MulberryFest in Mulberry, Indiana: Notice the Sign Mentions Home Delivery!

Mulberry, Indiana is a very small town. But they sure know how to put on a party!

MulberryFest in Mulberry, Indiana

There’s the awesome Roberts’ Southfork Restaurant and Pub (eat onion rings FOR SURE), a scattering of businesses downtown, and that’s about it.

Each summer on the first weekend in June, Mulberry becomes a hub of activity because of one big event: The annual MulberryFest!

To start with, there is a town-wide yard sale. That means that there are many, many yard sales! I would say that I managed to ignore them all…but I would be lying. Kid #2 got a new boat for the bathtub.

MulberryFest Car Show and Events

Rolling into Mulberry, hubs was ecstatic to see a car show. There were so many sharp cars. It was incredible. I took a lot of pics that I will be sure to share with you.

My preference runs toward the 50′s cars with all that shiny chrome. Kid #1 is with me on that. Hubs likes the muscle cars–the old mustangs are his thing. Kid #2? He thinks it’s all pretty cool.

MulberryFest  had a fantastic turnout, even with the heat! They had a stage set up in the middle of the downtown. Did you know that Mulberry is the old stomping ground of American Idol finalist Amanda Overmyer? Neat, eh?

We browsed booths, listened to songs on the stage, and had a really good time. Both the kids loved the Cake Pops from the booth by Le Petite Pearl though teething Kid #2 concentrated more on the stick!

Next Year

MulberryFest in Mulberry, Indiana Car Show

Jot down the date in your planner for the next annual MulberryFest!

I’m pretty sure the whole town turned out. But who wouldn’t? It’s not very often you see a stage set up in the middle of town. What a fun afternoon!

I do have to say this is the first I’ve ever seen for home delivery of a meal!

Does that scream small Indiana town or what? Gotta love that sense of community!

Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Yes, she saw my little plea for an interview while surfing around trying to find small towns in Indiana, and kindly took the time to send me an email–is that cool or what?

Amanda Overmyer: From Mulberry, Indiana to American Idol Season 7 to little Indiana!

Amanda Overmyer Interview

You lived in little Mulberry, Indiana, then you became a nurse. The jump to American Idol is pretty huge — what made you go for it and audition for American Idol Season 7?
I was never a fan of the show, or a watcher, by any means. I had played in cover bands before, but had since quit playing 2 years before I went.

I am a person that takes “calculated risks”. I didn’t have it in me to take off to LA to “make it.” So, when I heard about the auditions, I figured “Why Not?” It was going to be the only shot I had.

I love that you didn’t sacrifice who you are because you didn’t fit the usual American Idol cookie cutter standard. So, what was your favorite part of American Idol experience?
The fact that I can now play music and tour the country for a living.

Is there an “Amanda Overmyer Day” in Mulberry? Your hometown must have been pretty proud! How did they celebrate your return?
No Amanda Overmyer Day. When I got back, I was able to do a homecoming show in Lafayette, and then further on in the year I gained a warm welcome of 15,000 viewers at the Dancing in the Streets Festival I headlined.  That was really cool!

Before American Idol, you were a small town girl. Where were your favorite hangouts around your Mulberry, Indiana hometown? (and what did you rock out to on the radio when you were cruisin’ around?)
There is a little pub called Southfork Pub in Mulberry that I would be at on occasion and I would listen to 93.5 or 94.7, the classic rock stations!

What do you believe is the best part of small town life?
I live out in the country, lots of privacy, quiet; living in a city would never work for me, there are too many people.

You mentioned that you found “little Indiana” when you were looking for cool places to ride — what are some of your preferred out of the way places?
Actually, this past weekend we rode down to Lake Patoka and come back up through Nashville, Indiana. The southwest region of Indiana is awesome.

So, what’s the “Rock and Roll Nurse” doing now? Did I see something about a new CD?
Yes, my CD “Solidifiy” is available on itunes, Rhapsody, Amazon and CDBaby.com. I have been touring America promoting it! Go to Overmyer Productions for all of your Amanda Overmyer needs!

Do you have any shows coming up?
This weekend I will be in Denver CO, then Blue Lake, CA then Wisconsin. I will be in Auburn, IN October 2 for the Dekalb Co. Fair, so come out and see the show, Indiana!

You Can Take The Girl Out Of The Small Town…

But fortunately? You can’t take the small town out of the girl! Amanda Overmyer is level-headed and definitely grounded. Like any small Indiana town resident, she understands the simple pleasures of a day in the country.

Onion rings at Roberts' Southfork Restaurant and Pub in Mulberry, Indiana.

Oh, Roberts’ Southfork Restaurant and Pub in Mulberry, Indiana how greatly we underestimated you!

We’ve already covered that this is just a teeny tiny Indiana town. So imagine our surprise at eating one of the most fabulous meals ever!

Roberts Southfork Restaurant and Pub in Mulberry, Indiana

If you’ve been exploring little Indiana at all, you have probably quickly learned that, just as you can’t judge a book by its cover, you also can’t judge a mom and pop restaurant by its location!

When we walked in, well, we had no idea we were heading into finger lickin’ good territory!

There was a fish tank in the wall over a table (a great table to entertain baby), a life-sized Blues Brothers statue, and plenty of seating.

Southfork Restaurant and Pub Menu

Mulberry, Indiana: Roberts' Southfork Restaurant and Pub

Now, on to the important part! Roberts’ Southfork Restaurant and Pub has quite a menu!

Town history, restaurant history, even  area history–this menu had it all. Plus a few games for the kids, and, of course, a great selection of food.

There was a very sizable fish selection that you don’t normally find in a small town.

Our Order

At this point I was so hungry (and slightly car sick) that I asked our server for a recommendation on, um, everything! She said that people love the blackened walleye and the whole catfish.

We really wanted some kind of appetizer and she suggested onion rings. Huh?

I grudgingly ordered onion rings. It’s not exactly something that I ever really get a taste for but I’ve learned to trust the judgment of the servers.

Now, it must “officially” be said–the onion rings at Robert’s Southfork Restaurant and Pub are absolutely the best onion rings I have ever had!

I am pretty sure that I ate more than half of that big old platter of onion rings. Hubs very kindly let me have the last one, too. They were so good I am still getting cravings for them!

Seafood at Southfork

Mulberry, Indiana: Roberts' Southfork Restaurant and Pub Blackened Walleye

Bring on the walleye! Yes, this was good, too! Hubs’ catfish was really good. Well, of course I had to taste it!

It turns out that you can get really good fish in little Indiana, even in a town as small as Mulberry, Indiana.

There was plenty of food. So much so that I brought home a container. I just couldn’t finish it–or maybe it had to do with all those onion rings!

Go There

Either way, Roberts’ Southfork Restaurant and Pub is definitely a place you should mark down and make a point to visit. Those onion rings are something else!

See more Roberts’ Southfork Restaurant and Pub images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Roberts’ Southfork Restaurant and Pub
105 S Glick Street
Mulberry, Indiana 46058
765.296.2096

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Downtown Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County

Furthermore, it was believed to be the wealthiest town of it’s size in the entire United States!

Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County

Of course, that was back in 1938, and I’m guessing that the slow-down and eventual end of passenger trains passing through might of had something to do with the current smaller state of Mulberry, Indiana.

I would love to travel back in time to Mulberry’s heyday. I bet it was just a bustling little place!

Even now there are a lot of really nice architectural details on some of the downtown buildings.

Downtown Mulberry, Indiana

Mulberry is a quiet Indiana town. On the corner of town in a really neat building sits Mulberry Package Liquors (the owner is a really nice guy).

Across the street is a resale shop that actually had a sign on the door with the owner’s number so you could call her if she weren’t around and you felt like browsing.

There was even a taxidermist! I know I sound rather excited about that but it’s been awhile since I’ve seen one and it was just a little unexpected.

Mulberry, Indiana Food and Fun

I can’t forget what draws many people in to Mulberry from the surrounding area: Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub.

Judging from the steady flow of people in and out, they do make a special trip just for the restaurant! Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub is what brought us in, too, though more for the “restaurant” part of it than the “pub” part. Thanks for the tip from a little Indiana reader.

Downtown Mulberry, Indiana and great artchitectural details!

For you American Idol lovers, Amanda Overmyer from Season 7, was an American Idol finalist who also happens to be from Mulberry, Indiana. I’d love to interview her!

Worthwhile Visit

Mulberry, Indiana may not be the bustling little place that it once was but it does have a fantastic restaurant, some neat buildings, and is surely worth a walk-through at the very least.

Hey, you might just fall in love and decide to move in!

See more Mulberry, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County


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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.