These 9 Indiana Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals

Indiana’s festivals reflect the diversity and vibrancy of cities like Valparaiso, Peru, and Auburn, which come alive with celebration each year. Local pride and rich tradition shine through events such as the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, honoring native Orville Redenbacher; the Circus City Festival, where youth perform daring aerial acts; and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, which showcases vintage automobiles. Other communities join in the spirit—Thorntown welcomes fall with its Festival of the Turning Leaves, while Churubusco rallies around local legend with its Turtle Days Festival. These unique festivals in Indiana go beyond seasonal fun, turning hometown history into lasting memories for all ages.

Valparaiso, Popcorn Festival

Valparaiso hosts many quirky festivals, such as the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, which is dedicated to native Orville Redenbacher, founder of the iconic popcorn brand. The festival, which began in 1979, typically takes place on Saturday after Labor Day in downtown Valparaiso and draws more than 40,000 attendees annually.

A beloved tradition is the popcorn parade, featuring popcorn-themed floats, marching bands, and costumed characters who proudly stroll down the city's main streets. Beyond the parade, the festival includes hundreds of arts and crafts booths, food vendors, a children's play area, a beer garden, and musical performances. It also features races, including a 5-mile and a kid-friendly fun run. Pre-festival events and concerts are held in the days leading up to the main event.

Peru, Circus City Festival

Peru, known as the "Circus Capital of the World," is home to one of the most unique festivals in Indiana: the Circus City Festival. The annual week-long festival, which first debuted in 1960, is a tribute to Peru's rich circus heritage, which dates back to the late 1800s. Attracting more than 10,000 attendees annually, the festival conveniently takes place at the Circus City Festival Arena.

It features entertainment from the Peru Amateur Circus, a group of over 200 youth performers who showcase their incredible talents with highwire, juggling, and trapeze acts. Beyond the performances, attendees can enjoy family-friendly activities, including carnival rides, food vendors, and games. Lastly, the festival culminates in the longest-running annual circus parade in the world with a diverse mix of circus wagons, clowns, wild animals, floats, and live bands.

Auburn, Cord Duesenberg Festival

Every year, during Labor Day weekend, Auburn's downtown streets come alive for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, which has been going on since 1956. Leading up to it are a series of pre-festival celebrations, including a fundraiser and garage cruise, as well as a car corral and swap meet, which launches on the Wednesday before the festival begins.

Main highlights include the official downtown cruise-in on Friday, where car enthusiasts display vintage and specialty vehicles, and the fan-favorite parade on Saturday, featuring hundreds of classic Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs driving through downtown, which ends with an evening concert series in Courthouse Square. Throughout the weekend, the festival attracts more than 100,000 attendees to the downtown area. Those who can't make the annual event can always visit the year-round Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, one of the city's top tourist attractions.

Thorntown, Festival of the Turning Leaves

Thorntown, a small town located halfway between Lafayette and Indianapolis, brings together the community with its annual Festival of the Turning Leaves, which not only celebrates the area's heritage but also the arrival of the fall season. The three-day festival, which takes place the last weekend of September, has often included food vendors, crafts, live entertainment, a children's area, and a car show.

In addition to the festival itself, local businesses also offer specials to attendees, while nearby attractions, such as Sugar Creek Art Center and Thorntown Heritage Museum, host various events and activities during the weekend. The festival started in 1973 and continues to be Thorntown's most sought-after event, attracting 4,000 to 6,000 individuals annually.

Fairmount, James Dean Festival

While Fairmount may be a small town, it has its fair share of unique events and festivals centered around the life of late actor James Dean, known for “Rebel Without a Cause,” “East of Eden,” and “Giant." Since 1975, the James Dean Museum has sponsored and hosted the annual James Dean Festival in honor of the Fairmount native.

The three-day festival, which takes place in September, draws in more than 30,000 attendees with its James Dean lookalike contest, parade, classic car show, live entertainment, vendors, carnival rides, and outdoor movie screenings. While in town for the festival, learn more about Dean's legacy by touring the museum, which houses his precious personal belongings, including movie props, artwork, clothing, and even his motorcycles.

Churubusco, Turtle Days Festival

The Turtle Days Festival in Churubusco, often referred to as “Turtle Town,” is one of Indiana’s most unique and beloved community events. Recognized as the state’s oldest continuously running festival, it honors local legend, small-town tradition, and community pride. Held annually in mid-June at Churubusco Community Park, the four-day festival honors the tale of the “Beast of ’Busco,” a mythical giant turtle said to dwell in nearby Fulk Lake, a story that captured national attention in 1949.

Festival highlights include turtle races, a 5K run, a pageant, and a lively parade that awards trophies in categories such as Best Performance and Best Use of Theme. Each day features carnival rides, games, food, craft vendors, and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere that blends hometown charm with a playful nod to local folklore.

Parke County, Covered Bridge Festival

Known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World," Parke County celebrates its historic charm with the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, Indiana’s largest festival and a nationally recognized autumn tradition since its inception in 1957. Held annually over 10 days in mid-October, the festival features 31 covered bridges scattered throughout Parke County’s countryside.

Bridgeton, one of the festival’s most popular stops, offers a historic mill, scenic bridge views, and a marketplace with handmade crafts, antiques, and collectibles. Besides Bridgeton, the festival also takes place across the county's other communities, including Rockville, Mansfield, Montezuma, Bloomingdale, Billie Creek Village, Mecca, Rosedale, and Tangier. They each have their events, displays, and vendors, attracting more than 2 million attendees every year.

Carmel, CarmelFest

CarmelFest, which has become central Indiana's largest Independence Day celebration, is one of the most unique festivals in Carmel. The festival, launched in 1988, is an experience everyone should experience in their lifetime. Organized by the Rotary Club of Carmel, it takes place over two days, drawing more than 50,000 attendees with all-day festivities on July 3 and July 4.

Highlights include live music, food vendors, rides, a beer and wine garden, a children's play area, a patriotic parade, a marketplace with local artisans and businesses, and a spectacular fireworks show. Events are usually centered around the Gazebo, Carter Green, Civic Square, and the Carmel Ice Skadium, in the heart of downtown Carmel.

Shirley, Strawberry Festival

The Shirley Strawberry Festival is a cherished annual event that celebrates Indiana’s strawberry season and the small-town charm of Shirley. Held on the front lawn of the Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House, typically in May every year, the festival offers seasonal favorites such as strawberry shortcake, ice cream topped with fresh strawberries, and other strawberry-themed desserts.

Festival attendees can also enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the day, along with a variety of local craft and vendor booths. After the festival, take a tour of the Octagon House to explore its unique architecture and historical significance.

Discover The Most Unique Festivals In Indiana

As you can see, Indiana’s festivals bring a quirky yet fun experience to its local communities, proving that there is always something worth celebrating in Indiana. Peru, Auburn, and Valparaiso will have you admiring circus acts, classic cars, and falling in love with all things popcorn. Thorntown welcomes in the fall season with a "turning of the leaves" fest, while Churubusco shows off its "Turtle Town" charm. Fairmount, Bridgeton, and Shirley also showcase their hometown spirit with signature events that make them worth visiting; whether it is cheering on James Dean lookalikes, discovering Parke County's historic bridges, or enjoying strawberry treats in Shirley.