Annual Festivals and Events in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne hosts annual festivals and events throughout the year, from spring opening days and summer cultural festivals to fall traditions and holiday celebrations. Use this guide to discover some of Fort Wayne’s best-known annual events, then explore the full events calendar for even more things to do.

Spring Events

Summer Events

Fall Events

Holiday and Winter Events

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For a full list of special events, visit our events calendar.

Spring Events

Fort Wayne TinCaps Opening Day

April 7, 2026

milb.com/fort-wayne

Get a seat for the #1 Minor League Ballpark Experience in the country at Parkview Field.

Family interacting with animals at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Fort Wayne Zoo Opening Day

April 24, 2026

Visit the Zoo on opening day to experience one of the nation's Top 10 zoo's, or plan ahead to visit anytime during their regular season March - October.

fwzoo.com

Michiana Wine Festival

April 25, 2026

This 21+ festival features Indiana wines to sample, a spring craft market, food trucks, and live music! You can even start celebrating early at the Wine at the Line 5K.

michianawinefestival.com

Cherry Blossom Festival

May 17, 2026

cherryblossomfw.com

Explore the fine arts and culture of Japan at the Purdue Fort Wayne Student Union.

Fort4Fitness Spring Cycle

May 30, 2026

Fort4Fitness.com

The Spring Cycle event will feature a variety of tour distances so people of all ages and skill levels can participate!

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Discover our festival tips and tricks. ...Read More

Summer Events

Musicians at ArabFest

Arab Fest

June 6-7, 2026

Arab Fest facebook Page

Celebrating the culture and heritage of Fort Wayne's Arab community in Headwaters Park.

Fort4Fitness Run Wild

June 5-6, 2026

Fort4Fitness.com

Join Fort4Fitness and the Fort Wayne Zoo for the run, INSIDE THE ZOO! The route will have multiple terrains: concrete, wooden bridges, grass and gravel.

Germanfest Dancers at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne

Germanfest

June 11 - 14, 2026

germanfest.org

Come to Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne for the annual week-long celebration of German Heritage and Essen, Trinken, und Gemülichkeit (Eating, Drinking, and having a really good time).

BBQ Ribfest

June 18-21, 2026

bbqribfest.com

Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, rib sandwiches, BBQ chicken and more - it's a BBQ lover's paradise all served up just the way you love it.

The Flaming Lips play Middle Waves in 2016

Middle Waves

June 6, 2026

middlewaves.com

Middle Waves will Rock Fort Wayne, and the Midwest! The premier music festival for the region will feature local, regional, and national acts and headliners.

Allen County Fair

June 23 - 28, 2026

allencountyfairgroundsin.com

In addition to 4-H festivities, the fair offers a full food court, carnival rides, and family fun events.

Women Dancing at Greekfest

Greekfest

June 25-28, 2026

Greekfest facebook

Opa! Come celebrate with us and enjoy a large variety of Greek cuisine and entertainment including live music, dancing, and other activities.

Fort4Fitness Summer Sunset Relay

June 27, 2026

fort4fitness.org

Sign up for this summer relay race.

St. Joe Pickle Festival

July 2026

stjoeindiana.org/pickle-festival

An old time festival that was one of Food Network's All American Festivals. Featuring food, music, a parade, fireworks, pickle factory tours, and more!

Fort Wayne Pride in 2021

Pride Fest

July 24-25, 2026

fwpride.org

This two day event celebrates diversity in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. Featuring a vendor market, beer tent, kidspace, tournaments, and live entertainment from local, regional, and national singers and bands. Explore our LGBT Pride Trip Idea.

A bronco rider at Harlan Days. Copyright Kevin Mullett

Harlan Days

July 30 - August 1, 2026

HarlanDays.com

Harlan Days is an annual festival held at the Harlan Community Park, in the town of Harlan Indiana. Enjoy fair food and fun activities.

Dragon Boat Races at Promenade Park

Dragon Boat Races

July 31 - August 1, 2026

riverfrontfw.org

Teams of 20 paddlers will race 300 meters down the river in these exciting races.

Floral arrangements for sale at Bloom Fest

Bloom Fest

August 8, 2026

bloomfest.org

Celebrating local arts & nature with over 150 artists and organizations. Food trucks, live music, and more.

Fiesta Fort Wayne

August 8, 2026

fiestafortwayne.com

Experience the best of Latino and Hispanic culture downtown at Headwaters Park.

Taste of the Arts

August 23, 2026

tastefw.org

Indulge in Downtown Fort Wayne's premiere arts and food festival held at the Arts Campus Fort Wayne and surrounding four-block area.

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Fall Events

Grabill Country Fair

September 2026

grabillcountryfair.com

Enjoy Grabill's country-style fair that highlights the area's Amish heritage with food, crafts, kids events, and much more!

Brewed IN the Fort

September 12, 2026

brewedinthefort.com

This festival is dedicated to promoting and celebrating locally crafted products from Indiana beers and ciders, to Fort Wayne food and entertainment.

Be A Tourist In Your Own Hometown

September 13, 2026

Residents can celebrate with us and Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown. Use the Be A Tourist passport to gain FREE admission to any participating attraction!

Learn More

exterior of a cobblestone house covered in ivy with a yard with grass in front

West Central Home and Garden Tour

September 12 - 13, 2026

westcentralneighborhood.org

Tour an eclectic variety of architecturally and historically significant homes and businesses!

Food tents at the Johnny Appleseed Festival. People walking around looking at the food. Food vendors wearing pioneer-style clothing for the festival.

Johnny Appleseed Festival

September 19 - 20, 2026

johnnyappleseedfest.com

Experience the voted #1 Festival that celebrates the life and times of John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed. Food, demonstrations, crafts, antiques, roving entertainment, children's area, military reenactment, farmer's market and more! The Johnny Appleseed festival is fun for the whole family.

Fort4Fitness Fall Festival

September 26, 2026

fort4fitness.org/fall-festival

The Fort4Fitness Fall Festival is the year’s biggest community celebration of fitness in Downtown Fort Wayne!

Hobnobben Film Festival

October 22 - 25, 2026

hobnobben.org

You're invited to the Summit City's multi-day, multi-venue film festival, presented by Cinema Center, a nonprofit film organization with 40 years of experience in the community.

Fright Night

October 17, 2026

downtownfortwayne.com

Come dressed in your best zombie costume for this free, family-friendly event with fun activities for everyone.

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Holiday and Winter Events

Festively dressed runners at Winter Wonder Dash

Fort4Fitness Winter Wonder Dash

November 13-14, 2026

fort4fitness.org/winter-wonder-dash

Bundle up and run through the Blue Jacket Fantasy of Lights at Franke Park.

Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center during the holidays.

Holidays in Fort Wayne

November and December

'Tis the season for family fun! Take time to enjoy the holidays together in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Learn More

Ice Sculpture in downtown Fort Wayne

Winterval

January 2027

Winterval page at Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation

Held each year in late January, Winterval makes freezing temperatures fun with lots of activities and events throughout downtown Fort Wayne.

get green fest downtown

Get Green Fest

March 2027

getgreenfest.org

Get in touch with your Irish side at this family-friendly St. Patrick's Day event.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Events

What festivals is Fort Wayne known for?

Fort Wayne is known for annual festivals and events such as Germanfest, BBQ RibFest, Middle Waves, Taste of the Arts, Johnny Appleseed Festival, Hobnobben Film Festival, and seasonal holiday celebrations. The city’s annual event lineup also includes cultural festivals, family events, fitness events, and downtown celebrations throughout the year.

What are the most popular annual festivals in Fort Wayne?

There are lots of fun, popular events and festivals throughout the year. Spring starts with the opening of the TinCaps baseball season and the Fort Wayne Zoo. Summer includes cultural festivals like GermanFest, Arab Fest, and GreekFest, as well as the Allen County Fair, Pride Fest, and the Middle Waves Music Festival. Fall includes the Grabill Country Fair, Johnny Appleseed Festival, Brewed IN the Fort, and Fright Night. Holiday events typically start in November and run through December. January brings Winterval with ice carving and fire pits, and March brings Get Green Fest celebrating Saint Patrick's Day.

When is festival season in Fort Wayne?

Festivals happen year round, with many happening in the summer and fall. Check out our guide to find a festival that's right for you.

Are there family-friendly festivals in Fort Wayne?

Yes. Most festivals are family-friendly. If you are unsure, check the festival's details on our calendar to confirm it is appropriate for children.

What cultural festivals happen in Fort Wayne each year?

Many cultural events happen throughout the year. Starting in the spring with the Cherry Blossom Festival in May celebrating Japanese culture, June brings Arab Fest, GermanFest, and GreekFest. July brings Pride Fest. Additional cultural festivals can happen at various times of the year.

Where can I find the full Fort Wayne events calendar?

We have a full calendar section under our Events menu. Click here to go to VisitFortWayne.com/Events

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Live images at the Cherry Blossom Festival at Purdue University Fort Wayne.

May 17

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