Family Friendly Festivals and Fairs Around Indianapolis

Dawn Denning:  Our family LOVES this fall event! Conner Prairie is not only home to one of the best corn mazes around Indianapolis, but this annual event also includes magicians, games, music and more. Take a daylight or night time hayride through a scary forest while being chased by the Headless Horseman! Great food, lots of laughs and a haunting great time for everyone!

Erin P.:  Take Dad out for a burger for Father's Day! Who wouldn’t salivate at the opportunity to eat the finest burgers in central Indiana…for only $5 each? Indy Burger Week is a week-long celebration of the glorious creation known as the hamburger. Indy Burger Week is a fundraiser for Second Helpings. Because, while gourmet burgers are great, everyone deserves to eat. Click here for the restaurant map to see the dozens of participating restaurants.

Beth Wood:  Head to the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers for their Annual Blues Fest. Pack some chairs, blankets, a picnic and grab your friends and family to go enjoy live blues music. Beer and food will be available for purchase.

Beth Wood:  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:  Stuckey Farm celebrates fall with their popular Harvest Festival each year. Visitors can pick apples in the orchard, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick their own pumpkins, watch pig races, explore the corn maze, have fun in a kids area filled with games and more, shop in the market store and enjoy concessions of fall favorites like apple cider and freshly made on site pumpkin donuts!

Beth Wood:  Stop into Adrian Orchard for their annual Harvest Fest. Guests can take mini hay rides, select pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, enjoy arts, crafts, music, good food and more!

Beth Wood:  Anderson Orchard's Kid Friendly October Fest welcomes guests to take a hayride, jump in 5 inflatable bounce houses, take a turn on the double bungee trampoline, go for a train ride, pet your favorite animal at the petting zoo, pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, get a free balloon animal from Skippy the Clown, get your face painted and much more fun! Concessions available from Edwards Drive In.

Kristy Pepping:  Come out for the Christ Church Cathedral (Church on the Circle) for an Indianapolis tradition! Every year on the second Thursday of June The Cathedral Women of Christ Church Cathedral holds their annual Strawberry Festival. Your kids will love "The Works," which includes shortcake, strawberries, ice cream and whipped topping.

Beth Wood:  Calling all Soapbox Derby fans and racers!!! Downtown Westfield hosts their annual Grand Junction Derby, a one-day track event of bracketed derby car races featuring a gravity powered start. Participate in the race by entering your hand-built derby cars. Racing costumes to coordinate with car themes encouraged. Cars will be displayed on "Gasoline Alley" and have the chance to win the people's choice award for best car.

Cost: free admission

Beth Wood:  This family-friendly festival hosted by Purdue University on its campus in Lafayette offers guests of all ages two days of hands-on activities celebrating spring and the world around us. You'll learn more about animals, astronomy, agriculture, art and much more during this event. Highlights include the Bug Bowl: insect petting zoo and honey tasting, the horticulture show and veterinary open house.

Cost: free admission

Beth Wood:  Celebrate the Viking culture at Whitestown Parks and Recreation's Viking Fest! Have fun with the entire family watching Viking fighting reenactments, munching on Viking themed food, listening and dancing to Celtic music, watching falconry, ax throwing and fire demonstrations, archery, juggling, keg throwing, bonfire, exploring the hands-on Viking Village and more! Be sure to wear your favorite Viking themed costumes and join in the fun!

Beth Wood:  Enjoy a weekend of family fun at the New Palestine Summer Festival located in downtown New Palestine. There will be live music both nights, a car show, food trucks and concession booths, a family-friendly 5K or 1-mile walk/run, vendor and craft booths, a kid zone with bounce houses and games, a beer and wine garden a firework show and more fun. Please see website for list of events each day.

Beth Wood:  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.

Beth Wood:  Enjoy a morning in the outdoors with the entire family at the Indy Urban Acres Spring Fest. There will be an early morning yoga session, gardening workshops, beekeeping demonstrations, a plant sale, live music and more.

Dawn Denning:  Join a fun festival in Parke County to celebrate all things maple! Sample the end product of delicious sap with hot pancakes and sausage! There is more than syrup to enjoy, shop a wide selection of maple candy, maple syrup cookies, jams, jellies and more! After you try to sugary goodness, see the handmade and homegrown products by local craftsmen and artisans. Be sure to stop by the nearby antique shops and see the area beautiful covered bridges.