NEW ALBANY, Ind. — Whether it’s the donuts or dumplings, the taste brings back memories for the crowd in New Albany every October.
In the heart of it all on Market Street, Kelly Jean Gettelfinger is enjoying her 54th Harvest Homecoming.
“They really love the food of Harvest Homecoming. And a lot of it, I think, is because it’s homemade," she said.
It’s her second year in business. At The Spice and Tea Exchange, she's brewing up fresh memories, but Jean Gettelfinger’s got plenty of nostalgia.
"I can remember my daughter’s first Harvest Homecoming in a stroller," she recalled, beaming happily.
The dumplings are a big reason why, like the ones made with Randal Austin’s family recipe.
“He was a pastor in New Albany for many, many years and made these chicken and dumplings for the church over on Cherry Street. He passed away back in 2020," Rhonda Robinson, his daughter, said.
The grandson honors Austin’s legacy by scratch-making the dumplings.
“It’s something that warms not only your belly, but your heart," Robinson said.
And across the street, the Masonic Order’s donuts are part of the local lore too. They spit out dozens on dozens every hour.
“Oh my gosh, I can smell ‘em, we’re getting so close," Rebecka Crosier said, waiting in a 50-person line. It took just as many minutes for her to get a bite, and she's done it since high school.
“Seeing your other friends going by and being like, ‘the line’s so long,’ and they’re like, ‘can you get us donuts at the front?’ And you’re like, ‘yeah,'" she remembered with a laugh.
But this year, she grabbed her dozens with dad.
WHAS11's crew brought some back to Jean Gettelfinger, adding just a little extra sugar from her spice mix.
“It was a treat whenever my mom made chicken and dumplings. It was a treat when she made donuts, so when we came here it was like, ‘ugh, mom hasn’t made these for so long!" Jean Gettelfinger mused.
So for anyone looking for a taste of what comes close to mom’s cooking, Harvest Homecoming’s the place to be.
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