495 CR 168, Near Trail




Holmes Country Room at The Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast



Guests of the Millersburg, Ohio, Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast are provided a listing of many interesting Amish owned businesses situated throughout our countryside.  There is no zoning in Holmes County, so you can find some kind of cottage industry about anywhere throughout the county.  Come and explore!

Submitted by Loretta Coblentz
April 19, 2012