Communities thrive on connection to create a culture of collaboration. Indianapolis is a diverse city with various cultures, backgrounds and neighborhoods. One factor that brings the city together is good food. Indy is blooming with foodies and individuals who love a good meal. What better way to celebrate our diversity than a single festival that gives us a chance to come together for one day in a harmonious blend of savoring all this city has to offer?
Taste of Indy 2024 is making a comeback this year on July 6 at White River State Park.
The Taste of Indy festival started in 2012 with 5,000 attendees celebrating local food, and in 2019 the festival had grown to 18,000 attendees, but as with many other ventures in this city, regulations related to COVID-19 led to its closing in 2020. After a break and time to regroup, Michael Barnett and Jonathan Warren knew that for 2024, Indy needed this day of festivities, tasty food, good entertainment and community spirit.
They grew up on the west side of Indy together, which has always been a mecca of diverse food and culture. Perhaps it is where they were inspired by how food can bring a community together. Warren went on to be a food inspector in the military and they both have a profound love of a good meal. They went on to offer food consulting and training for restaurants. Industry folks wanted more marketing, and Taste of Indy was born.
Taste of Indy is one of the most affordable festivals of the year, with the entrance being $15 for the day (kiddos 10 and under get free entry). Once you enter the festival there will be lots of experiences like live local music from DJ Topspeed, Indianapolis’s finest turntable wizard, and Indy’s own River Road Band, an American country band.
You’ll also be able to participate in karaoke, a photo booth, a climbing wall challenge from the U.S. Army, a kids play area, local business booths for shopping, street performers, and a variety of photo opportunities.
Festival food will be available for purchase with a ticket system, ($1=one ticket), and food options will be no more than five tickets each for a sampler portion. You can stop by for a meal or stay all day and choose how much you want to try. The event starts at 11 a.m. when you can come for coffee and breakfast, and it ends with late-night bites at 9 p.m. There will be up to 40 different vendors including food and beverages, so you can truly sample what makes up Indianapolis’s food culture. Follow along on social media @tasteofindy for festival updates on vendors.
Indy is a melting pot with almost every culture represented throughout the city. To tantalize your taste buds, you can expect to try flavorful traditional Mexican food from El Meson, comforting food with a kick from T’Days Jerk, plant-based, decadent hardy nibbles from Black Leaf Vegan, a culinary fusion full of umami in a hand-held bite at Tako Seoul, and comfort food cooked low and slow from JINYA Ramen Bar, just to name a few. From high-end restaurants to small mom-and-pop shops, food trucks, Indy’s catering community and so much more, you can ready your taste buds for a Taste of Indy. You can even watch some of your favorite chefs make scrumptious meals during the live chef cooking demonstrations.
Watch members of the city create one-of-a-kind art displays during the live artist demonstrations throughout the day. In addition to the food and entertainment, you will also find a variety of beverage options from local wineries, cideries and breweries and more, as well as some great nonalcoholic options.
The festival will unfold against the iconic backdrop of White River State Park, which is easily accessible from the north, west, south or east side of the city by car, IndyGo Red Line, Pacers Bikeshare, or a quick walk from downtown.
Much like Indy itself, the Taste of Indy festival will provide something for you to do all day long. In this city adventure never ends, and there is an abundance of moments to savor and avenues to explore. You can find more information at tasteofindy.org or follow on social media @tasteofindy.
