25 Best Festivals around Indianapolis this September

September around Indianapolis can still feel a little like summer at the beginning of the month, but the festival calendar is already in full fall mode. From sunflower fields and hot air balloons to art fairs, live music, cultural celebrations and small-town festivals, there’s something happening just about every weekend.

Here are some of the best family-friendly fairs and festivals around Indianapolis happening this September.

September festivals around Indianapolis

Farmer’s Pike Festival

When: Sept. 4–7
Where: The Gloryland Lighthouse Chapel, New Castle

If your Labor Day weekend plans involve treasure hunting, this is the one. The Farmer’s Pike Festival packs more than 400 vendor spaces with antiques, collectibles, art, crafts, clothing and jewelry, with festival food and live entertainment running all four days. Admission is $5, and children ages 12 and younger get in free.

Stuckey Farm Sunflower Festival

When: Sept. 5–7 and Sept. 12–13
Where: Stuckey Farm Orchard and Cider Mill, Sheridan

More than 165,000 sunflowers fill a 7-acre field at the Stuckey Farm Sunflower Festival, which runs across two September weekends. Wander the rows, hit the photo spots and cut a flower to take home, since admission includes one U-cut sunflower. Adventure Acres adds more farm activities for kids once everyone’s had their fill of flowers.

Indy LaborFest

When: Sept. 5
Where: Monument Circle, Indianapolis

Downtown on Monument Circle, Indy LaborFest celebrates working families with live music, food and drinks and a Kids Zone. It’s free, and kids curious about how things get built can learn about careers in the union trades while they’re there.

Fishers Blues Fest

When: Sept. 5–6
Where: Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, Fishers

Pack the chairs, blankets and a cooler for Fishers Blues Fest, two free evenings of live blues at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. Four performers take the stage each night, food and drinks are available for purchase, and no tickets are required.

Oktoberfest

When: Sept. 10–12
Where: German Park, Indianapolis

The German American Klub has been hosting Oktoberfest at German Park for decades, and the formula hasn’t needed much updating: three evenings of German food, beer, live music and dancing on the south side of Indianapolis.

Zionsville Lions Club Fall Festival

When: Sept. 11–13
Where: Lions Park, Zionsville

Poor Jack’s amusement rides, bounce houses, arts and crafts vendors, food and entertainment take over Lions Park for the Zionsville Lions Club Fall Festival. The festival parade starts things off Saturday at 10 a.m., and the weekend also works in a car show, Pet Pavilion and Safety Zone.

Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival

When: Sept. 11–13
Where: Conner Prairie, Fishers

A few dozen hot air balloons glowing against a dark sky is the big draw at the Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival at Conner Prairie. The festival pairs morning flight competitions with evening balloon glows, plus food, drinks and family activities each festival evening. Launches and glows depend on the weather, so check for updates before leaving home.

Penrod Arts Fair

When: Sept. 12
Where: Newfields, Indianapolis

They call the Penrod Arts Fair “Indiana’s Nicest Day,” and Newfields certainly has enough going on to fill one. The whole campus fills with visual art, live performances, food and arts organizations, while a large children’s area keeps younger visitors busy.

Blues in the ‘Burg

When: Sept. 12
Where: Arbuckle Acres Park, Brownsburg

Blues in the ‘Burg keeps it simple: a free afternoon and evening of live blues at Arbuckle Acres Park, with local food trucks, a beer and wine garden and a Kids Zone rounding things out.

St. Joan of Arc French Market

When: Sept. 12
Where: St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Indianapolis

For one day a year, the grounds of St. Joan of Arc turn distinctly French. The free St. Joan of Arc French Market serves up French food and wine alongside live music, an artisan market, a raffle and a children’s area, with a French-language Mass inside the historic church.

Beech Grove Fall Festival

When: Sept. 16–19
Where: Main Street, Beech Grove

Main Street in Beech Grove closes down for four days of carnival rides, games, food, vendor booths and live entertainment at the Beech Grove Fall Festival. Save Saturday if you want the full experience, when the festival parade and craft fair join the lineup.

St. Malachy Country Fair and Hog Roast

When: Sept. 18–19
Where: St. Malachy Catholic Church, Brownsburg

Two days of food, live entertainment and carnival rides make up the St. Malachy Country Fair and Hog Roast. Pork burgers are a longtime part of the weekend, and yes, there’s a Ferris wheel.

St. George Middle Eastern Festival

When: Sept. 18–20
Where: St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers

Come hungry to the St. George Middle Eastern Festival, three days of Middle Eastern food and sweets plus live music, dancing, vendors and church tours. A Children’s Games Area keeps kids occupied, and free parking with shuttle service runs from Hoosier Road Elementary School. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children younger than 13.

Back to the Fifties Festival

When: Sept. 19
Where: Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds, Lebanon

Classic and custom cars, vintage bicycles and rock ‘n’ roll set the tone at the Back to the Fifties Festival, with vendors and family activities filling out the fairgrounds. Admission is free, with donations appreciated.

Hunter’s Honey Harvest Celebration

When: Sept. 19
Where: Hunter’s Honey Farm, Martinsville

Ever wondered how honey actually gets from the hive to the jar? The Hunter’s Honey Harvest Celebration answers that question up close. Watch beekeepers work with a live hive, see honey extracted and bottled, then grab lunch at the Busy Bee Café before the hayrides and horse and pony rides.

Westfield International Festival

When: Sept. 19
Where: Grand Junction Plaza, Westfield

The free Westfield International Festival brings cultures from around the world to Grand Junction Plaza through music, dance, food, crafts and performances. Kids can also jump into interactive dance activities including K-pop, Bollywood and Bhangra.

Carmel Chinese Mooncake Festival

When: Sept. 19
Where: Midtown Plaza, Carmel

A dragon parade kicks off the Carmel Chinese Mooncake Festival, a free evening at Midtown Plaza celebrating Chinese culture with traditional music and dance, cultural activities and, of course, mooncakes.

Festival of the Arts

When: Sept. 19–20
Where: Arbuckle Acres Park, Brownsburg

Arbuckle Acres pulls double duty this month, hosting the free Festival of the Arts the weekend after Blues in the ‘Burg. Local and regional artists, performers and vendors fill the park, and families can browse artwork and handmade goods, hear live music and jump into creative activities and workshops.

Tinkerfest

When: Sept. 19
Where: Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis

Got a kid who takes things apart to see how they work? Tinkerfest is their day. More than 30 hands-on stations throughout the Indiana State Museum cover robots, chemistry, weather science, 3-D printing, woodworking and gadget building, all included with museum admission.

Carmel PorchFest

When: Sept. 20
Where: Carmel Arts & Design District

Nearly 60 bands play about 20 porches at Carmel PorchFest, a free afternoon where the neighborhood itself is the venue. Wander the streets and stop whenever you hear something you like.

Festival of the Turning Leaves

When: Sept. 25–27
Where: Downtown Thorntown

Thorntown spends three days on live music, food, community events and family activities at the free Festival of the Turning Leaves. It’s the kind of small-town fall festival where bringing a folding chair is actually useful advice.

Carmel International Arts Festival

When: Sept. 26–27
Where: Carmel Arts & Design District

Main Street and Rangeline Road close to traffic for the Carmel International Arts Festival, a juried weekend fair where artists show work in everything from painting and photography to ceramics, glass and jewelry. Live entertainment runs all weekend, and Saturday night rolls into the free ART ROCKS! street party.

Atlanta New Earth Festival

When: Sept. 26–27
Where: Downtown Atlanta, Indiana

Downtown Atlanta hosts one of the area’s biggest vendor weekends at the Atlanta New Earth Festival, where the streets fill with handmade goods, clothing, jewelry, home decor, antiques and plenty more. Festival food, live entertainment, antique equipment displays and a free Kids Zone round out the weekend.

Apple Festival & Craft Show

When: Sept. 26–27
Where: Anderson Orchard, Mooresville

The Apple Festival & Craft Show pairs a weekend craft fair with one of the best parts of September in Indiana: apple picking. More than 80 craft vendors, food trucks and live music share the orchard with the pumpkin patch, the straw pile and apple cobbler with ice cream.

Rocky Ripple Festival

When: Sept. 26
Where: Hohlt Park, Indianapolis

More than 80 local artists and makers set up at Hohlt Park for the free Rocky Ripple Festival, with live music, food from local vendors and children’s activities near the playground.

Garfield Park Art and Music Festival

When: Sept. 26
Where: Garfield Park MacAllister Amphitheater, Indianapolis

Original music from Indianapolis-area musicians headlines the free Garfield Park Art and Music Festival, alongside an art fair with more than 50 local artists. A Kids Zone offers free activities and crafts, and food and drinks are available for purchase.

More fairs & festivals around Indiana this September