The Best Food Festivals in Northern Indiana

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Indiana's Cool North

Food lovers rejoice! Indiana’s Cool North boasts some seriously unique (and delicious) food festivals. From events that are as wholesome as apple pie to festivals that make carnivores weak in the knees, there are a host of fun, food-themed festivals to choose from. Come to one, or come to them all, we guarantee you won’t go home hungry.

Maple Syrup Festival

Where: Wakarusa
When: April 26-28, 2024

Begin the festival season in April with the Maple Syrup Festival.  Tour maple sugar camps, take a ride in an Amish buggy, munch free kettle popped corn as the parade goes by and enjoy lively entertainment. Be sure to take home a jug of maple syrup or bag of giant maple syrup flavored jellybeans.

Michigan City Food Truck Festival

Where: Michigan City
When: May 25-26, 2024

Attention food enthusiasts! Season 8 of the Michigan City Food Truck Festival is coming up in Michigan City. Get ready as we bring together some of the region’s finest food trucks to offer a delectable array of gourmet dishes, accompanied by live music, games, and refreshing beverages right off the beach.

Taste of the Gardens

Where: Elkhart County
When: August 25, 2024

Enjoy nature’s bounty at the Taste of the Gardens event at the Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Amish Country. Stroll through the stunning gardens and take in fine art from regional artists. Local musicians fill the air with sweet sounds, and of course there’s plenty of delicious food to go around. Local restaurants from around the region feature their best-sellers, and try out exiting and tasty new treats. It wouldn’t be out of place to find Irish mac and cheese, Sriracha chicken sandwiches and Korean BBQ pork shoulder on the menu. At Taste of the Gardens, there’s something to please every palate.

Pierogi Fest

Where: Whiting
When: July 26-28, 2024

The Pierogi Fest is a chance for locals to honor their cultural roots while indulging in some good-natured humor. Amidst the abundance of pierogi and diverse food stalls, you’ll encounter a distinctive parade showcasing women adorned in housecoats and babushkas reminiscent of grandmothers (or “bushas”), alongside the lawnmower brigade sporting sandals and socks. Not to forget the iconic figures of Mr. Pierogi and Ms. Paczki. Don’t miss out on this truly exceptional experience at the Pierogi Parade on Friday night!

Kouts Porkfest

Where: Kouts
When: August 24, 2024

For over 40 years, the town of Kouts in Porter County has been going hog wild over Porkfest. This festival marks the beginning of the fall season, and the one-day event packs in tons of fun for the whole family. Start the morning with 5K walk/run and work up an appetite to enjoy all of the festival foods. You’ll find all of your fair favorites like corn dogs and funnel cakes, and you can’t leave without trying the famous pork burger. If you’re really hungry, try your hand (and stomach) at the pork burger eating contest. There’s also lots of live entertainment, a ‘Guess the Weight of the Pig’ contest, games for kids, and even a parade.

Nappanee Apple Festival

Where: Nappanee
When: September 19-22, 2024

Apples abound at the Nappanee Apple Festival. This family-friendly, four-day event features Indiana’s largest baked apple pie, coming in at over 7 feet wide! Have a blast playing fair games and going on the carnival rides. Bring a chair or blanket and settle in to watch the parade, which usually features a military fly-over. Test your skills at the popular cornhole tournament, and see who will become this year’s Miss Apple Blossom at the pageant. Bushels of apples go into all of the delicious festival treats including apple fritters, apple dumplings, applesauce, and apple cider.

Valparaiso Popcorn Festival

Where: Valparaiso
When: September 7, 2024

Pop pop! For over 40 years, the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival has delighted children of all ages. You’ll find all kinds of popcorn varieties and flavors available, from salty to sweet, sour to savory. While there’s tons of popcorn to be had, this festival is anything but corny, with over 250 booths filled with arts and crafts, and kid’s games. Join the Popcorn Panic run, enjoy two stages offering live music and find a spot to watch the Popcorn Parade.

Marshall Co. Blueberry Festival

Where: Plymouth
When: August 30-September 2, 2024

Get your fill of fruit at this ‘berry’ popular four-day festival, attracting over 20,000 spectators from all around the state and beyond. Dozens of performers will keep you entertained, and the parade is always a highlight, featuring classic cars, floats galore and over 100 different entries. For those looking for a little physical activity, you can run in the Blueberry Stomp Race, or join in one of the other sporting events and tournaments taking place during the festival. Watch the pageant and see who is crowned Miss Blueberry.

Kids love all of the fun carnival rides, and the fireworks show is sure to impress the whole family. And the food? Oh the food! Feast on blueberry pie, blueberry shortcake, blueberry ice cream and more. And of course, there are lots of yummy treats that don’t involve blueberries, like beef tacos, corndogs, and pulled pork. You name it, you’ll find it at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival.

These food festivals will fuel your stomach and fill your soul. Explore our Things to Do page to find more fun events, food-related and otherwise, in Indiana’s Cool North.