Check Out All Hendricks County Has to Offer This Summer and Fall
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It truly is an exciting year for events in Hendricks County, with a NASCAR race returning, an international festival growing, and many of our traditional summer and fall favorites resuming after a crazy couple of years.
So, get your calendars ready or pick up your phones to block out these weekends for you and your family to enjoy. For simplicity’s sake, I have put them in chronological order.
Hendricks County Rib-Fest & BBQ
When: June 25
Where: Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds & Conference Complex, Danville
Details: Even though organizers removed the balloons from the festival name, those hot-air favorites aren’t gone. Participants can expect the same fun and entertainment that has made this festival a local summer destination including great food from local barbecue vendors and nonprofit groups, children’s activities, live entertainment, and a balloon glow and fireworks show at the end of the night.
Hendricks County 4-H Fair
When: July 17-23
Where: Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds & Conference Complex, Danville
Details: In my humble opinion, this is one of the best county fairs at one of the best fairgrounds in the state, and I have been to many others. You can expect usual fair favorites including exhibits, animals, carnival rides, fair food and demonstrations. Organizers also do a good job of changing up the entertainment so that each year feels different and offers new surprises.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
When: July 29
Where: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg
Details: NASCAR will finally make its return to Hendricks County this year after a hiatus of more than 11 years. As a result, organizers expect this event to sell out quickly. Make sure to get your tickets soon for this historic event that will include a racing doubleheader. The ARCA Menards Series will kick off the night with the Reese’s 200, and then the NASCAR trucks will take center stage with 400 laps of racing.
North Salem Old Fashion Days
When: September 3-5
Where: North Salem
Details: This annual event takes over the entire small town of North Salem, transforming it into a three-day mecca of fun throughout Labor Day weekend. Showcasing small-town Americana at its finest, this event features craft vendors, a large parade on Saturday morning, truck and tractor pulls, a pizza-eating contest, and the popular bed races down Pearl Street on Monday, among many other activities.
Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals
When: August 31-September 5
Where: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg
Details: The most prestigious drag-racing event in the world occurs every Labor Day weekend in Brownsburg. Stars of the National Hot Rod Association do battle to claim their sport’s top prize. But this isn’t just an event for racing enthusiasts – visitors get unprecedented access to the drivers and their crews, as every ticket is also a pit pass. The event also provides a memorable experience for families with interactive activities for the kids and so much more. So, even if you aren’t a race fan, I encourage you to give this event a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Sunflower Festival
When: Mid-September (final date TBA)
Where: Beasley’s Orchard, Danville
Details: The date of the Sunflower Festival always hinges on Mother Nature and the farm’s sunflower crop, as organizers want the fields to be at peak perfection. Pencil it in for mid-September for now, and check out our website’s events calendar for updates. This event allows visitors to explore seven acres of sunflowers at Beasley’s Orchard while also picking their own stems. Yard games are also on-site, and the festival provides a popular time and location for photography.
Hendricks County International Festival
When: October 1
Where: Talon Stream Park, Plainfield
Details: This family-friendly, educational event honors and celebrates various cultures throughout the world through demonstrations, live entertainment including traditional dancing from other countries, food tastings, interactive booths, and so much more. In its third year, this event continues to grow in popularity.
Heartland Apple Festival
When: October 1-2 & 8-9
Where: Beasley’s Orchard, Danville
Details: Always held on the first two weekends in October, this annual tradition has become one of central Indiana’s most popular fall events. Packed with family entertainment, visitors can tour the orchard, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, pick apples from the U-pick area, enjoy live entertainment, buy fresh produce and other goods in a Civil War-era barn converted to a rustic market, and wind their way through a huge corn maze. Your children will love hay mountain, the apple cannons and Barnyard Bonanza, which features ball throws, a spider web, a huge jumping pillow and more.
Well, there you have it, but I barely scratched the surface of everything that is going on this summer and fall in Hendricks County. I didn’t even mention the live music events held in many of our communities, the farmers markets, and so many more events and festivals. You can discover all the Hendricks County events coming up this summer and fall, as well as things to do, places to eat and so much more, at visithendrickscounty.com.
If you are an event organizer, you can also easily add your event to our very popular events calendar if it meets certain parameters outlined on the site.
