First-ever fall festival in downtown Indianapolis with live music, a vendor market of local artists, a Kids Corner with pumpkin activities and face painting.
Downtown Fall Fest makes its debut at Richard G. Lugar Plaza on Saturday, October 17, from 10 AM to 1 PM. It's the first fall festival held right in downtown Indianapolis, and the whole point is to bring the kind of autumn celebrations that usually happen on the outskirts of town into the city center. The Downtown Indy Alliance is putting it on, with Faith Thompson and Riley Hill Cartell organizing and Big Car Collaborative and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail as partners.
There's live music running throughout the three hours, and a Kids Corner powered by the PNC Foundation that's set up for families: pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, face painting, and a snow globe photo experience. The vendor market brings together local artists and handmade goods, with seasonal creations from Indianapolis vendors like Tinker Coffee and Dolce Vita, and new Downtown Indy Alliance merchandise from The Shop. The Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians, IMPD, and IFD are also taking part.
Beyond the booths, there's plenty to actually do. You can carve pumpkins, make bouquets, and explore flower and pumpkin fields, and the organizers encourage everyone to show up in Halloween costumes. The day leans on supporting local brick-and-mortar businesses and artisans, with working artists selling things they made themselves rather than just food and drink.
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Thompson and Hill Cartell say they've never done anything like this before and hope it becomes an annual tradition, given the community response. It's free and open to the public at Richard G. Lugar Plaza, 200 East Washington Street, from 10 AM to 1 PM.
