Indiana Peony Festival leaders and organizers will celebrate their fifth anniversary on May 17 with more vendors than ever before.
The free festival, designed for all ages, takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With more space and seating areas than in the past, the festival now extends from Seminary Park throughout all of downtown Noblesville.
President of Indiana Peony Festival Inc., Kelly McVey, planted the seed that grew into Noblesville’s premier peony pride event.
“I had carried around a peony presentation for 15 years telling people, ‘Hey, we’re crazy if we don’t start celebrating this peony,'” says McVey.
The festival honors all that makes Indiana great, from its namesake perennial to classic Hoosier dishes. 2025 will be the first year for Hoosier Row, a culinary collection of iconic foods from tenderloins and sugar cream pie to fried bologna sandwiches.
“It is amazing what it does for our downtown shops,” McVey says. “It is now their busiest day of the year. It is like that shot in the arm all those boutiques need, and the restaurants.”
Smith’s Jewelers, one of the festival’s original sponsors, will release the first in an annual line of commemorative peony charms this year. The two-sided sterling silver charm can be purchased as a bracelet or necklace.
The Brunch & Blooms event, a brunch and retail crawl, will take place during the festival in downtown Noblesville. Guests can vote on their favorite merchant peony window display with a $1,000 prize for the winning business.
A pre-festival event called Peonies in the Park will take place on May 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Seminary Park. The annual VIPP (Very Important Peony People) fundraiser helps to offset the rising costs of hosting the festival. A single ticket costs $150.
“It’s the perfect way to celebrate all these beautiful floral displays without the crowds,” says McVey.
The fest is partnering with 9th Street Bistro, and acclaimed chefs will serve food to guests. The festival’s fifth birthday will be honored with a special cake walk. VIPP guests can also claim first dibs on merch and peonies.
Former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb took notice of the festival’s growing impact and named the third Saturday in May as Indiana Peony Festival Day during his governorship.
“It is kind of surreal sometimes that this little idea takes hold and it’s not only yours anymore; it’s the whole community’s,” says McVey. “That designation just makes it feel so official and makes me really proud.”
The heart of the festival is Seminary Park, the first place where the park director and volunteers planted peonies for the inaugural event.
“People that love peonies just instantly connect over them,” says McVey. “I think that’s what brings so many people here.”
Peony lovers can track their floral adventures with the Peony Passport, a guide available physically and digitally.
For more information on the festival or to purchase tickets for the Peonies in the Park fundraiser, visit indianapeonyfestival.com.
