Making plans for 2024? Here are 24 of our top festivals and events to mark on your calendar. Events are listed in chronological order and all are free unless noted.
1. Eclipse events - April 6-8
The total solar eclipse is coming to Festival Country! Enjoy more than four minutes of totality on April 8 and an entire weekend of fun leading up to it. Eclipse celebrations are happening in communities around Festival Country. Click here to learn more.
2. Death & Taxes Day – April 20
Enjoy a day of sampling beers, wines, and ciders from all over Indiana. At this tasting festival, live music and local food trucks will be available. Taxman Brewing is also releasing a special beer for this event, Deadline. Deadline is a Belgian-style stout aged with Indonesian vanilla beans. Get tickets here.
3. Vintage Fest – April 27 and Oct. 5
Browse some of the finest antiques, handmade goods and vintage items that Franklin has to offer. There will be more than 100 vendors throughout downtown Franklin, and shops will have special deals. Live music and food trucks will also be at the event, which takes place in both the spring and fall.
4. Farmers Markets - April 27 through Sept. 28
Farmers markets abound in Festival Country. They are located in Bargersville, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood, Trafalgar and Whiteland. You'll find fresh produce, handmade goods, local meat and more. Check the events page for specific dates.
5. Hoosier Vintage Wheels Swap Meet and Car Show - May 17-18 and Sept. 20-21
With more than 500 vendor spaces dedicated to honoring vintage vehicles and memorabilia, this will be a must-see. Come see vintage vehicles, muscle cars, race cars, antiques, bicycles and auto parts. Admission is only $5, and kids get in for free. There will also be free parking available.
6. Strawberries on the Square – May 24
There’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of strawberry season than with this festival. Strawberry shortcakes will be served from 11 a.m. until they run out and entertainment and food trucks will be provided all day.
7. Pours in the Park – June 1
This is the perfect festival for a day out with friends. It consists of tastings, live music, food, yard games, and even axe throwing. Find tickets at this link.
8. Discover Old Town Greenwood Strawberry Festival and Handmade Market - June 1
Savor delicious strawberry shortcakes, shop from 60 handmade vendors and enjoy food trucks throughout Old Town Greenwood.
9. Concerts
Franklin Summer Concert Series
Be sure to come to the amphitheater at Young’s Creek Park to check out the lineup of free summer concerts. Click the link to confirm the time and details. The opening act will start at 5:30 p.m. with the main concert starting at 7 p.m. There will also be a variety of food trucks.
Picnic Concert Series at Mallow Run Winery
Enjoy listening to live music and enjoying a glass of wine at this picturesque location. Check out the website for more details about dates, times, tickets and performers.
Greenwood Summer Concert Series
The Greenwood Amphitheater offers free live music every Saturday from June to October at Craig Park. The concerts begin at 7 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. Grab a lawn chair, a blanket, and relax.
Greenwood Park Mall Concerts
Every Thursday throughout the summer, the Greenwood Park Mall hosts a free concert series near their outdoor fountain. Stay tuned for more details about dates and performers.
Bargersville Summer Concerts
Grab a lawn chair and head to Main Street in Bargersville for live music on Thursdays from June to August.
10. Cruisin’ the Amp – June 7
Cruise into this fun festival that offers a car show, food trucks, a beer garden and a free concert. It starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.
11. Ethos Celebration of the Arts – June 22
Let your creativity run wild with a featured juried art fair, art programming, cultural music, and more. This festival will also feature a chalk the walk event, a display of artistic automobiles and food trucks. Look at the website for more information about schedules and times.
12. Sparks in the Park – June 28
Johnson County Park will be hosting a free fireworks show and live music at their amphitheater. Beer, wine, food, and inflatables will also be included.
13. Freedom Festival – June 29
This festival attracts more than 50,000 people to Craig Park every summer. This community event consists of a parade, local food and beer and Indiana’s best fireworks. This event is held on the last Saturday of June.
14. Franklin Firecracker Festival – July 3
This festival has a very fun schedule. Starting at 2 p.m., it kicks off with food trucks and a beer garden. At 6 p.m. the Fastest Kid in Town Race will start (those interested register between 2 and 5 p.m.). Then, live music will begin at 5 p.m. Lastly, enjoy a fireworks show starting at 10:10 p.m.
15. Edinburgh Firecracker Festival – July 4
This festival takes place on the 4th of July each year and is filled with fun activities. Come and enjoy a car cruise-in from 6 to 7 p.m. and food trucks and bounce houses from 5 to 9 p.m. Plus, you can sit back listen to live music and watch some fireworks.
16. Johnson County Fair – July 14-20
Enjoy a week at the fairgrounds with endless activities to do. Don’t miss the rides, games, food, music, and great events. Check out the website for times and events, like the popular demolition derby.
17. WAMMfest – Aug. 17
Come celebrate wine, art, music, and microbrew at this annual summer festival. The musical lineup will begin at noon and end at 9:00 p.m. For tickets, check out their website.
18. Edinburgh Fall Festival – Sept. 11-14
This fun, four-day festival will include a midway, entertainment, food, a parade and more. Plus, it's free to attend.
19. Harvest Moon Fall Festival – Sept. 21
This festival is a daylong event that consists of a parade, a concert, vendors and activities for the whole family. Head to downtown Bargersville to enjoy it.
20. Franklin Fall Festival – Sept. 28
Come celebrate the two-hundredth anniversary of Johnson County with a parade, music, food, drinks, vendors and a fireworks show. Other fun activities like Heritage Day, a walk/run and a dachshund derby will also be going on. This event will be a part of the Franklin Fall Festival.
21. Monster Mash – Oct. 18
Don't be afraid! Monster Mash in Greenwood is a scary good time. Grab a costume and enjoy some trick-or-treating, dancing, music, food and a hayride.
22. Franklin Halloween Town – Oct. 26
The festival will start off a Halloween Hustle 5K run/walk and a 1-mile family walk at 9 a.m. Afterwards, food vendors and activities will be available. Families and kids will be able to trick or treat from stores from 5 to 7 p.m. Vehicles will also be set up for kids to go trick-or-treating from decorated trunks. Don’t forget to also check out what spine-chilling offerings the Artcraft Theatre will have.
23. Franklin Holiday Lighting and Winter Market – Dec. 7
This festival's winter market will include vendors selling handmade and home grown products from 2 to 8 p.m. A lighted parade will start at 5:30 p.m. along Jefferson Street and the lighting of the courthouse square will begin at 7 p.m. Don’t miss out on a day full of fun activities.
24. Edinburgh Holiday of Lights - Dec. 14
Enjoy carriage and trolley rides through their historic downtown, and enjoy other activities, like a parade, a visit with Santa, a holiday market, a Christmas show, and shopping at downtown stores.
