Project Acorn

Project Acorn Ferdinand's Project ACORN promotes unique community art, music, environment, and wellness events. Project ACORN strives to build upon these strengths.

Project ACORN--an acronym for Art, Community, Originality, Rhythm, and Nature--strives to acknowledge and utilize the gifts of our citizens and provide many exciting learning opportunities for our youth and amateurs of all ages in the areas of music, art, environment, and wellness. Building on the success of the first six years of the Ferdinand Folk Festival and last year’s inaugural singer-songwr

iting contest, the volunteer organizers of Project ACORN recognize the wealth of community-minded, creative people—artists, artisans, teachers, hobbyists, enthusiasts—in and around Ferdinand. Project ACORN invites volunteer involvement from diverse ages and all walks of life to lead and participate in a new year-round four-season series of offerings. The strong community spirit--promoting music, art, environment, and wellness--found at the festival and the fundraising concerts, the new friendships forming, and the networking of area citizens enrich the community and region in diverse and long-lasting ways. Ferdinand has much to celebrate: caring people, a rich history complemented by forward-thinking citizens and leadership, supportive businesses, a contract with a renewable energy provider, natural beauty in her picturesque skyline, pristine parks, surrounding fields and forests, including the Ferdinand State Forest, stellar schools, a nationally-recognized monastery, the renowned Christkindlmarkt, a new YMCA promoting health and wellness, a dynamic, new library fostering intellectual growth, unique architecture including the restored Wollenmann Home in the heart of town, friendly neighboring communities, and a variety of other attributes. All of the following presenters for the Summer Season are volunteers—sharing their love of art, music, and our community. All interested participants are encouraged to contact each presenter as soon as possible since enrollment is limited. Times and locations are subject to change. Founding Project ACORN Committee
Rock Emmert Co-chair
Deb Abell Co-chair
Kris Lasher
Doug Abell
Brooke Van Winkle
Collin Daunhauer
Jill Sicard

08/29/2026
Much more of this
08/29/2026

Much more of this

☀️ Cincinnati Zoo goes big on solar!
The zoo has now built one of America’s largest urban solar carports with 4.4 MW capacity.

⚡ The newest carport (2024) adds 2.85 MW of clean power — enough to cover most of the zoo’s electricity needs while giving visitors’ cars shade.

💰 Zoo officials say power bills could drop from $1.6M in 2005 to just $0.3M by 2030–2032 — saving money and cutting carbon emissions.

🌍 This project shows how public places can go green, save costs, and inspire visitors at the same time.

08/29/2026

Join Monastery Immaculate Conception and Saint Meinrad Archabbey for our Pilgrimage for Creation, a spiritually transformative journey that blends prayer, reflection, and a deep commitment to caring for God’s creation. This pilgrimage invites pilgrims from around the world to take part in a sacred walk of faith and ecological responsibility.

Saturday, September 5, 2026
9:30 a.m. EDT prayer and light breakfast
10:30 a.m. EDT walk begins

You must complete the registration/waiver at www.thedome.org/pilgrimage to participate. Waiver forms will also be available on site the day of the event.

For more information, contact Sister Jean Marie Ballard at [email protected] or call 812-351-2602, or Krista Hall of Saint Meinrad Archabbey at 812-357-6501.

08/23/2026
UPDATE: The concert is being moved indoors because of the heat. Still bring lawn chairs. 😊☀️____________________________...
08/21/2026

UPDATE: The concert is being moved indoors because of the heat. Still bring lawn chairs. 😊☀️

_______________________________

A friendly reminder that this evening, Friday, August 21, 2026, the ever-popular, beloved Troubadours of Divine Bliss (troubadoursofdivinebliss.com) are playing an outdoor summer concert for tips, hosted by Keith Fritz. Doors open at 6 pm ET, concert from 7 to 9 pm ET. All are welcomed.

The New Farmers' Store address is 1245 Main, Ferdinand, Indiana--Keith's beautifully restored mercantile turned airbnb, art gallery, and home. See also
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BSGq4gMYG/

Bring lawn chairs. Light refreshments will be available by Mood Lighting Event Planning. If needed weatherwise, the concert will be moved indoors.

Please help to spread the word. Hoping for a great turnout from the regional community.

08/21/2026

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/19/2026

League Stadium will be the backdrop for a docudrama about Oscar Charleston, a Negro Leagues star that baseball historian Bill James has ranked as the fourth-greatest player of all time. Gerald Harkness, a documentary producer from Indianapolis with 30 years in the industry, presented the project to....

A friendly, last-minute reminder that we're dedicating our great friend Randy Vaal's bench tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 15) ...
08/14/2026

A friendly, last-minute reminder that we're dedicating our great friend Randy Vaal's bench tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 15) morning at 10:30 ET in 18th Street Park in Ferdinand--just east of the lower shelter house on the hillside along the trail. All are invited to pay their respects to our comrade and guardian of public health in our community. Randy’s friendship, sense of humor, and scientific contribution during a difficult time will never be forgotten. His voice and legacy will live on in all of us who speak up, especially when there's an environmental and public health injustice in southwestern Indiana.

Southwestern Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life (SWICQL) is honored to announce the dedication of a park bench honoring Randy Vaal for his years of committed service to environmental protection, public health, and community engagement across southwestern Indiana. Randy passed away on November 17, 2024.

As vice president of SWICQL, Randy has been a driving force in efforts to safeguard the health of local residents, promote responsible development, and elevate community awareness about environmental issues. His leadership has strengthened the organization’s mission and inspired countless neighbors to become more engaged in protecting the region’s air, land, and quality of life.

Randy’s service also extends to the Ferdinand Folk Festival where his contributions as a committee member have helped shape one of Indiana’s most beloved environmentally‑focused music festivals. His work has supported the festival’s commitment to environmental wellness, music, art, local culture, and community connection.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟬:𝟯𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗘𝗧, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮, 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. Community members are warmly invited to attend and join in celebrating Randy’s contributions to our shared home.

The bench will serve as a lasting tribute to Randy’s dedication, compassion, and unwavering belief that southwestern Indiana deserves a healthy, vibrant future.

08/11/2026

Attend the 2026 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit hosted by Faith in Place, where thought leaders and participants delve into the critical intersection of environmental sustainability, spiritual practices, and social justice. Engage in transformative discussions that promote eco-conscious

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Ferdinand, IN
47532

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