By The Paper staff
PERU, Ind. – The Cole Porter Festival will take place at various sites in Peru from Thursday, June 8, through Sunday, June 11.
“We are very excited about our lineup this year!” Festival Chair Ellen Mock said.
A wine tasting will kick off the festivities on Thursday, June 8, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Cole Porter Inn.
Smitty McMusselman’s is producing the event in cooperation with Two E’s Winery, which will include 12 wines to taste, charcuterie, and the ability to order the wines that have been tasted. Reservations are required.
The cost is $25 per person. The event is sponsored by Dobbs Legal Group, LLC.
A Progressive Porter dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and run through 9 p.m. on Thursday.
Patrons move from restaurant to restaurant to have dinner courses suggested by Cole Porter’s hosted dinners at the Waldorf Astoria in the 1960’s. The first course is Crab Bisque at Dillinger’s. The salad course will be served by the staff at VooDoo: Salade C’est Magnifique . The main course, Steak Béarnaise, will be prepared by Smitty McMusellman’s, and the dessert is being made by Club 14: Pot au Crème du Chocolat. Reservations are required, and patrons may choose anything on the restaurant’s menu. Cost will depend upon the food and drink purchased. Progressive Porter is sponsored by Miami County Tourism.
Friday, June 9 at 10a.m.at the Roxy 5, the Cary Grant classic “Night and Day” will be shown free of charge. Cole was against the script of this movie because it didn’t represent his life, but when he found out Cary Grant was going to play him, he changed his mind.
Friday, June 9 from 7 p.m.– 9 p.m., patrons will enjoy Cocktails with Cole at the historic Roberts home at 108 West Third Street. Upscale cocktails and a cocktail buffet will be offered, along with live music by Dave Lowe & Friends. Cost is $39 per person, and reservations are required. It is sponsored by Gallahan Oil Company & Maricel and Charlie Heeter.
Saturday, June 10 at 9a.m.– 10:30 am, Charles Troy will present a multimedia program, “Cole Porter and the Great Depression.” Troy uses art, music and film to give a thoroughly entertaining presentation. This event is free. Sponsored by Friends of Charles Troy.
From 11 a.m.– 2 p.m., free Music at the Museum will feature area performers on the first floor of the museum. The schedule: 11 a.m. – Zak Tschiniak; noon – Tom and Tommy Kraft; 1 p.m.– His in Song. The Cole Porter Inn and First Farmers Bank & Trust are the sponsors.
Also on Saturday at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., the Y buses courtesy of Miami County Transit will leave from the museum to tour Cole Porter sites, including the birthplace, the Old Fashioned Garden and the grave site. The cost is $10, and there is limited seating. To ensure a place, reserve the 10a.m.bus – the 12:30 and 2:30 tours sold out last year. The tours are guided. Reservations may be made in advance. They are suggested for the last two tours, which usually sell out. Sponsored by Crossroads Bank.
From 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. on Saturday, The Red Barn will serve Elephant Ears, and Pork ‘N’ Out will serve fried veggies, pulled pork, coke and water, with many other treats. Smitty McMusselman’s will provide a beer tent with brats and hamburgers. So Good Candies will sell Cole’s favorite fudge and other candies.
Mr. Troy returns at 2 p.m.– 2:45 p.m. with “A Cole Porter Musical Comedy Tour of Paris.” These free presentations are considered some of the best of the Festival, according to attendance and word of mouth. Sponsored by Friends of Charles Troy.
Ole Olsen Memorial Theater will perform a Cole Porter Collection musical revue on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.at the Peru Depot. Tickets are $5 and are available by calling 765-472-3680.
From 5-9 p.m., Peru’s Second Saturday will feature music, food and other entertainment, hosted by ReDiscover Downtown Peru.
At 7 p.m.on Saturday at the Peru High School Auditorium, Celebrating Cole! Will feature Matt and Cynthia Gruel, of Nostalgia Entertainment, will perform. They were the hit of last year’s festival, and will use a cabaret show format. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A special performance and art exhibit will feature Avery Josephine Jackson, 2016 Cole Porter Scholarship winner. A reception will be held at intermission for Ms. Jackson. Sponsored by the James O. and Alice F. Cole Foundation
On Sunday from 11a.m.– 1:30 p.m., a champagne brunch will be held at the Cole Porter Inn. Carved ham, gourmet breakfast boats, breakfast baguettes filled with scramble, baked eggs, fruits, salad, pastries, biscuits and champagne, mimosas, fuzzy navels and bloody Marys will be featured. Cost is $55, and must be reserved in advance. It is sponsored by Deborah Eck, Travel & Beyond.
From 1 – 3 p.m. downtown on 5th Street under a tent, the festival’s second annual Ice Cream Social will be held. Sponsored by Family Optometry and NIPSCO, free ice cream will be provided by Dukes Memorial Hospital, music will be performed by the Swampwater Stompers and Kokomo Men of Note along with children’s activities and games from Cole’s era will be featured. No reservations are required.
Reservations for events may be made by calling Vicki Draper, 765-472-7655.
The Cole Porter Festival committee would like to thank Arts United, the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the arts for granting the festival funding.