Summer in Indianapolis fills up fast, and festival season is a big reason why. From strawberry shortcake on Monument Circle to county fairs, fireworks, art fairs, water slides and one very specific celebration of coleslaw, these summer festivals give families plenty of reasons to get out of the house before someone asks for another screen.
This guide focuses on family-friendly summer festivals in Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs. Dates, hours and ticket policies can change, so check the official event page before loading everyone into the car.
Related: For even more warm-weather ideas, check out our guide to fairs and festivals around Indianapolis and our list of summer activities in Indianapolis.
15 Summer Festivals for Families near Indianapolis
Indy Strawberry Festival
Date: June 11, 2026
Location: Monument Circle, downtown Indianapolis
The Cathedral Women of Christ Church Cathedral host the 60th annual Indy Strawberry Festival on Monument Circle, bringing one of downtown Indianapolis’ favorite summer traditions back for another year. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and centers on the church’s classic strawberry shortcakes, which are usually the reason downtown office workers suddenly become very interested in “stepping out for lunch.”
Italian Street Festival
Date: June 12–13, 2026
Location: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, downtown Indianapolis
The Italian Street Festival returns to Holy Rosary Catholic Church from 5 to 11 p.m. both nights with free admission and free parking. Families can expect Italian food, wine, live music and the kind of parish festival energy that makes people start discussing cannoli with real seriousness. Lawn chairs are allowed in the park near the stage, but coolers are not.
Slaw Fest
Date: June 20, 2026
Location: Sullivan Hardware & Garden, Keystone location, Indianapolis
Slaw Fest is exactly what it sounds like, which is either delightful or deeply confusing depending on your household’s relationship with cabbage. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sullivan Hardware & Garden’s Keystone location and features multiple types of coleslaw, coleslaw-topped entrees, live music, WIBC broadcast, local craft beer and more slaw than any child technically requested. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for kids ages 6–12 and free for kids 5 and younger.
Talbot Street Art Fair
Date: June 20–21, 2026
Location: Talbott Street, between 16th and 21st streets, Indianapolis
The Talbot Street Art Fair brings juried artists to the Herron-Morton neighborhood for a free outdoor art fair along Talbott Street. The event runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine. It’s a good choice for families who want a slower festival pace, stroller-friendly wandering and the chance to remind kids that art is something people make with their hands, not just something generated on a screen.
Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival
Date: June 27–28, 2026
Location: Eiteljorg Museum, downtown Indianapolis
The Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival brings more than 100 Native artists from the United States and Canada to downtown Indianapolis for a weekend of art, performances and family activities. Visitors can shop for jewelry, pottery, paintings, beadwork and other artwork while also finding music, dance, storytelling, food vendors and family art-making activities. Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $30 for a two-day weekend pass, $10 for kids ages 5–17 and free for members and kids under 4.
Spark!Fishers
Date: June 26–27, 2026
Location: Nickel Plate District, Fishers
Spark!Fishers takes over the Nickel Plate District with two days of free community events. Friday includes a concert, activities, games, food and drink and a drone show. Saturday brings a car and art show, live music, vendor booths, activities, games, a parade and a fireworks finale. Free shuttle service is planned Saturday from FORUM Events Center, which may be the detail that saves your evening.
Hendricks County Rib-Fest & BBQ
Date: June 27, 2026
Location: Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, Danville
Hendricks County Rib-Fest & BBQ runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds. The Avon Chamber of Commerce event includes barbecue, family activities, entertainment and a full day at the fairgrounds, with parking listed at $10 per carload. It’s a solid pick for families who want food, room to roam and a festival that ends with the kind of spectacle kids remember longer than the parking situation.
Greenwood Freedom Festival
Date: June 27, 2026
Location: Craig Park, Greenwood
Greenwood Freedom Festival begins with the parade at 4 p.m., followed by live music, food booths, a kid zone, a drone show and fireworks. Live music is scheduled from 5:30 to 10 p.m., with the drone show at 10:15 p.m. leading into the K.O.R.N Country 100.3 Musical Fireworks. Admission is free, with kid zone inflatables available for $10 per person.
Marion County Fair
Date: July 3–12, 2026
Location: Marion County Fairgrounds, Indianapolis
The Marion County Fair brings 10 days of rides, animals, food, live entertainment, special event days and fairground chaos, in the affectionate summer sense. General admission tickets are $10, early bird tickets are $8 through June 12 and kids 5 and younger are free with a paying adult. The fairgrounds schedule includes petting zoo, pig races, pony rides, concerts and special days throughout the run.
Lights Over Morse Lake Festival
Date: July 1–4, 2026
Location: Cicero and Morse Reservoir area
Lights Over Morse Lake Festival brings several days of community events to Cicero, with activities planned around Morse Reservoir and town gathering spots. The official schedule includes parades, carnival-style fun, concerts, fireworks and family programming, with events spread across the festival dates. Families should check the daily schedule before heading out, since locations and times vary by activity.
Johnson County Fair
Date: July 19–25, 2026
Location: Johnson County Fairgrounds, Franklin
The Johnson County Fair returns to Franklin with 4-H events, livestock, midway rides, grandstand events and the usual county fair mix of animals, food and “can we ride one more thing?” Admission to the fair is free, and parking on the fairgrounds is $10 per vehicle, cash only. Weeklong general parking permits are available for $25 at the fair office.
Monsoon Madness
Date: July 18, 2026
Location: Roy G. Holland Park, Fishers
Monsoon Madness turns Holland Park into a pop-up water park for one very wet day. Fishers Parks lists giant waterslides, a mini-monsoon area for younger kids, live entertainment, a foam pit, waterless inflatables, games and more. All attendees must be registered, including adults and children. Standard access is free from noon to 3 p.m., while $20 early access wristbands allow entry from 11 a.m. to noon for a smaller crowd.
Indiana State Fair
Date: August 7–23, 2026, closed Mondays
Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis
The Indiana State Fair is the big one, with rides, animals, 4-H and FFA exhibits, fair food, entertainment and enough walking to count as cardio. The fair runs Aug. 7–23 and is closed Mondays. The theme is baseball, so expect the usual fair staples with a Hoosier baseball spin.
Zionsville Street Dance
Date: August 1, 2026
Location: Main Street, downtown Zionsville
Zionsville Street Dance brings live music, food trucks, local drinks and a kids’ area to Main Street from 6 to 10 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m. The Dundies headline, with Pigeons of Market Square opening. This is a ticketed event, with advance tickets listed at $20, gate tickets at $25 for ages 11 and older, $10 tickets for children 10 and younger and $75 VIP tickets.
SausageFest
Date: August 14–15, 2026
Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Indianapolis
SausageFest at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish runs from 5:30 p.m. to midnight both nights with free admission. The two-day parish festival includes live music, kids’ games, bounce houses, a teen zone with DJ and activities, a beer garden and Kincaid’s sausages. It’s a neighborhood festival with a very clear thesis statement: sausage, music, kids’ stuff and no need to overcomplicate it.
For more ways to fill the summer calendar, check out our guide to things to do in Indianapolis with kids and our list of free things to do in Indianapolis.
