Family Friendly Festivals and Fairs Around Indianapolis

Beth Wood said:  The Fall Harvest Festival at Waterman's Family Farm is an Indianapolis staple! Visitors can enjoy a tractor run hay ride to the pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkins, a mini market, an automated pumpkin eating dinosaur, kids playground, pony rides, food trucks and tents, a spinning pumpkin ride, corn maze and much more during their day at Waterman's. It's running at two different locations so check their website and see which spot is right for your family!

Beth Wood said:  Head over to Roy G. Holland Memorial Park in Fishers for their annual Monsoon Madness event. You'll find inflatable waterslides, an Itty Bitty Water Play Zone for kiddos ages 4 and younger, slip and slides, bounce houses, games, music and more fun! Food trucks will be on hand selling concessions. Be sure to wear your swimsuits and sunscreen and don't forget to pack a towel! Roy G. Holland Park features large playground areas for both older and younger children, sports fields, picnic areas and more. Parent supervision is required.

11am-3pm

Beth Wood said:  Head to the streets of downtown Noblesville for their annual Street Dance event! You'll find loads of fun for the whole family including live entertainment, local vendors, ice cream and hot dog eating contests, a beer garden for guests 21 and older, a Kid Zone including games and activities, yummy food and much more. Stella Luna will take the stage at 8pm for a live show for all ages.

4pm-11pm

Beth Wood said:  Bring the whole family to the square in downtown Noblesville for their annual Fall Fest. There will be a Pumpkin Carving Contest, trick-or-treating among merchants downtown, a soup cook-off, hayrides, scarecrow contest and more fun for the whole family.

5pm-9pm

Beth Wood said:  Head over to Federal Hill Commons Park in Noblesville and celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the annual Salsa for Salsa Festival. There will be family-friendly activities, food trucks featuring authentic Mexican food, salsa band, margarita garden and a salsa tasting contest! It's guaranteed to be a fun evening for the whole family! Federal Hill Commons Park is a 6.5-acre park on the outskirts of the downtown Noblesville area and features an amphitheater, splash pad, green space, and event space.

6pm-9pm

Beth Wood said:  Investigate the mysteries of the world around you at Conner Prairie's Curiosity Fair. The entire family will have fun learning through demonstrations, presentations and activities. Events include BMX stunt shows, meeting animals from Lafayette's Columbian Park Zoo, chemistry shows and experiments, demonstrations with Professor Steve and more. There will be lots of other hands-on activities presented by Indiana Landmarks, Nickel Plate Arts, Aggressively Organic and more. Conner Prairie is an interactive museum that transports visitors back in time to the 1800s.

10am-5pm

Beth Wood said:  Support the Greenwood Fire Foundation with a competitive 5K race or family walk/jog. Sign children ages 4-12 up after the 5K for the Kids Firefighter Fitness Challenge where they participate in an interactive obstacle course where firefighters help them act like a firefighter. Race and Challenge participants receive t-shirt, giveaways & admission to Freedom Springs Aquatic Park. Live music, bounce houses, face painting, food trucks and more will be on-site.

9am-12pm

Beth Wood said:  Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish and School hosts their annual Summer Festival. Filled with family fun, you'll find amusement rides for all ages, vendor booths, children's games, bingo, silent auction, raffles, food vendors and more!

See website for event schedule

Beth Wood said:  Bring the entire family out for an evening of fun at the Cornerstone Lutheran Church's annual Oktoberfest. There will be authentic German food, a beer garden, bingo, live music from the Johnny Wagner Band, polka music and dancing, bounce houses, balloons, face painting, children's games, a Bavarian-themed costume contests and more family fun. Tickets are required for food, drinks and some children's activities. Tickets are available at the event (cash only).

4pm-10pm

Beth Wood said:  The whole family can travel back in time to the mid-1800s and experience pioneer life. Learn about quilting and spinning, enjoy live music, view Native American arts and crafts, enter a homemade pie contest, enjoy a pioneer-themed Story Walk on the library trail, see a blacksmith at work, explore an antique farm machinery show, listen to storytellers, learn pioneer chores, play games, make crafts and much more.

11am-4:30pm

Beth Wood said:  The Feast of Lanterns is a family-friendly historical festival held in Spades Park on the East side of Indianapolis that dates back to the late 1800's. Colorful lanterns are lit throughout Spades Park where local vendors, neighborhood booths, artisan booths, food trucks, local breweries and more are set up. There will also be live music, kid's activities and family fun throughout the festival!

4pm-11pm

Beth Wood said:  Celebrate Broad Ripple at their annual Taste of Broad Ripple event. You'll find live entertainment, a Riley Kids play area with family-friendly fun, a Hot Box Kids Tasty Pizza Tent where kids can roll out their own pizza pies, a Kids ID station, the Colts Interactive Museum, bounce houses, face painting, cook-off tent, stilt walkers and loads more. Enjoy food and beverages from local Broad Ripple restaurants and breweries. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to Riley Children's Foundation. See website for parking info and event sponsors.

Festival 3pm-10pm, Kids Zone 3pm-6:30pm

Beth Wood said:  The entire family can enjoy five days of live music at the Virginia Avenue Music Fest held in Fountain Square near downtown Indianapolis. 130 different bands and artists are slated to perform during the festival with over 170 live performances. Many different music genres will be represented including folk, indie, pop, rock, hip hop, instrumental, funk, soul, experimental, psychedelic and more. There will also be art, food, and beverage vendors throughout the festival area.

Cost: free admission

Showtimes vary

Beth Wood said:  Celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), at the Garfield Park Arts Center. Día De los Muertos celebrates deceased family members through cultural music, ofrendas (altars), food and storytelling. Join in these traditions by creating Mexican-inspired crafts, tasting traditional food, listening to cultural music, stories and more. Add to the center's community wall by sharing a photo, story or drawing honoring your deceased love ones. Guests can wear traditional outfits and face paint. The celebration will end with a parade through Garfield Park.

5pm-8pm

Beth Wood said:  Travel the world at the Indianapolis International Festival held in the Elements Financial Blue Ribbon Pavilion located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Numerous cultures will be represented through traditional dress, music, food, drink, dance and displays. There will be live performances happening throughout the festival on the Main Stage. The festival focuses on children and students creating the "most concentrated cross-culture learning experiences available."

Thursday & Friday: 2pm-9pm

Saturday: 9am-9pm