Elkhart County CVB unveils 2026 Elkhart County Area Guide; new edition highlights small businesses, local events and festivals
ELKHART — The Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau is inviting residents and visitors to discover new fun things to do and revisit favorites with the launch of the 2026 Elkhart County Area Guide.
The 74-page guide is the definitive source to the Elkhart County area, featuring more than 120 small businesses, artisans, attractions, and parks with colorful photography, interesting stories, and trip ideas. Whether long-time resident or visitor, readers of the Area Guide will likely learn something new about Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Millersburg, Nappanee, Shipshewana and Wakarusa.
“The Elkhart County Area Guide is more than a manual for tourists. The stories inside celebrate the entrepreneurs, makers, and arts and cultural destinations that make like here so rich and appealing. The Elkhart County CVB is proud to support our communities in this way. We encourage everyone to pick up an Area Guide around town and use it every day,” said Jon Hunsberger, executive director of the Elkhart County CVB.
- DOWNLOAD: View and download the 2026 Elkhart County Area Guide
- MORE: Quilt Gardens expanding to 17 locations in 2026
Two covers show off Elkhart County
The Elkhart County Area Guide is published featuring one of two covers, each highlighting the distinctive beauty and vibrant culture of Elkhart County. (Access images of both covers.)
- People & Places Along the Heritage Trail showcases a dramatic high-angle scene of downtown Elkhart at dusk.
- Amish Country Along the Heritage Trail utilizes the image of a horse and buggy to evoke rural tranquility and timeless beauty.
By the numbers: Making an impact
The Elkhart County CVB will distribute 150,000 free copies of the Elkhart County Area Guide. While many are mailed to potential visitors across the Midwest and U.S., as well as to tourism promoters such as group tour operators and travel journalists, the guide is also widely available regionally:
- Travelers along high-traffic routes in the Midwest such as the Indiana Toll Road, Ohio Turnpike and other highway rest areas.
- Local chambers of commerce, hotels, restaurants and retail shops in the Elkhart County area.
- Subscribers to notable tourism magazines such as Midwest Living and Travel + Leisure.
Positive outlook for 2026
The launch of the 2026 Elkhart County Area Guide kicks off a year packed with community events and festivals, family-friendly activities, and artistry in all forms. The year as always is anchored by the annual Quilt Gardens and Quilt Murals, which is expanding to 17 Quilt Garden sites along with 11 Quilt Mural locations.
One of the most popular features of the Elkhart County Area Guide are sections dedicated to each community served by the Elkhart County CVB: Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Millersburg, Nappanee, New Paris, Shipshewana and Wakarusa. Maps showing each community, including the locations of Quilt Gardens and Quilt Murals and the route of the Heritage Trail audio driving tour, are one of the most popular sections of the guide. Other area guide sections include a summary of top annual events, attractions such as museums, parks and historic sites, restaurants, and retail shops.
The Elkhart County Area Guide is also available to view digitally and is downloadable from VisitElkhartCounty.com.
About the Elkhart County CVB
The Elkhart County CVB is the official tourism advertising/marketing and public/community relations organization for the Elkhart County hospitality industry. The ECCVB advances quality-of-place initiatives in our downtowns and rural spaces, parks and natural environment, arts and culture, and events, festivals, groups and activities that help forge social connections.
