Middlebury Between Gardens, Nature and History

Middlebury offers many different reasons to explore the town: a garden with an unusual origin story, trails through prairie and woodland habitats, themed stops and events each provide their own highlights. For families, the offerings focused on pollinators and the children’s activities at the Summer Festival are especially appealing; those interested in local history will also find historical markers and a tour with maps and descriptive information.

Garden History and Local Heritage

Krider's Diversified Garden was recreated in Middlebury in 1935. Some of the plants and structural elements had previously been brought back from the World's Fair in Chicago. After the garden fell into disrepair, the local community restored it in 1995. The history of Krider Nurseries is also part of the town’s story: for many years, the nursery was one of Middlebury’s largest industrial businesses.

The Learning Corridor includes additional historical and horticultural features: the historic Trestle Bridge, a rain garden, a habitat garden, the Right Tree-Right Place Arboretum and several historical markers. If you enjoy combining visits to places like these with some activity, you can keep these themes in mind when planning your trip without limiting your visit to a single attraction.

Trails Through Nature and Town

Corson Riverwoods County Park covers 82 hectares of prairie and woodland habitats. A trail through this landscape is accessible. The park is also home to the 16-stop Story Book Walk; its stops introduce pollinators that live in the park. This puts nature at the heart of the experience not only as a landscape, but also as the focus of a walking tour.

The Middlebury Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Corridor is a 1.85-mile paved multi-use trail. It is part of the 17-mile Pumpkinvine Nature Trail, which connects Shipshewana and Goshen. The Middlebury corridor runs alongside Krider World's Fair Garden and Rail Road Street and ends at the US-20 underpass. Cyclists can also choose from recreational routes at the Annual Pumpkinvine Bike Ride, which follows the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail as well as county roads.

Another way to explore local places is the Middlebury Then & Now Town Tour. It uses maps showing the stops and descriptive markers at participating locations. The tour can be explored through its stops and information, rather than simply viewing individual names on a list.

Pollinators, Play Stops and Shared Experiences

Middlebury’s 1.5-mile Pollinator Playpath has four themed play stations: “Hummingbird,” “Butterfly,” “Ladybug” and “Honeybee.” These stations give the path a clear thematic structure. Along with the Story Book Walk at Corson Riverwoods, they offer different ways to engage with pollinators: one through four named play stations, the other through 16 stops about pollinators that live in the park.

Festivals and Market Days

The Middlebury Summer Festival takes place every June in the downtown area. The program includes live bluegrass and gospel music, arts and crafts, and activities for children. Riverfest at Riverbend Park brings together a range of activities, including a fish stunning and inspection demonstration, information booths and kayaking on the Little Elkhart River.

The Middlebury Fall Festival is also part of the town’s history: in 2026, it was celebrated in downtown Middlebury for the 25th time. For visitors interested in markets, The Mill hosts a farmers market every Saturday from May through September. Offerings include produce, baked goods, soaps and flowers. These activities offer different ways to experience a trip to Middlebury—from music and arts and crafts to nature themes and local products.

More destinations: Elkhart, New Paris, Goshen and Nappanee.

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