Whether you are looking for tributes to history, food or holidays, Indiana has festivals year-round. Here is a list of some of the best.
Indiana is the crossroads of the United States and each town has a distinct history. As part of that history, Indiana towns and cities enjoy celebrating their unique qualities. A tiny canal town like Roanoke, with a population of only several thousand, will have the same number of fetes, celebrations and festivals as the capital city in Indianapolis. Travelers wanting to see the local customs should visit the smaller towns for the greatest variety in festivals. The celebrations listed here are just a fraction of those that happen each year in the Hoosier state.
History Festivals
Mad Anthony Wayne has a festival that celebrates his military victory in the Three Rivers Festival. While today, bands (polka to rock) play and beer tents are filled with drinks; the festival is Fort Wayne's tip of the hat to their historic military commander. The week-long festival begins in June.
Johnny Appleseed is a controversial figure to the states of Ohio and Indiana since both claim to have Appleseed's grave. The Johnny Appleseed Festival is held in Fort Wayne, Indiana in Johnny Appleseed Park each September. Frontier re-enactors set up a native and frontier village complete with a blacksmith shop and craft tents. The local volunteers from Fort Wayne put up a giant kettle where fresh corn on the cob is cooked non-stop during the festival. Amish cooking and homemade bake goods are a highlight of the festival. A 100 booth antique sale is held the day before the two-day event. The festival fife and drum corps parade throughout the grounds on both days.
The College hosts the Historic Eleutherian College Gathering and Civil War Encampment each September in Madison, Indiana. The College itself is on the National Register of Historic Places and was one of the first colleges in the United States to admit both women and Black students. The festival hosts music, re-enactors and guest speakers.
For those who enjoy a more modern historical fest, try the September "Remembering James Dean Festival" held each year in Dean's hometown of Fairmount, Indiana. Playacres Park and Main Street host the car show that includes nearly 3,000 autos. The event also has a James Dean look-alike contest and a tour of the museum and grave site.
Food Festivals
The New Harmony Wine Festival is held each May. The city has a wine heritage that dates back to 1818 and the current festival celebrates the local wines from all over Indiana with wine tasting at the Rapp Granary building and the local conference center. The festival also includes luncheons and tours of the local vineyards.
Starlight, Indiana hosts the Strawberry Festival each May. It is the quintessential Indiana festival with a soapbox derby, the crowning of a king and queen, carnival with beer garden, and live music with dancing. Like most Indiana festivals, craft booths and entertainments are featured. Upland, Indiana has a Strawberry Fest at the Depot where the local historical society sells flats of strawberries to fund their activities during the year. A free tour of the train depot is offered at this June festival. Wabash, Indiana has their own celebration of the strawberry called the Very Berry Strawberry Fest each June. The fest offers a familiar spin on the traditional strawberry fest in holding a car show as part of their celebration.
The Sunnyside Master Gardeners Annual Herb and Garden Festival is held each June in Charlestown, Indiana. The highlight of the informational, display and how-to event is an all herb lunch.
The Pierogi Festival is a celebration devoted to one food! Whiting, Indiana turns out the sidewalks on the last weekend of July to celebrate the pierogi with the slogan "We're Stuffed with Fun!" Join the Polka Parade, Slovak dancers and the kid's parade while eating your fill of handmade pierogis.
The Spiceland Freedom Festival is held each July in Straughn. Food booths, a 'grill-off" and a chili cook-off all accent the theme of spices.
Speedway, Indiana advertises that the St. Christopher Mid-Summer Festival in July is the "The Festival That's Tops in Food!" Decide for yourself in sampling the pork chops, barbecue, hand-battered fish, braised noodles, Indiana-style cole claw and corn on the cob. The "State Fair Pork Chop" dinner is the highlight of the festival. This one has been held every July since 1941.
Frankfort holds the Hot Dog Festival at the end of each August and Goshen has the Great Goshen Grill Out every August in Elkhart, Indiana. Both events have more food than a family of a thousand could possibly eat!
Mansfield Village host their August Water Melon Festival with an outdoor concert series, arts and crafts and trolley rides through the town. Medaryville, Indiana is home to the Medaryville Community Potato Fest each August. Even though the former Hoosier Vice-President of the United States was a bit confused on the spelling of the word potato, Medaryville residents are sure their August festival is spelled correctly in a tribute to local spuds.
The Swiss Wine Festival in Vevay, Indiana is a four-day event with music performances and festival participation in a grape stomp each August.
The Feast of the Hunter's Moon is a unique trip into the past recreating the rendezvous of the Indiana traders. Canoe on the river, hear the cannons, dance to fiddlers and dine on traditional settler food. The event is held each September at Fort Ouiatenon in Lafayette, Indiana.
Indianapolis has hosted the Greek Food Festival for the past 31 years on the weekend after Labor Day. Enjoy music, foods and dancing at this downtown festival.
The Ligonier Marshmallow Festival is held the first week of September and celebrates that fluffy food! Music, car show, and live bands play over the three-day festival.
One of the largest apple festivals in the country is held each year at Nappanee in September. The three-day festival includes foods, games and activities. Children's activities are a feature of this 29 year-old celebration.
Holiday Festivals
Bastille Day celebrations are alive and well in LaPorte, Indiana where the downtown is turned into Sidewalk Days each June. Eat more pierogies while dancing and shopping the main street.
The Harvest Celebration Festival in Madison is a way to "Fall into Fall" each September. Crafters, food and a visit to the Lanthier Winery are all part of this festival.
Whether you are interested in history, food or holiday celebrations and festivals, Indiana is the state to visit! A serious tourist could visit a festival a day and still not attend every event.
