10 Popular Festivals In Fort Wayne, Indiana

festivals in fort wayne
Nina
Nina 
Updated
| 4 min read

In Fort Wayne, summer spells as F-U-N. Indeed, this gorgeous town in Indiana presents a wide array of fun things to do and see. Attractions like Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and Science Central are splendid for the family. If outdoor recreational activities are your thing, tons of parks, family-friendly activities, and trails are available. Attending popular festivals in Fort Wayne can be an unexpected highlight of your adventure. So many festivals are in town, from Fort Wayne Music Festival to Taste of the Arts - all guaranteed an experience that you will never forget. And yes, festivals are part of Fort Wayne’s way of life, as they show the town’s rich culture and history. Check out this article and discover the popular festivals in Fort Wayne, Indiana!

1. Fort Wayne Music Festival


The great time to be in Fort Wayne is in May! Annually, Fort Wayne Music Festival brings a fabulous electric event that you should not miss. Every year, the festival is getting better and better as it always brings new flavor to the table. It features a variety of special events, from Country Jan to Rock on the River, from Throwback Thursday and much more. If you are planning to visit Fort Wayne, don’t miss this unforgettable festival.

Fort Wayne Music Festival

Address: Headwaters Park, Downtown Fort Wayne

Website: Fort Wayne Music Festival

Takes place: May

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2. Fort Wayne Cherry Blossom Festival


If Japanese culture and lifestyle interests you, joining the Fort Wayne Cherry Blossom Festival gives an opportunity to truly immerse yourself with Japanese culture without visiting Japan. For five hours, you’ll learn a lot more about Japanese traditions. Plenty of activities are being offered, from watching Japanese folk dance to experiencing Tea Ceremony, from wearing kimono to hearing traditional Koto music and modern Classical Japanese music and much more. What else? You can attend the festival wearing your favorite Anime character.

Fort Wayne Cherry Blossom Festival

Address: Downtown Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne

Website: Fort Wayne Cherry Blossom Festival

Takes place: May

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3. Three Rivers Festival

Downstait 2010-07-10 1
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Manningmbd used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Three Rivers Festival brings all families and friends together for an exciting array of activities. It is a non-profit organization and this awesome festival has been a staple of Fort Wayne’s culture which has lured half a million visitors every summer. Art in the Park, Food Alley, Bed Race, Children’s Fest, to name a few - all promise fun and tasty treats for everyone.

Three Rivers Festival

Address: 102 3 Rivers North, Fort Wayne

Website: Three Rivers Festival

Takes place: July

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4. Johnny Appleseed Festival


Johnny Appleseed Festival is a festival that is being held to honor John Chapman. Plenty of fun activities are waiting, from historical demonstrations to food, from crafts to face painting and of course, music entertainment. This festival is perfect for family bonding and quality time. Competitions like the “eating contest” are available, plus tons of vendors selling a variety of food and quirky things.

Johnny Appleseed Festival

Address: Johny Appleseed Park, Fort Wayne

Takes place: September

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5. Hobnobben Film Festival


Hobnobben Film Festival is known as a venue for celebrating filmmaking and the art of film. Presented by Fort Wayne Cinema Center (a nonprofit film organization), it features an eclectic combination of regional, international, locally, and even student-produced films. With the help of dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors, this festival is getting better and better each year. What else? Plenty of great vendors with a variety of amazing items and good music add to the experience.

Hobnobben Film Festival

Address: 437 E Berry St, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Website: Hobnobben Film Festival

Takes place: October

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6. Taste of the Arts

Posted by Taste of the Arts Fort Wayne on Saturday, 29 August 2015

Celebrating and supporting the abundant diversity of arts and cultural experiences in Fort Wayne, Taste of the Arts is truly a kick-off event that can be one of the highlights of your tour. All people from different walks of life are welcome to join the traditional fun and activities it offers. Experience Fort Wayne’s best offers, from art to culture, from food to drinks and more. The best part? This festival is free admission.

Taste of the Arts

Address: 300 E Main St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Website: Taste of the Arts

Takes place: August

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7. Middle Waves Music Festival

#TBT to the first year of Middle Waves when the Flaming Lips threw one of the biggest parties Fort Wayne has ever seen....

Posted by Middle Waves on Thursday, 14 November 2019

A big wave of music is coming to Fort Wayne in June, as the fourth year of the Middle Waves Music Festival will rock the grounds of town. Middle Waves is consistently known to be one of the town’s music festival destinations that features an eclectic combination of over 20 performers on three stages (one free and two paid). It is a two-day celebration of fun and good music. Curated eclectic lineup, food trucks, drinks, art installations, activities, and festivities - all promise a good time for all ages.

Middle Waves Music Festival

Address: East Campus of Electric Works and McCulloch Park, Fort Wayne

Website: Middle Waves Music Festival

Takes place: June

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8. Dia Fort Wayne [Last event in 2019]


Dia Fort Wayne, also known as Day of The Dead, is an annual festival to celebrate life. It is a fright night to remember, which features plenty of activities to have fun and make everyone feel upbeat. Tons of games and activities are available with great prizes. Stay cool, while listening to your favorite DJ and hear pleasing live music. If you are a fan of Coco, then come and have your face painted like a sugar skull. Overall, this festival never runs out of entertainment.

Dia Fort Wayne

Address: 120 W. Jefferson Blvd. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Website: Dia Fort Wayne

Takes place: October

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9. New Haven Canal Days Festival [Last event in 2019]

The New Haven Chamber would like to congratulate the Canal Days Committee on a great festival. I would like to also...

Posted by New Haven Chamber on Monday, 9 June 2014

Started in 1958, Canal Days began when a Canal Boat was transported to New Haven. Throughout the years, the event has undergone lots of adjustments and revisions but still, continues to lure visitors every year. There is an array of fun and exciting highlights in this festival, from a parade to a car cruise, from the 5k run and more activities designed for the kids. With that being said, there is really something for everyone that all can look forward to.

New Haven Canal Days Festival

Address: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Takes place: June

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10. Grabill County Fair

Posted by Grabill Country Fair on Friday, 13 September 2019

Grabill County Fair started in 1973 and is founded by the Grabill Chamber of Commerce. This annual famous festival lures 100,000 travelers, which shows the area’s Amish heritage. The event is considered as one of the finest craft fairs, which presents 130 craft booths. Plenty of crafts are being presented, from knitting/crocheting projects to ceramic villages, from lampshades to blown glass objects and more. What’s more? Activities and competitions are unlimited. Old-fashion contests, frog jumping, spelling bee - the list just goes on and on. On Saturday evening, Gospel music is performed that can melt everyone’s heart.

Grabill County Fair

Address: Grabill, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Takes place: September

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Discover Fort Wayne's festivals that you should not miss

Festivals are important in every country and Fort Wayne is no exception. Fort Wayne’s festivals promise fun and adventure for everyone. They show the town’s rich culture and history through music, dance, and art. If you want to truly enjoy Fort Wayne’s beauty, it’s now time to attend one of its spectacular festivals.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Nina aspires to live life to its fullest and yearns to journey abroad with her loved ones. She believes in her inherent artistic nature and embraces the motto that "God is good all the time" as her...Read more

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