Falling leaves, festivals, and fun. Life is gourd in the Indiana Uplands! The air is getting cooler, and soon, the signature autumn colors of orange, red, and yellow will fill the trees in our beautiful rolling hills! Fall is a special time in the Uplands. Experience it for yourself by attending one of our unique festivals throughout our 11 counties. From trick or treating to pumpkin rolling contests to shopping unique handmade gifts – and every fun fall activity in between – you and your family will fall in love with our autumn festival season!
September-October: Free Fourth Friday Festival and Art Walk
Nashville, IN
Since the early 1900s, artists have traveled from near and far to capture the natural beauty and life in the rolling hills of Brown County. Today the county remains home to artists carrying on the tradition and galleries showcasing the beautiful art from the past. The Free Fourth Friday Art Walk happens each month from April through October! Plan to take a stroll through the arts village in Nashville as you enjoy refreshments, live music, and the unique pieces of art in each gallery! Participating galleries will stay open late for visitors. You will even be able to see art in action as some galleries will have demonstrations! Once you finish your stroll head over to the historic Brown County Playhouse for the Free Fourth Friday Festival to hear live music of all genres performed by impressive local and regional musicians. Both events are free!
Sept. 21-23: Monroe County Fall Festival
Ellettsville, IN
Spend a day and make a memory at this year’s Monroe County Fall Festival in the Indiana Uplands! Enjoy a tenderloin or some BBQ from one of the many food vendors. Don’t forget the lemon shake-up! Craft vendors will have booths set up selling unique gifts. Two different stages will offer live music and more entertainment all weekend! While there, try running in a large hamster ball or check out the new virtual reality experience! A fun weekend will be had by all, with more inflatables, bounce houses, and the festival’s parade taking off on Saturday!
Sept. 21-24: Huntingburg Herbstfest
Huntingburg, IN
Celebrate the start of autumn at the Huntingburg Herbstfest in City Park! Live music, a golf scramble, delicious food, and an entire day dedicated to activities for kids, including a junior firefighter challenge where kids work alongside firefighters to win top prizes! Dubois County is known for its strong German heritage, so it’s no surprise this festival is named after the German word for autumn: Herbst!
Sept. 23-30: Mitchell Persimmon Festival
Mitchell, IN
Each year, the Mitchell Persimmon Festival is held during the last full week of September to coincide with the falling of Lawrence County’s quirky little fruit: The native persimmon. If you have never tried a persimmon, now is your chance! This annual event began in 1947 when longtime Mitchell educator and native George Bishop came up with the idea to hold the three-day festival as a homecoming for those who call the Lawrence County city home. Now, the festival is a weeklong celebration with events happening at Spring Mill State Park and downtown Mitchell, including nightly live music, delicious fair food, a carnival, car shows, and more! The festival concludes with the grand parade on Saturday, which you won’t want to miss!
Sept. 23: Witch Fest Harvest Market
Bloomington, IN
Do you consider yourself a basic witch? Does the description “The Craft” meets “Gilmore Girls” brew up excitement for you? Then, you must attend the Witch Fest Harvest Market in downtown Bloomington! Local businesses Gather and Oak will take over the downtown courthouse lawn for their anniversary celebration, with artists of all kinds selling a variety of items, including handmade soaps, illustrations, jewelry, and more! Make sure to stop by both Bloomington shops downtown, too! This enchanting fest would not be complete without astrological readers providing a variety of services, including tarot, reiki, gris gris, and reading bones. Live music will fill the air all day as guests enjoy story time, making crafts, and more! A bewitching time for all!
Sept. 24, Sept. 27-Oct. 1: Orange County Pumpkin Festival
French Lick, IN
Crafts, carnivals, and cornhole! You can expect all that and more at the Orange County Pumpkin Festival. No Pumpkin Festival would be complete without the crowning of a Pumpkin Princess and Queen! A Great Pumpkin Parade will conclude the weekend of fall fun on Sunday. Carve out some time for fun and head on down to French Lick – or you may be left feeling hollow.
Sept. 28-30: Stinesville Stone Quarry Festival
Stinesville, IN
Have you ever tried competing in a Rubber Duck Derby? Attend the Stinesville Stone Quarry Festival, purchase a duck to compete, and try to win the grand prize! Or bake your favorite pie and enter it in the pie contest to win a cash prize! The Rubber Duck Derby is one of the many activities planned for the weekend-long celebration in this small but mighty Indiana Uplands town! The weekend activity highlights include unique arts and crafts for sale, a kiddie tractor pull, and a parade. The fun concludes on Saturday night with a street dance! Come dance in the streets and have some fun!
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Lotus World Music Festival
Bloomington, IN
Bid farewell to summer and welcome autumn by listening to beautiful music from around the world at the Lotus World Music Festival in Bloomington. This four-day festival is an annual celebration of world music, arts, and culture. Celebrate and explore the diversity of the world’s culture through music, art, food, dance, and different workshops. Fun is guaranteed for the whole family! With over 25 artists and groups from around the globe set to perform, you are guaranteed to find a performance you think is out of this world!
Sept. 29-30: Old Eckerty Days
Eckerty, IN
Every year during the last weekend of September, the community in Eckerty gathers to celebrate their Crawford County home during Old Eckerty Days! Kids can paint pumpkins and enter them in the pumpkin painting contest for a chance at winning a prize! The fun continues with face painting, live entertainment, a pet parade, and more scheduled all weekend! No street festival is complete without food trucks serving up delicious food, and do a little shopping while you’re there at one of the many craft vendor booths selling unique gifts!
Sept. 30: Linton Fall Arts Festival
Linton, IN
Gather your family and head downtown to Linton in Greene County to enjoy live music and admire the arts at the annual fall arts festival. The Linton Fall Arts Festival features activities for the whole family, including a BBQ cookoff, face painting, food trucks, a coloring contest, and bounce houses! All forms of art will be celebrated during this family-friendly day! Regional artisans will also present their works at the festival’s Marketplace.
Sept. 30: Harvest Moon Festival at Owen Valley Winery
Spencer, IN
Play “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young and take the back roads to the beautiful Owen Valley Winery to an enchanting day at the Harvest Moon Festival. This celebration of community and craftsmanship will be fun for all ages! Local vendors and artisans will sell tasty food and artisan goods at the winery. Find a spot by the winery’s stage to enjoy live music, too!
Oct. 6-8: Bloomfield Apple Festival
Bloomfield, IN
When you think of fall, apples and pumpkins are sure to come to mind! The Bloomfield Apple Festival is a great way to welcome the season of cooler weather and changing leaves! This three-day festival features carnival rides, a variety of vendors selling food and other goods, live music, different contests, an art exhibit, a 5K run, and so much more! A parade throughout Bloomfield will conclude the weekend of fall fun.
Oct. 6-8: Hilly Hundred Bicycle Tour
Ellettsville, IN
Did you know Monroe County is home to the state’s most popular and longest-running cycling events? The Hilly Hundred is a two-day, 100-mile bicycle tour through the beautiful, hilly Indiana Uplands landscape. The tour routes take riders throughout Monroe County and into neighboring counties. More than 5,000 bicyclists from over 40 states and several countries are expected to participate. Seasoned cyclists and newcomers are welcome to celebrate the spirit of cycling and beautiful fall colors during this unforgettable experience! Registration is open until Oct. 2.
Oct. 7: Spencer PRIDE Festival
Spencer, IN
The largest rural LGBTQ+ gathering in Indiana happens right here in the Indiana Uplands each fall! The Spencer Pride Festival brings visitors from throughout the state to enjoy a day at this family-focused and pet-friendly festival. As the largest festival event held in downtown Spencer, the festival aims to be a place of celebration and educational opportunity within the rural community. The festival marketplace features more than 120 booths representing both retail businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Live entertainment will happen all day long at various locations, too. No festival is complete without delicious treats. Spencer PRIDE will feature cotton candy, fresh baked goods, elephant ears, and more! And you definitely do not want to miss the Pet Pride Parade, which helps raise awareness of the need to spray and neuter animals.
Oct. 7: Nashville FallFare
Nashville, IN
Buy unique gifts for the upcoming holiday season and support a good cause all at the same time when you visit the annual Nashville FallFare! This annual community event has happened for 50 years in Nashville, the artist colony nestled in the hills of the Indiana Uplands! The day features delicious food and booths filled with handmade items, fine art, antiques, homemade candies, and more unexpected treasures! Browse the unique booths as you listen to live music. Every FallFare dollar goes to someone in need, with profits raised from sales going to nonprofit organizations.
Oct. 13-15: Art on the Green
French Lick, IN
Spend a fall weekend eating delicious food, enjoying the burst of autumn colors, and watching artists make beautiful art in real-time at the Art on the Green art show in French Lick. From pottery to fiber arts to leather to jewelry to soaps to paintings, you will find art in all forms at this community event and get to meet the artists! Live music and entertainment are planned all weekend, too, including a walking magic show!
Oct. 13-15: Campbellsburg Country Festival
Campbellsburg, IN
For nearly three decades, residents of Campbellsburg have gathered to enjoy a weekend of live country and bluegrass music. The 29th annual Campbellsburg Country Festival features delicious food, multiple unique contests for adults and children, a parade, and bounce houses – making the festival fun for the whole family!
Oct. 14: Marengo Harvest Fest
Marengo, IN
In the Indiana Uplands, we pride ourselves on helping our communities succeed and supporting those in need. A prime example of this spirit is the Harvest Fest in Marengo, where you can enjoy a BBQ chicken dinner with proceeds benefiting the Crawford County Boys and Girls Club. A food drive is also planned to benefit local families. Finish your day of giving at the Harvest Fest by shopping unique antiques and handmade crafts.
Oct. 14: Haunted Huntingburg Blues Festival
Huntingburg, IN
Grab your witch hat and head down to Dubois County for a day of blues music and “boo”-ze during the annual Haunted Huntingburg Blues Festival. This spooky festival is sure to conjure up a good time for the whole family in Market Street Park and downtown Huntingburg. Activities for kids include hayrides at City Hall and a Zombie-Free Kids Zone with trick or treating! Attend this free Mischievous Masquerade if you dare!
Oct. 15: Indiana Toy and Comic Expo
Bloomington, IN
Dress up in your favorite costume or as your beloved cosplay and attend the Indiana Toy and Comic Expo in Bloomington! Little goblins will receive a trick-or-treat bag when they enter, and vendors have been encouraged to bring candy for kids, too! Come spend the day looking at cool comics, art, and toys!
Oct. 19: Spooky Streets at the Dubois County Museum
Jasper, IN
Let the kids trick-or-treat early in Dubois County during the Spooky Streets event at the Dubois County Museum! Kiddos and their families are invited to prowl the dim and dark Main Street for treats – or tricks. Avoid shop owners guarding their shops! Don’t forget a costume! Crafts and activities will be in the Log House area. Each little goblin will receive a treat bag before they leave!
Oct. 21: Odon Pumpkin Festival
Odon, IN
Gourdness gracious! It should be no surprise there are pumpkin contests galore planned for the Odon Pumpkin Festival. From Pumpkin pie eating to pumpkin seed spitting to pumpkin rolling to pumpkin decorating, almost anyone should find a contest to win at this pumpkin-themed community event! Don’t forget your favorite recipe for the pumpkin recipe contest! A masquerade ball will conclude this excellent pumpkin celebration!
Oct. 21: Oktoberfest at Beck’s Mill
Salem, IN
Beck’s Mill is one of Indiana’s most famous and historic landmarks. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Celebrate the German heritage of the mill’s namesake at Oktoberfest. Eat beans made over the campfire, browse different craft vendor booths, and enjoy live music! Demonstrations will also take place at the mill!
Oct. 21-23: Harvest Home Arts and Crafts Festival
Jasper, IN
As the holiday season nears and we begin to bid autumn farewell, visit the Harvest Home Arts and Crafts Festival to start your shopping! More than 200 booths will be at the Dubois County 4-H Fairgrounds selling handmade crafts, including furniture, jewelry, floral arrangements, and holiday decorations. Have a sweet tooth? Assorted baked goods and treats will also be available!
Oct. 21 and 28: West Boggs Park Halloween Hootenanny and Zombie Run
Loogootee, IN
If you attend the Zombie Run for Your Life at West Boggs Park, you will have two choices: Run from the zombies or join them to chase the runners. Runners and zombies of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate! Happening the same weekend at West Boggs Park is the Halloween Hootenanny featuring wagon rides, pumpkin carving, and, of course, trick-or-treating! You can visit the Hootenanny on Oct. 28, too!
Oct. 26-28: Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest
Bloomington, IN
There are few sights as beautiful as hot air balloons launching into the sky flanked by trees filled with breathtaking autumn colors! The Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Fest is one of the most popular annual fall festivals in Bloomington – and in the Indiana Uplands! At the festival, guests will see hot-air balloon launches, pyrotechnic skydiver performances, fireworks, and more! A beer and wine garden, hay rides, trick-or-treating, and live music make this weekend-long festival a must-experience for the whole family!