Here in Fort Wayne, we love to host a party! Many of those parties take place in the form of festivals. where we celebrate our heritage, our love of certain foods, our traditions, and our community all summer long.  Here’s a list of the great festivals you won’t want to miss this year.

June

Germanfest                            June 2-9                                 Headwaters Park

www.germanfest.org

Locals know that Germanfest kicks off “festival season” in Fort Wayne.  Everyone looks forward to the food, the entertainment, and beverages, and the fun.  It’s what German’s call “Essen, Trinken, und Gemutlichkeit,” or what we here in America call “Eating, Drinking, and having a really good time”.  Not German?  They don’t mind.  Just come on in and join the party.  Admission is $2 from 2-5 p.m. and $5 after 5 p.m. Military personnel with I.D. admitted free of charge.

Ribfest                                    June 13-16                            Headwaters Park

www.bbqribfest.com

Don’t think of Fort Wayne when you think of barbecue   Join us for Ribfest in June and we’ll change your mind.  Bring a hardy appetite and comfortable shoes (you could be in line a while for the good stuff) and see what it’s all about.  Ribfest wraps up on Father’s Day so why not take Dad, which makes it the perfect family day out.  In addition to the ribs they’ll have live rockin’ blues, a little bit of jazz, and a little bit of country music a the main stage.  They call it “the biggest piggin’ out in the park party” for a reason.  Admission is free daily until 5:30 p.m.  After 5:30 admission for adults is $8, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students, military members, fire, and police with proper I.D.

Riverfest                                 June 22                                  IPFW Campus

www.ipfwriverfest.org

At Riverfest we celebrate one of Fort Wayne’s most prominent resources, our Rivers.  A day for families and fun is on tap for anyone who wants to join the party.  If you love sports, art, live music, food, and nature you’ll love this festival that takes place on the IPFW Campus.  Go for a boat ride on the river, participate in the volleyball tournament, or participate in the Riverfest Mud Run 5K.  At the end of the day sit under the stars and enjoy one of the city’s best fireworks displays.  Admission is free.  The festivities start at 9 a.m. and last until midnight.

Buskerfest                              June 29                                  Downtown Fort Wayne

www.downtownfortwayne.com

The art and celebration of the street performer comes alive in downtown Fort Wayne each year at Buskerfest.  Join us for this unique festival in the streets of downtown Fort Wayne.  Whether you’re interested in live music, fire breathers, sword swallowers, snake charmers, poets, magicians, or caricature artists you’ll find something that appeals to you.  Buskerfest promises to give you and your family a festival experience like no other in the area.  Admission to this event is free.

July

Three Rivers Festival            July 12-20                              Headwaters Park

www.threerviersfestival.org

Welcome to Fort Wayne’s biggest summer party! The Three Rivers Festival is a Fort Wayne classic event.  Don’t miss the parade, bed races, concerts, crafters market, river games, or waiter-waitress contest.  This 8 day festival wraps up with the city’s largest fireworks display on Saturday night.  Join in the fun throughout the week.  Admission varies based on the events of the day/evening so be sure to check their website for up to date information.

Pridefest                                July 26-27                              Headwaters Park

www.fwpride.org

Pridefest is not only a celebration of our community but also a celebration of LGBT members of our community.  Celebrate with us in Headwaters Park for two full days of fun and entertainment.  The party starts off with a parade at 11:30 on Saturday celebrating diversity in our great city.  You’ll find family fun in KidSpace, a Cornhole Tournament that includes cash prizes, LGBT friendly businesses, retailers and food concessions.  Various workshops will take place on Saturday also.  Check their website for a complete list of topics and times.  Friday night admission is $3 and Saturday admission is $5.  Kids 12 and under are free both days.

September

Country Fest                          September 21                                   Parkview Field

www.k105fm.com

If you’re a fan of country music, make plans to join us at Country Fest 2013.  It’s a full day of music, food, and fun.  2012 performers included Montgomery Gentry, Lee Brice, and Colt Ford.  While this year’s line up hasn’t been announced yet, we are sure they’re booking acts you won’t want to miss.  Be sure to check their website for tickets as last year’s event sold out.

Johnny Appleseed Festival   September 21-22                 Johnny Appleseed Park

www.johnnyappleseedfest.com

In the pioneer spirit of John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, Fort Wayne celebrates his colorful life spent right here.  He’s known to have plated orchards in Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas in the latter part of his life.  In fact, his gravesite memorial is located in Fort Wayne’s Archer Park not far from the site of the Johnny Appleseed Festival.  You’ll enjoy the best of the pioneer life at this festival complete with the foods that remind you fall is on the way.  Admission is free!

For additional festival and special event information, visit our complete Calendar of Events!

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With three full-length albums, an EP, over half a million copies sold, performances on major television networks, and a new album on the way – Straight No Chaser has gone from Indiana favorite, to national success.

And we are delighted to announce their upcoming concert at the Embassy Theatre, scheduled for December 18! (See below to learn how to get tickets before they go on sale April 30!)

Straight No Chaser will perform at the Embassy on December 18.

Founded in Bloomington at Indiana University in 1996, Straight No Chaser started out with the goal to expand the boundaries of the traditional college A Capella group. They viewed themselves as more of a local band that used their voices instead of instruments. In 1999, as founding members approached graduation, new members of the group were hand-picked by the exiting members, ensuring that the tradition they had created would continue on with with successive generations of IU undergrads. Then in 2006, everything changed. The members of the original Straight No Chaser group came together for a reunion show at Indiana University. In honor of the performance footage from a 1998 concert was posted online featuring their version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” with Toto’s “Africa”. the video quickly went viral – and became the must-see video of the holiday season. Among the millions who viewed the video was Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, who tracked Straight No Chaser Down and promptly signed them to the label. The rest is history.

Straight No Chaser has been featured on ABC World News Tonight, HLN and Today, among many others and will even be headed to the big screen in an upcoming movie by Dreamworks! They are highly regarded for their great live performances, especially in a time when so much pop music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling. The captivating sound of ten unadulterated voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense, and with a bit of humor, is refreshing and reinventing the idea of A Capella on the modern pop landscape.

With roots in Indiana, Straight No Chaser is definitely a Hoosier favorite. This Christmas season the group will be returning to Indiana for 7 shows throughout the state right before Christmas! You can even catch them in Fort Wayne on Wednesday, December 18, at the Embassy Theatre! They will also be playing shows in South Bend and Evansville leading up to four shows in Indianapolis.  If you can’t wait until then to hear Straight No Chaser’s smooth vocals, you can buy their new album, “Under the Influence”, on May 7.

In addition, we are offering a special pre-sale link for friends Visit Fort Wayne! (Buy tickets before they are on sale!) Simply click here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05004A89E46CDF1E and use the password “summit” – this exclusive presale is only available April 26 through April 29!

After that date you can order tickets through the Embassy Theatre website and Ticketmaster.

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Fort Wayne helps celebrate the rich history of Mexican folk art at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art now through the end of April through their latest special exhibit “El Caballo: The Horse in Mexican Folk Art.”

This display contains 22 examples of this popular figure, El Caballo, known in English as “the horse.” Displays include ceramics, paintings, paper art, sculpture and metalwork. The horse was first introduced by the Spanish and continues to maintain special prominence in art and Mexican culture. Today many recognize Mexicans as the world’s best equestrians. Figures in Mexican history were known along with their horses, including Zapata, a leader in the Mexican Revolution, Santiago and Apostle St. James.

This exhibit is part of a national tour and will only be in Fort Wayne for a short time. Visit the Fort Wayne Museum of Art today and learn about Mexican culture and why El Caballo holds such importance. The exhibit can be viewed during normal gallery hours.

“El Caballo: The Horse in Mexican Folk Art” is on display now through April 28. Check the art museum’s website for information on hours of operation or call 260.422.6467. Admission to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is $7 for adults, $5 for students and $12 for families. The museum is located in downtown Fort Wayne at 311 E. Main St.

Insider Tip: Admission is free on Thursdays and Sundays.

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Are you following Visit Fort Wayne on Facebook?

If you aren’t yet, now’s the time to do so! Join close to 3,000 others who love learning about Fort Wayne and happenings around the city on a daily basis. Looking for a restaurant suggestion? Maybe an idea for date night? Or perhaps you want to know what events are going on in the city the weekend you will be in town. You can find it all here.

On the Visit Fort Wayne Facebook page, posts from the Visit Fort Wayne blog are shared on a regular basis. Locals share their tips and reasons why they love Fort Wayne. You can even find mentions of Fort Wayne in the local and national press here!

Everything you want to know about your hometown is here. For visitors, following the Facebook page is a great way to plan a trip to the Summit City. In short the Facebook page is like a mini-news center for everything Fort Wayne and Allen County. Be the first to hear about “insider” tips and upcoming events here too. Don’t delay. Click “like” and join in on all the fun and fellowship with others who love this great city!

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Pinterest isn’t just for crafters and cooks.

If you haven’t joined in the fun on this social media website yet — you are missing out! Pinterest allows users to save images and hyperlinks to favorite websites, products, locations and images of all kinds. If you can find it on the web… you can save it here! Visit Fort Wayne even has it’s own page on the site. Follow it here.

Visit Fort Wayne is at the heart of all the fun and activity going on in the area – for both locals and visitors alike. By following the Visit Fort Wayne Pinterest board you will find ideas for planning your next family getaway… ideas for Fort Wayne fun and even local images and art related to those passionate about the area!

Have you ever seen a Fort Wayne quilt? Or maybe a T-shirt proclaiming love for Indiana? Find them here! Other boards will give you the inside scoop on all the sports and recreation activities Fort Wayne has to offer, from Tin Caps games to visits to the Allen County Memorial Coliseum to see the Mad Ants and Komets play. “Taste of Fort Wayne” guides you on where to grab a bite to eat in this great city.

Other boards include suggestions for Fort Wayne nightlife, date night ideas in Fort Wayne and the really fun “Hidden Fort Wayne” showing you areas of the city you may never have heard of or been to! These sometimes overlooked locations really make the city shine — visit one on your next visit!

And lastly, have you ever wanted to support local artisans and companies? Visit Fort Wayne has a pin board just for that, “Shop Fort Wayne” which groups together locally produced goods. Shop at these locations to support the local economy. The Visit Fort Wayne Pinterest boards are constantly growing and evolving. Check them out today!

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