Festivals, fairs, concerts, markets, game days, and seasonal plans

The Best Events in Indiana

Festivals, fairs, concerts, markets, race weekends, food events, and local traditions worth building an Indiana weekend around.

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The short answerUpdated Aug 13, 2026

The Indiana event calendar has a spine you can plan around. The Indy 500 takes Memorial Day weekend. Gen Con brings more than 70,000 gamers into downtown Indianapolis. The county fair circuit runs through midsummer, and the festivals carry the rest of the year: the Elkhart Jazz Festival, Fort Wayne GermanFest, the Kokomo Strawberry Festival, and WAMMfest in Greenwood.

Coverage
87 event guides
Regions
Indianapolis Metro, West Central Indiana, South Central Indiana, Southeast Indiana, Northeast Indiana

From Get Indiana

  1. Indiana Dunes Is Busier Than Most of the National Parks You Can Name
  2. Purdue Paid for Amelia Earhart's Plane. Now It's Hunting It.
  3. Things to Do in Indiana This Week: July 21-28, 2026
  4. One Week Later: The 110th Indy 500 Leaves Behind an Empty Track and a $566 Million Economic Wake

Maintained by the Get Indiana team. Reviewed by Nate Spangle. How we use AI

Indianapolis MetroWest Central IndianaSouth Central IndianaSoutheast IndianaNortheast IndianaMichianaThe RegionEast Central IndianaSouthwest IndianaFamily-Friendly Indiana Events

Weekend Events in Indiana

Events with enough around them to anchor a long Saturday, an overnight, or a full weekend plan.

A wide sandy beach at Indiana Dunes National Park with Lake Michigan waves on the right and a wooded dune ridge in fall color on the left

Indiana Dunes Is Busier Than Most of the National Parks You Can Name

Indiana Dunes National Park logged 2.6 million visits in 2025 and ranks in the top 10% of all National Park Service units, a new federal report shows.

Jarred Porter

The VentFest logo with three colorful cartoon ventriloquist puppet characters above bold orange VENTFEST lettering

Why You Need to Add VentFest 2026 to Your Summer Bucket List

VentFest 2026, the world's only international ventriloquism and arts festival, returns to the Historic Tivoli Theatre in Spencer, Indiana July 24-26.

Shelby Zellmer

Fairgoers ride a swing carnival ride at dusk beside a Fresh Fried Veggies food stand at an Indiana county fair.

Things to Do in Indiana This Week: July 6-12, 2026

Things to do in Indiana this week, July 6-12: Muse, Evanescence, Phish, and Death Cab concerts at Ruoff and White River, plus county fair season kicks off statewide.

Jarred Porter

Fireworks forming the shape of the state of Indiana against a dark night sky, celebrating the Fourth of July.

Things to Do in Indiana This Week: July 1-7, 2026

Things to do in Indiana this week, July 1-7: America 250 Fourth Fest downtown, Westfield Rocks the 4th, Cedar Lake Summerfest, Indy Eleven, and fireworks statewide.

Jarred Porter

Family-Friendly Indiana Events

Festivals, fairs, markets, and seasonal plans that work better when kids are part of the day.

Amelia Earhart standing with two men beside a plane lettered Learn to Fly, Purdue University Airport, outside a brick hangar

Purdue Paid for Amelia Earhart's Plane. Now It's Hunting It.

Purdue funded Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra in 1936. In October, a 16-person team leaves West Lafayette to find out if it is sitting in a Pacific lagoon.

Jarred Porter

A country rock band performs on an outdoor stage under blue skies at WAMMfest in Greenwood, with a singer on guitar and a bandmate in a cowboy hat

WAMMfest Returns to Greenwood on Saturday, August 15

WAMMfest returns to Craig Park in Greenwood on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with Indiana wine, craft beer, local art, and live music for a Johnson County fundraiser.

Cheyne Reiter

Aerial view of Victory Field packed with fans for its first Indianapolis Indians game on July 11, 1996, with parking lots, rail lines and the RCA Dome in downtown Indianapolis behind it

Indianapolis Indians to Celebrate Victory Field’s 30th Anniversary on July 11

The Indianapolis Indians mark Victory Field’s 30th anniversary July 11 with a stadium replica giveaway, pregame concert and the biggest fireworks show of 2026.

Cheyne Reiter

A red Peterbilt tow truck with a Make-A-Wish banner leads a line of big rigs down a rural Indiana highway during the Southern Indiana Truck Convoy.

Southern Indiana Truck Convoy Rolls Into the Ripley County Fairgrounds

The Southern Indiana Truck Convoy returns to the Ripley County Fairgrounds in Osgood on Aug. 1 with nearly 100 trucks, a live auction and music benefiting Make-A-Wish.

Cheyne Reiter

Seasonal Indiana Events

Spring festivals, summer markets, fall weekends, winter lights, holiday events, and annual traditions worth timing right.

A packed amphitheater crowd faces bright stage lights at dusk during an outdoor summer concert in Indiana, hands raised under a pink and blue sky.

Things to Do in Indiana This Week: July 21-28, 2026

Things to do in Indiana July 21-28: Jack White, Hilary Duff, 5 Seconds of Summer, and YUNGBLUD at Ruoff and White River, plus peak Indiana county fair season.

Jarred Porter

Aerial view of a packed Ruoff Music Center amphitheater in Noblesville at dusk, ringed by full parking lots during a summer concert.

Things to Do in Indiana This Week: July 14-21, 2026

Things to do in Indiana July 14-21: The Strokes, John Mellencamp, Sarah McLachlan, and Jack White at Ruoff and White River, plus peak Indiana county fair season.

Jarred Porter

Two people in purple Tenderloin Tuesday t-shirts toast cans of Sun King Premium Light Lager on a restaurant patio in Hamilton County.

Celebrate Tenderloin Tuesday at Sun King Brewery in Westfield

Sun King Brewery in Westfield hosts a free, America 250-themed party for the 17th year of Tenderloin Tuesday on July 7, with tenderloins, giveaways and beer.

Cheyne Reiter

A breaded pork tenderloin sandwich on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries, pickles, and red onion at a Hamilton County restaurant.

Tenderloin Tuesday™ Is Back in Hamilton County for Its Best Year Yet

Tenderloin Tuesday returns to Hamilton County for its 17th year, with 60+ restaurants, daily 'best tenderloin' voting, and Sun King beer, June 30 to July 28.

Cheyne Reiter

Indy 500 and Race Weekend Coverage

Race week plans, people, history, guides, and the Indianapolis traditions that make May feel different here.

One Week Later: The 110th Indy 500 Leaves Behind an Empty Track and a $566 Million Economic Wake

One Week Later: The 110th Indy 500 Leaves Behind an Empty Track and a $566 Million Economic Wake

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway drives $1.058 billion in annual economic impact, with $566.4 million tied to the Month of May alone. Here's the breakdown.

Josh Gordon

Larry Bisceglia: The Man, The Myth, The Superfan

Larry Bisceglia: The Man, The Myth, The Superfan

Mario Andretti once chipped in to fly him back to the race. Here's the story of Larry Bisceglia, the most dedicated Indy 500 fan in history.

Taylor Huff

Indy 500 Snake Pit & Carb Day Survival Guide

Indy 500 Snake Pit & Carb Day Survival Guide

Discover what to expect at the 2026 Indy 500 Snake Pit and Carb Day, with Zedd, Counting Crows, schedules, ticket prices, and gate rules at IMS.

Jarred Porter

May in Indy: Racing, Revelry & Can’t-Miss Moments

May in Indy: Racing, Revelry & Can’t-Miss Moments

Experience the Month of May in Indy—packed with races, concerts, parades, and family events leading up to the world’s largest single-day sporting event: the Indianapolis 500. Don’t miss a moment of the action.

Shelby Zellmer

Best Events in Indianapolis Metro

More in Indianapolis Metro
TradeUp Fest logo, a celebration of the skilled trades, over an aerial view of Innovation Mile in Noblesville

TradeUp Fest: A Free Music Festival Built to Sell Indiana on the Skilled Trades

TradeUp Fest brings a free outdoor music festival, a ticketed Larry Fleet arena show and a hands-on Trades Village to Noblesville on Sept. 19, 2026.

Jarred Porter

Get IN. with Nate Spangle promo graphic on a navy background, a tilted wall of podcast episode thumbnails behind the Get Indiana logo and the headline See who's next, noting 23 Indiana 250 honorees have been guests.

IBJ Media’s 2026 Indiana 250 – Here Are the 23 Honorees the Get IN. Podcast Has Hosted, Plus 3 More Coming Soon

23 of IBJ Media’s 2026 Indiana 250 honorees have appeared on Get IN. with Nate Spangle, with 3 more episodes coming soon. Here’s every guest and episode.

Cheyne Reiter

A Wawa gas station canopy lit at night, with a red Wawa sign above fuel pumps and stone-faced support columns

Wawa Is Taking Over the Old Gray Brothers Cafeteria Site in Mooresville

Mooresville approved a 6,300 sq ft Wawa at 555 S. Indiana Street, the former Gray Brothers Cafeteria site. Here's what's coming and what Indiana lost.

Jarred Porter

Polo players on horseback chase the ball mid-match at Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown, Indiana

Polo at Sunset on Saturday, August 29 in Whitestown, Indiana

Polo at Sunset returns to Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown on August 29, 2026 — tailgating, stick pony races, and proceeds benefiting the Indianapolis Tennis and Education Foundation.

Cheyne Reiter

Best Events in South Central Indiana

More in South Central Indiana
New Season Underway at Salem Speedway

New Season Underway at Salem Speedway

Salem Speedway has hosted legends like A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart since 1947. The new season is underway at this iconic Indiana track.

Shelby Zellmer

9 Wineries to Visit for Chocolate Lover's Weekend 2026

9 Wineries to Visit for Chocolate Lover's Weekend

Sip and savor your way through Southern Indiana during Chocolate Lover's Weekend. Six wineries, two weekends, endless wine and chocolate pairings.

Jarred Porter

Can’t-Miss Labor Day Weekend Events in Southern Indiana

Can’t-Miss Labor Day Weekend Events in Southern Indiana

What's open and closed on Labor Day in Southern Indiana, plus the best festivals, lakes, caves, and theme-park fun from the Ohio River to Brown County.

Jarred Porter

A Big Weekend in Nashville, Indiana: Bourbon, BBQ, and a $1K Bar Tab

A Big Weekend in Nashville, Indiana: Bourbon, BBQ, and a $1K Bar Tab

Experience Nashville, Indiana with a $1K bar tab at Moontown Brewery, Brown County hikes, Ooey Gooey cinnamon rolls, and the Hard Truth Bourbon & BBQ Festival.

Cheyne Reiter

Best Events in West Central Indiana

More in West Central Indiana
Bobcats Are Back in Indiana. Here's What You Need to Know.

Bobcats Are Back in Indiana. Here's What You Need to Know.

Bobcats were endangered in Indiana for 36 years. Now they've been spotted in nearly every county and the state just held its first hunting season since 1969.

Jarred Porter

A ringmaster in a red sequined coat presents the Circus City Festival in the big-top ring in Peru, Indiana

Why Peru's Circus City Festival Is Indiana's Greatest Summer Hidden Gem

Peru's Circus City Festival turns the self-proclaimed Circus Capital of the World into a weeklong celebration of youth circus performers, a midway, and a grand parade.

Jarred Porter

Civil War Days 2025 at Billie Creek Village

Civil War Days 2025 at Billie Creek Village

Step back in time at Civil War Days, May 3–4, 2025 at Billie Creek Village. Witness live battle reenactments, historic dances, cannon night firing, blacksmith demos, field hospitals, and more. Family fun meets living history in Parke County, IN.

Shelby Zellmer

Browse Indiana Events

Filter event coverage by region or search for a festival, market, concert, fair, race, game, or seasonal weekend.

On-stage view from behind the drummer looking out at a large crowd in downtown Elkhart at dusk during the Elkhart Jazz Festival, with the historic clock tower behind the buildings.

The Elkhart Jazz Festival: Four Days of Music in Downtown Elkhart

Jarred Porter

Reenactors in tricorn hats and colonial dress browse a table of handwoven sashes and yarn under shade tents at the Colonial Fair in Middletown, Indiana

3rd Annual Colonial Fair on Friday–Saturday, June 12–13 in Indianapolis

Cheyne Reiter

Polo players on horseback chase the ball mid-match at Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown, Indiana

Polo at Sunset on Saturday, August 29 in Whitestown, Indiana

Cheyne Reiter

Rendering of the Indy Ignite practice facility exterior in Fishers, with the team logo on the gray facade and visitors walking toward the entrance

Indy Ignite to Have New Headquarters and Practice Facility Adjacent to Fishers Event Center

Cheyne Reiter

The Chicago Bears Are Headed to Indiana

The Chicago Bears Are Headed to Indiana

Jarred Porter

Fort Wayne GermanFest 2026: A Four-Day Celebration of Gemütlichkeit

Fort Wayne GermanFest: A Four-Day Celebration of Gemütlichkeit

Shelby Zellmer

One Week Later: The 110th Indy 500 Leaves Behind an Empty Track and a $566 Million Economic Wake

One Week Later: The 110th Indy 500 Leaves Behind an Empty Track and a $566 Million Economic Wake

Josh Gordon

28th Annual Strawberry Festival Set for June 5 in Kokomo

28th Annual Strawberry Festival Set for June 5 in Kokomo

Cheyne Reiter

How to Watch the 2026 Indy 500 on Fox: TV, Stream, Radio

How to Watch the 2026 Indy 500 on Fox: TV, Stream, Radio

Jarred Porter

Speedway, Indiana: The Racing Capital of the World

What’s it like in Speedway, Indiana?

Cheyne Reiter

McLaren Invasion: Pato O'Ward at the 110th Indy 500

McLaren Invasion: Pato O'Ward at the 110th Indy 500

Jarred Porter

ZR1X Pace Car & Coach Cignetti: 110th Indy 500 Headliners

ZR1X Pace Car & Coach Cignetti: 110th Indy 500 Headliners

Jarred Porter

Joey Chestnut Is Coming to Terre Haute: Rural King's Memorial Day Eating Contest Launches a National Qualifier Series

Popcorn, Power, and a Hoosier Homecoming: Joey Chestnut Returns to Terre Haute This Memorial Day

Jarred Porter

2026 IndyCar Engine Specs Deep Dive: Hybrid V6 Tech

2026 IndyCar Engine Specs Deep Dive: Hybrid V6 Tech

Jarred Porter

Larry Bisceglia: The Man, The Myth, The Superfan

Larry Bisceglia: The Man, The Myth, The Superfan

Taylor Huff

Broad Ripple Duck Race: Summer Fun for Families

The Broad Ripple Duck Race: Your Guide to Indy's Quirkiest Summer Event

Jarred Porter

The VA’s $2.1 Billion Vision: A New Era for Veteran Healthcare in Fishers

The VA’s $2.1 Billion Vision: A New Era for Veteran Healthcare in Fishers

Jarred Porter

Indy 500 Gift & Style Guide: Best Racing Apparel

Indy 500 Gift & Style Guide: Best Racing Apparel

Jarred Porter

Terex RV Brings Dealers to Indy for Summit at Lucas Oil Stadium

Terex RV Brings Dealers to Indy for Summit at Lucas Oil Stadium

Cheyne Reiter

Indy 500 Snake Pit & Carb Day Survival Guide

Indy 500 Snake Pit & Carb Day Survival Guide

Jarred Porter

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The best events depend on timing and region: festivals, fairs, concerts, markets, food events, races, sports weekends, and annual community traditions.

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