10 "Diner" Restaurants In Indiana That You Must Try

Local diner-type restaurants are wonderful staples to communities because they bring in all kinds of people. You have regulars rubbing elbows with first timers, waitresses busily taking orders and zooming through tables, and good food being served. These places usually do a good job of keeping their prices fairly low and still delivering delicious food. While it is occasionally frustrating that some of these restaurants don’t stay open for dinner, I find that it adds to the character of the place. The following restaurants all fit the same description of making delicious breakfast and lunches that focus on classic American food.

      1. Nick’s Kitchen (Huntington)

Nick’s is the home of the Breaded Tenderloin. Its recipe was created in 1908 and has not changed since. The tenderloin was named “Indiana’s Best” in a 2017 survey, and for good reason. It has also been on TV a couple times over the years and has developed quite a reputation. Nick’s has a homey feel about it, with pictures adorning the walls of different historical events from the Huntington area. Aside from tenderloins, people also rave about the great breakfasts and the pies, specifically the sugar cream pie. It is located right in the middle of downtown Huntington and has the following hours: Mon+Tues: 6am-2pm, Wed-Sat: 6am-8pm.  

2. Country Café and Bakery (Marion)

This is easily one of the most underrated places on this list. Their menu is smaller than some of these other places, but pretty much everything you will eat there is homemade. When you walk in, you immediately see all of the baked goods they have behind the glass. They make their own breads, noodles, jams, salsas, sauces, and more! Much of their food, including the meat, comes from local places or their own farm, Creech Farms. The coffee there comes from Midwest Coffee Company, which is a local coffee shop in Marion. One whole side of the menu is taken up by grilled cheese options, which range from $4-7. There are some fun options for a grilled cheese, such as a pepperoni pizza one, which has mozzarella, marinara, and pepperoni, all inside tomato Italian bread. Another great option is the Grown up, which has bacon, cheddar, carmelized onions, and BBQ sauce. The other side of their menu features tasty breakfast options (Lumberjack Bowl) and several sandwiches. Country Café is open Mon-Sat from 7am-2pm.

 3. Johnny’s (Huntington)

Johnny’s is a unique location that has some real charm to it. The building itself has no sign on the outside and looks more like a mini castle than anything else. The inside is circular with a bar in the middle. The waitresses here are sassy and will sit down in your booth with you to take your order. All of this adds to the fun ambiance of the place, but we’re here to talk about food as well. The most popular thing here is the cinnamon rolls, which are a dollar for 2 rolls. These aren’t typical cinnamon rolls either…its more like a biscuit that in doused in icing and cinnamon sugar. Regardless, they are HEAVENLY. Their food is cheap and delicious, with the main highlight being their breakfast food. However, their burgers and fries (try with the BBQ seasoning) are good too. They are known for their pies here as well, but if you’re going to pick a dessert from here, try the cinnamon rolls first. Johnny’s is open from 6am-3pm Mon-Thurs, 6am-8pm on Friday, and 6am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

4. The Roost (Fishers)

The Roost is one of those restaurants that looks unassuming from the outside but has a lot of wonderful food to offer. What really stood out to me on my trip there was the chorizo omelet that I got. People typically come here for the breakfast food, though they do serve lunch options as well. Apart from the many omelets offered, reviewers recommend trying the corn casserole and the coffee cake. The Roost’s hours are Mon-Sat from 6:30am-3pm and Sunday from 7:30am-3pm. 

5. Spyro’s (Fort Wayne)

Spyro’s is touted as THE place to go get breakfast in Fort Wayne, and I can see why after just one trip there. There is usually a crowd there if you go at regular breakfast/lunch hours, but the wait is worth it. The portion sizes here are huge, so I’d advise sharing with someone unless you really brought an appetite. The omelets and pancakes take up the whole plate as taste great, and many people highly recommend their skillet dishes. Spyro’s is open Mon-Sat from 6am-3pm, and Sunday from 7am-3pm. 

6. J&L (Marion)

J&L is another place that has quite a unique interior. Their directions have always seemed a little haphazard to me, and it is a very dark place due to the wallpaper and lighting. However, the food here is pretty good. My small group likes to try and come here after church for lunch, but we often find ourselves having to wait because of how packed this place gets on weekends. One of the main highlights here are the peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes, which are a good size and taste delicious. The bacon is done just the way I like it here as well, which is a big plus. Their hours are Wed-Sat from 5am-3pm and Sunday from 5am-2pm. 

7. The Lemon Drop (Anderson)

This restaurant fits the classic description of a diner. They are best known for their burgers, fries, and quick service. The building itself has quite a bit of character, from the bright yellow exterior to the toy locomotive that circles the restaurant on a track above everyone’s head. It is a small building, so there really isn’t a lot of room to sit. However, that doesn’t stop droves of people from coming here and enjoying their food. The two most talked about items are the onion burger and the tenderloin, which isn’t a surprise from an Americana place like this. The one complaint people have is that the food can be pretty greasy at times. They are open Mon-Sat from 10:30am-9pm. 

8. Three Sisters Café (Indianapolis-Broad Ripple)

The Three Sisters Café is one of the more popular brunch locations in Indy, and the reviews for it can’t help but talk up their unique fare and as well several classics. People like to rave about the beer biscuit sandwiches and lemon corn cakes, as well as several vegan options. Classic options like French toast and waffles get a lot of attention here as well. Many reviewers on Yelp and TripAdvisor also like the quirky, quaint vibe that the place has, and the comments about the service are almost all positive. While I have only mentioned breakfast so far, they do serve lunch as well. They are open daily from 8am-4pm 

9.  Rosie’s Place (Noblesville)

Located right in the downtown square of Noblesville, Rosie’s claims the #1 spot to eat in town according to TripAdvisor. It probably helps that this restaurant also sells baked goods that people can’t stop talking about (especially butter cookies). As far as meal options go, reviewers talk a lot about their Eggs Benedict and seasonal specials. Portion sizes are talked up here, as is the ambiance of the place. It has exposed brick walls and old wood floors, which combined is often described as cozy and comfortable. Their Sunday brunch tends to draw quite a crowd, though many people are content waiting for the food (I take this as a good sign). Their hours are Mon-Fri from 7am-3pm and Sat-Sun from 8am-2pm. 

10. Triple XXX Family Restaurant (Lafayette)

I imagine the word “Family” in the name was crucial to them gaining as much popularity as they have…but all jokes aside, this place has made quite a name for itself. For one, their root beer is bottled at stores nationwide, and it is a solid root beer. As far as the food goes, the burgers and fries reign supreme here. Many people talk highly of the Purvis burger, which has peanut butter on it, and the Drew Brees Special. The interior has the typical diner feel to it, but the outside of the building really stands out. While the food here is not as cheap as other diners that don’t have as big of a name for themselves, it really it a cheap dining option. Their hours are 5:30am-11pm (10pm on Sunday).

10 Great Places to Visit in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne is a city that I’ve grown really fond of over the years. While nowhere near as large as Indianapolis, Fort Wayne is the 2^nd largest city in Indiana and has a lot to offer. I’m constantly finding new things to do there, and it’s nice because it’s only about an hour away from where I live. This list does not contain restaurants, as I’ll be covering plenty of those on other blog entries.

     1. The Fort Wayne Zoo

Fort Wayne’s zoo has been highly touted for years now, and for good reason. Located in Franke Park, this zoo holds more than 1,000 animals and was ranked the 7^th best zoo in the U.S. in 2015 by TripAdvisor. I’ve heard from quite a few people that this zoo is much better than the one in Indianapolis, though I personally have not been to that zoo. What sticks out to me about this zoo is the cleanliness and way it is presented. There are also a couple fun chances to interact with animals, like the petting zoo area and the giraffe feeding area. While the zoo is currently closed for the winter, it will open for the season on April 21^st. Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for children. Giraffe feeding will cost $1 and the Sky Tram will cost $2 (both worth it), while parking is free.

2.  Debrand Chocolate Factory Tour

Debrand Chocolate is some high-quality stuff. They have several locations throughout Fort Wayne and have just opened their first Indianapolis location; their main location is on Auburn Road. At all locations they serve up delicious chocolates, truffles, gelato, hot chocolate, and many other great creations, but the Auburn location lets you go behind the scenes on a short (30-45 min.) tour of their factory. While you don’t get an up-close look at how their chocolate is made, you get a handful of informational videos and a view through multiple windows into different parts of the factory. After each segment of the tour, you get to sample one of their products. Tours only cost $5, which is honestly less than what it would cost to consume the amount of items you get to sample. Plus, you get a coupon for $5 off a $10 purchase at the end of the tour. The only downside is that tours are given at 10am on Tuesdays and 1pm on Thursdays, which would be hard to make if you’re working. However, during Three Rivers Festival and certain holidays, they do tours every 30 minutes from 11am-6pm.

3. Parkview Field (Tincaps Game)

Fort Wayne is home to 3 minor league sports teams, but the Tincaps baseball team (SD Padres affiliate) has a stunning venue to go along with the entertainment. Parkview Field has the ballpark, of course, but also contains multiple play areas for kids and has a small amphitheater as well. This place is kept very clean and is full of helpful staff. The park has just over 8,000 seats, but there are many places to stand and watch the game, as well as a lawn section in the outfield areas where fans can spread a blanket out and take the game in. Concession stands are plentiful and offer a variety of foods, and there are several fun games played in between innings by selected audience members. The park is right on the edge of downtown Fort Wayne, opening doors to many dining options before or after the game. Tickets for a game are fairly cheap as well, from $5 lawn seats to $12.50 Legacy seats (padded, behind home plate, waiter service).

4. Foellinger-Freimann Conservatory

This place was also mentioned on my list of things to do in Indiana and winter, but it shared a space with an Indy location and needs its own space! This conservatory has 3 indoor sections along with some outdoor ones as well, encompassing over 100,000 square feet total. It’s a truly peaceful environment and worth a look each season, as one of the indoor sections has its decorations changed a few times a year. The location (downtown) also helps because it gives you a nice departure from the city. Admission is just $5 for adults and $3 for children.

5.  Lazer X

Lazer X is a laser tag arena with some arcade games to go along with it. It’s located in the Glenbrook Mall area and has been recently redone due to a fire that burned the other building down in 2015. It boasts a 9,000+ square foot arena that has multiple levels, along with special abilities that can be activated while playing. Games typically last 15-16 minutes with a debrief period before each new group comes in. You do get a detailed scorecard at the end of every round, which is nice. Their pricing has a system based on tickets, with 1-4 tickets being $8 each, 5-19 tickets being $7 each, and anything beyond that being $6 each. One laser tag game is priced at 1 ticket, so if 5 people want to play 2 games, they buy 10 tickets at the $7 per ticket price. As for the arcade games, you can get 4 tokens for $1, 22 tokens for $5, or 60 tokens for $10.

6. Disc Golf (3 locations)

Fort Wayne is home to 2 great disc golf parks, and there is also one in nearby New Haven. The two in Ft. Wayne itself are Swinney Park and Shoaff Park. Swinney Park is a bigger park that houses an 18 hole disc golf course. This park is busier than Shoaff, but not necessarily because of disc golfers. It gets a lot of foot traffic from a bike trail that snakes its way through it, as well as from people going to the playgrounds and other areas of the park. It’s a fun course to play with a variety of holes, but it has one downside: it is prone to flooding from the nearby river. The flooding can get so bad that most of the park goes underwater, making the course unplayable. That’s why I prefer Shoaff Park! Shoaff not only doesn’t have a nearby river to flood it, but it also has 24 holes. There are only a couple holes that you’ll need to be careful of pedestrians on, and it has a good variance of elevation throughout the course.

7. Escape Rooms

Escape Rooms have become rather popular over the last few years, and for good reason. They provide a way for people of all ages to come together and problem solve their way out of some very fun scenarios in 60 minutes. Fort Wayne has 3 different escape room venues, the first of which is Fort Wayne Chamber Escape Rooms. This one offers 3 different scenarios at varying levels of difficulty for 2-10 people. Tickets here are $30 per person.  The next option is the Fort Wayne Escape Room. This downtown location has 4 different scenarios for 2-8 people and $25-30, depending on which scenario is chosen. The third escape room is called Room to Escape and also boasts 4 scenarios to pick from. Each room requires between 2-8 people and costs between $25-30, depending on the scenario. One unique thing about this location is that they have a $10, 20-minute scenario available as well, and they host Trivia Night once a month! For all locations/scenarios, I recommend looking online for scenario descriptions and difficulty levels. All three locations are highly reviewed on TripAdvisor, so feel free to try them all!

8.  Fort Wayne Curling Club

Curling became a massive hit this February as the Men’s team won gold and shocked the world. People can’t get enough of it, and the Fort Wayne Curling Club has found a way to help people get introduced to the sport. A couple times a month, they hold Learn to Curl sessions, which give the Average Joe/Jolene a chance to learn how to play and try it out for themselves. These sessions cost $20 and last 2.5 hours, with the beginning 30 minutes or so devoted to learning and practicing the game.  Once practice time ends, your group either faces off against each other or another group that is there, depending on how many people you bring with you. Be sure to check their website often for openings because the 30 spots for each session fill up quickly! They also have league available for those more serious about showing up and competing. Those new to the sport that want to join a league should look into the Rookie League.

9. Fair Play Volleyball

Beach volleyball is a fun way to be active in the summer, and Fort Wayne has you covered with Fair Play Volleyball. The location is just east of the downtown area by an old factory, and even though it may seem like an odd place to be, the courts are well-maintained and great to play on. The facility offers a small bar and plenty of seating area, and the parking lot has plenty of space. Fair play offers A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and C- divisions, with A being very skilled and C meaning little experience. Some league types available are Co-ed 4’s, Co-ed 6’s, Men’s 4’s, and Women’s 4’s. Games are played for 10-14-week periods, and can be any day except Saturday, depending on what league you want to sign up for. Prices for a team range from $160-$240. Fair Play also has indoor leagues for basketball and volleyball when it’s not summer.

10. Jefferson Pointe

It’s interesting how a mall would make it onto this list, but Jefferson Pointe has a lot to offer. For one, it’s an open-air mall, which makes it much more interesting (and aesthetically pleasing) than the other large mall in Fort Wayne, Glenbrook Square.  It houses over 50 stores and restaurants, and it is a great place to come and just walk around in nice weather. The mall is home to a movie theater that has an IMAX screen, which is a plus. I don’t particularly like clothes shopping, but this mall still has a lot to offer besides clothing stores. It has a Barnes and Noble, which is all I really need to be happy, a paint-and-take art studio, which is a perfect date activity, and a Bed Bath and Beyond, which I’ve come to really enjoy. After eating at one of the many food options here (fast food or fancy), there are several great dessert options as well, like Coldstone, Red Mango, Poptique (gourmet popcorn), and Debrand Chocolate. One of my favorite parts of Jefferson Pointe is the square in the middle, which houses a fountain in nice weather and a Christmas tree in winter months. In the summer, there are weekly concerts held here that always draw a decent crowd.

Honorable Mention: Hyde Brothers Bookstore

This didn’t make the list simply because I dedicated a full space to it in my previous entry. Go check it out!

10 Great Winter Activities for Indiana Residents

Winter in Indiana is truly unpredictable. You can have subzero temperatures one week, temperatures in the 50’s the next week, and then snow and ice the week after that. When winter is truly winter, however, people tend to shut themselves indoors to keep from going out in the cold, snowy weather. Unfortunately, that keeps people from going out and enjoying the many possibilities that are available to them during this time of year. This entry gives a list of 10 different places/activities that help make winter more bearable.

1.       Botanical Gardens (Fort Wayne and Indianapolis)

In the warmer months, people tend to gravitate outside to enjoy nature. However, the harsh chill of winter kills off a lot of plant life and takes the color away from the outdoors. Going to a botanical garden or conservatory gives you a chance to still surround yourself with warmth and lush growth. Fort Wayne’s Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is a real treat. It has three indoor gardens that have different displays throughout the year, with a Christmas display being a huge hit around the holiday season. According to their website, they have over 1,200 plants and 72 different types of cacti in the 25,000 square foot building. It’s a cheap way to spend an hour or two, with the entry fee being only $5 per person. The Garfield Park Conservatory in Indianapolis boasts a $2 entry fee, which may be lower because the conservatory is smaller than the one in Fort Wayne (this one is 10,000 square feet). What is cool about Garfield Park is that it also has an outdoor sunken garden that is supposed to be beautiful in warmer months.

2.       Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park (Angola)

This is one that I have been eager to try out since I discovered its existence a couple years ago, but I have yet to actually go and do it. Pokagon State Park is a fun park to go to and hike, but during the winter months they open up their two-lane toboggan run. You start at the top of a 30 foot tower, then slide down through dips and valleys for another quarter mile before coming to a stop. Each run takes anywhere from 20-30 seconds, with the record speed being 42 miles per hour. The hours are: Friday: 5:30-9 p.m., Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. As far as cost goes, it is $7 per vehicle to enter the park, and then each toboggan (which fits up to 4 people) costs $13 per hour to rent. You can go as many times as you can in that time, but this requires walking back to the tower from the end of the ride and waiting in line. It closes for the winter on February 25.

3.       Hyde Brothers Bookstore (Fort Wayne)

If you aren’t a fan of reading books, go ahead and skip to #4. If you enjoy reading, you’re in for a treat here. This used bookstores boasts over 150,000 titles and is literally floor to ceiling with books. If you’re like me, you enjoy organization, especially when shopping. Many used bookstores have issues with not being well organized, but Hyde Bros is extremely well marked as you go through the store. Books fill up the entire basement of the building as well. It’s easy to spend an hour here (if not more) wandering around and looking at titles. What’s even better is that there are a couple cats wandering around the store as well, so if you need a break from perusing the shelves you could always stop and give them some attention. This bookstore gets glowing reviews from people, and once you go and visit, it’s pretty clear to see why.

4.       Paoli Peaks (Paoli)

If you’re wondering where to go to get a great snowboarding/skiing experience in Indiana, look no further than Paoli Peaks. Many people online rave about Paoli Peaks, and I can tell just by looking into it that it is an incredible place. The main lodge houses rentals, a pro shop, an area for lessons, a restaurant and bar, and a first aid station, while the land itself has 15 trails (with 8 chair lifts) of various difficulties. Depending on which day of the week you go and if you go all day or part of the day (they are even open til 3am on Saturdays!), the cost can range from $30-$42, not including rentals. If skiing and snowboarding isn’t really your thing, no worries! Paoli Peaks also has a tubing area! The Artic Blast tubing area has 10 tubing lanes that each go 700 feet, with a carpet lift bringing you back to the top of the hill. Like with the skiing, the cost is going to depend on if you go on a weekday or weekend and how much time you plan on spending there. The cost ranges anywhere from $25-50 for tubing.

5.       Dave and Busters (Indianapolis)

This is another indoor venue that may not cater to everyone, but Dave and Busters locations always tend to be busy when I go by them. Essentially, it’s a giant arcade AKA a grown up version of Chuck E. Cheese. There is a full service restaurant/bar there as well, but I tend not to go to places like this for the food. This chain uses the “credit-card” system for playing the games, where you have a certain monetary amount loaded onto the card, then slide it for each game you want to play. Like a typical arcade, D&B has games that will give you tickets for prizes, though not all of them do.  I know this isn’t necessarily a place that is exclusive to winter, but I’d rather spend a couple hours indoors playing arcade games in the winter compared to when it’s nice out during the other seasons.

6.       Christmas Light Shows (various locations)

While the holiday season has come and gone for the year, you can’t help but give credit to the many different places that go all out with Christmas lights. Yeah, you have cities like Fort Wayne and Indianapolis that have multiple locations (downtown and zoos) that have incredible light displays, but you have to give smaller cities credit as well. There is something so magical about strolling through the snow, surrounded by thousands of colorful lights, sipping a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider. Kokomo puts on a great show in Highland Park, and the northern Indy suburbs of Noblesville and Fishers put on great displays too. Specifically, check out Reynolds Farm Equipment Christmas Lights Show, right off of Ind. 37. Marion, the town I live in, puts on the Walkway of Lights for about a month each year. What is fun about this light show is that you can walk through it or drive through it. It costs $5 for a car to go through, but then afterward you can take that car back through as many times as you want to throughout the rest of the season.  It’s free for those walking through.

7.       Veal’s Ice Tree (Indianapolis)

This marvel is truly a sight to behold. Just before winter begins each year, a frame is built, then lumber and brush are added to it. The “tree” is then sprayed with hoses and food coloring and usually gets around 35-40 feet in height (though it got to 80 feet in 2014). This tradition started all the way back in 1961 and has been going strong ever since. If you’re in the Indy area, definitely go check this out! It’s one of the most unique sights you’ll ever see!

 

8.       Christkindlmarkts (Ferdinand and Carmel)

Here is one item that is unfortunately no long available this winter season, but should be a staple once December arrives. Many towns throughout Indiana have markets selling Christmas wares and decorations, with impressive light displays and good food to go along with that. I find that Christkindlmarkts especially seem to have the bright, cheery feeling that comes with the holiday season. I have not been to the one in Ferdinand, but I do know that it usually contains over 200 booths that sell anything from ornaments to fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. The Christkindlmarkt in Carmel was a new event this past holiday season, and while it had its usual “new event issues”, overall reviews were positive. Throwing an event like this for the first time lets you learn on the fly what works and what doesn’t, so I feel that next year will improve greatly on what already was a pretty fun time. This market is outdoors and features small houses selling food and crafts. There is also a sort  of band shell where different performers play throughout the several weeks the market is open. You are even able to ice skate here, as there is a rink in the middle of the area.

9.       Hiking (various locations)

I’m a strong hiking advocate, even in colder months. Too often people cross hiking off their list of things to do in the winter because they don’t like the idea of being outside for long periods of time. While I can understand not wanting to freeze your buns off, there are also solutions to this issue. For one, there are some nature preserves in Indiana that would be quite scenic in winter, and many preserves contain 2 miles or less of trails total! Also, many state parks have short trails that are very accessible in winter, like Fort Harrison State Park or Ouabache State Park. (a list of great hiking spots is coming once temperatures warm up a bit) I’m telling you, if you’ve never seen a frozen waterfall in person, you’re missing out.

10.   Ice Skating (various locations)

What’s winter without ice skating? It’s a recreational activity that is almost exclusive to winter, so how can I not list it? There are both indoor and outdoor places to ice skate, so the first step is deciding which of those you’d be more up to doing. If it isn’t bitterly cold, I’d suggest outdoor ice skating to get the true experience. In Fort Wayne, Headwaters Park is the place to go for outdoor skating, while SportOne Icehouse allows for indoor skating at certain times. If you’re closer to Indy, there are rinks in Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Avon, and in Indy itself. There are too many to list, but it’s an easy enough Google search.

12 Indiana Festivals to mark on your calendar

*New* Entries have been added since the original post
I’ve always been a firm believer that spending money on experiences is more enjoyable than spending money on things. Festivals are a great way to get out and see the lovely folks in a community, see some cool things, and eat some good food. While not many festivals take place in the middle of winter, I figured I’d get your attention to some of these so you can mark them on your calendars before they get too filled up.

1. Buskerfest
Buskerfest was a festival that I knew nothing about going in, but ended up being pleasantly surprised. This festival in Fort Wayne is a celebration of street performers, and it contains all kinds of eclectic acts. When I was there, I encountered a sword swallower, fire dancers, a unicycle crew, street gymnastics, and musicians! What is nice about this festival is that there is no entry fee and every performance is free!
Date: June 29, 2019
Address: Corner of Wayne and Calhoun in Fort Wayne, IN
Times: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

2. Ribfest
If you like barbecue, this festival is heaven. There are multiple BBQ celebrations in Indiana over the course of a year, but Ribfest is a festival that continues to amaze me. As it is another Fort Wayne festival, it usually brings an above average turnout and some amazing BBQ crews. There is an entire walkway full of award-winning barbecue to consume, and don’t even get me started about the glorious smell. This is not strictly a food event, either, as live music under a bandshell helps provide entertainment. This event will burn a hole in your wallet quickly, however, so be prepared.

Last year’s information…
 JUNE 14TH - 17TH, 2018  |  FREE THURSDAY-SATURDAY UNTIL 5:30PM
$6 ADULTS (13 & OVER) | $5 SENIORS | $4 STUDENTS, MILITARY, FIRE, POLICE
SUNDAY ONLY $3 ALL DAY (Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne, IN)
 
3. 3 Rivers Festival
Yes, I know, another Fort Wayne festival. However, this is one of Fort Wayne’s biggest gatherings of the year, generating over half a million attendees each year. This one week festival contains over 80 events, from things like bed races or raft races to Junk Food Alley and Art in the Park.  It also brings in some pretty good musical acts as well, from talented cover bands to well-known Christian artists and 90’s-00’s bands.

Dates: July 12-20, 2019
Various Locations

4. Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival

This fair is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, which is a feat not a lot of fairs can claim nowadays. If you like the sugary goodness of authentic maple syrup, this festival is worth checking out! They will have all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage, a parade, carnival, kettlecorn, animal acts, a 5K, plenty of vendors, and contests!

Dates: April 26-28, 2019 11am-6pm

5. Indiana State Fair
The state fair is possibly the biggest “festival” Indiana has, and sadly I’ve never actually been to it. This is largely due to the fact that the fair happens in August when I’m just getting back to school. I really want to drive down and check it out one of these years. At this fair you have a whole bunch of carnival rides, fair food, and animal showings. The live music is another big draw. Even though I can’t tell you much more about the fair, I do know that a fair lasting 17 days has got to be worth checking out!

Dates: August 2-18
Cost: Currently $8 online + a convenience fee, but will be $12 closer to the fair

6. Heritage Days
Heritage is a festival held in Huntington, Indiana, every summer. There are a lot of events going on during Heritage Days, from car shows to a hot air balloon festival. There are also several special breakfasts and food events going on as well. Typically, a few blocks of downtown Huntington are blocked off for carnival rides. There will be a parade, too, which will highlight the theme that will be shown through each day’s activities. This year’s theme is 50’s. Heritage Days doesn’t contain an attraction that truly impresses me, but it is a good, old fashioned festival that I’ve had the opportunity to go to and enjoy over the years.

Dates: June 19-23
Cost: varies by event

7. Johnny Appleseed Festival
This festival is one that I was able to experience 2 years ago because I had heard a lot of people talking about how entertaining it is. I must, say, I was not disappointed. I’d be lying to you if I said that I cared a lot about the history of such fairs and festivals; I am all about the food that is available there. I couldn’t help but appreciate the set-up of Johnny Appleseed, however. An entire green space is taken over and set up to be like an 1800’s pioneer village, and this place was PACKED when I was there. That would probably be the one negative I’d have to say about my experience. It’s right next to the Coliseum in Fort Wayne, and parking there isn’t free. However, you can park at IPFW or Concordia High School and have a free shuttle come and take you to the festival.  The festival has many sections: food, crafts, antiques, reenactments, and entertainment stages. There are typically over 200 booths there, and all vendors must sell/make food that was available in the 1800’s. People flock to the root beer stand, where you can have bottles refilled from previous years for a reduced price.

Dates:  September 21st & 22nd Sat: 10am - 6pm    Sun: 10am - 5pm
Cost: Free entry

8. James Dean/Ducktail Run
Now we come to another event that I have missed out on over my 5.5 years of living in Marion: James Dean/Ducktail Run. While these two are technically different events, they coincide on the same days and are very close to each other. Ducktail Run is a car show event featuring over 2,500 cars from 1972 and older. This event holds a flamethrower competition with the cars, which sounds awesome. Apart from the cars, there is also live music and a huge craft swap. This event runs September 26-29 in Gas City Park in Gas City, IN. James Dean Festival is a flashback to the 50’s, with a 50’s/custom car show, 50’s dance contest, James Dean look-alike contest, showings of Dean’s films, live music, a pet parade, and a 5K run. This event runs September 27-29 at Playacres Park in Fairmount, IN.

9. Greekfest
All things Greek take place during this event, which include food, music, dancing, and raffles! This is another Fort Wayne event at Headwaters Park, which plays host to many of Fort Wayne’s best festivals. I have not personally been to this event, but it sounds like a blast. There is also a marketplace and an area for amusement rides.

Dates: June 27-30. Admission is free between 11am-4pm each day, with a $5 charge from 4pm-10pm. It is free admission all day on Sunday.

10. Blueberry Fest
This festival, which takes place in Plymouth, IN, is one I remember as a child as being a highlight of the summer. My wife and I drove by on our way home from a weekend getaway 2 years ago, and it seems to still be going strong. While it does not take place during blueberry season, the name comes from the fact that the county used to produce 1/3 of Indiana’s blueberries. There is no shortage of blueberry foods at this festival, though. There are so many events during the days of the festival, some of which are races, a bike show, a car show, a horseshoe tournament, a dog show, a parade, live music, a craft show, a swimming competition, sports competitions galore, a balloon launch/glow, a fireworks show, a carnival, a pageant, a craft market, a tractor pull, and horse shows. If you’re reading this and are impressed by that list, know that there are even more events that I did not mention! No wonder 500,000 people come and check this event out each year! Parking is $8 at the high school, which includes a tram ride, but there are also plenty of other places to park (fees vary or are free). This event takes place in Centennial Park.

Dates: August 30-September 2, 2019


11. Indiana Bacon Festival (Delphi)

That’s right, Hoosiers. Indiana has a bacon festival. This festival doesn’t just offer different types of bacon to sample, it offers all kinds of other foods that bacon compliments, like bacon wrapped items and chocolate covered bacon. There is also quite of bit of craft beer as well. Other events besides sampling food include live music, a hog calling contest, a bacon eating contest, boat rides, and a singing competition.

Dates: August 24, 2019 3-11pm

12. Versailles Pumpkin Show

This show/festival is one of the oldest in the state and dates back over 100 years! That alone makes it noteworthy, but it also has a giant pumpkin weighing contest that is quite a spectacle. Apart from that, it has a lot of other common festival events like live music, a carnival, eating contests, face painting, and a talent show.

Dates: September 27-29, 2019