The festival began in 1962 in front of the Pletcher Furniture Village in downtown Nappanee as part of a sidewalk days celebration.
ðə fˈɛstɪvəl bɪɡˈæn ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː ɪn fɹˈʌnt ʌvðə plˈɛtʃɚ fˈɜːnɪtʃɚ vˈɪlɪdʒ ɪn dˈaʊntaʊn nˈæpɐnˌiː æz pˈɑːɹt əvə sˈaɪdwɔːk dˈeɪz sˌɛləbɹˈeɪʃən.