Freudenfest is a fantastic small town festival in Oldenburg, Indiana (70 min drive SE of Indy) that…read moreoffers authentic German food, various German style beers, live entertainment and tons of things to do in this idyllic Hoosier town. I usually go with a group of friends and we spend a good part of the afternoon / evening there. Plenty of spots for shade while you're waiting for your turn to chicken toss or chicken dance. The Dachshund races are a blast but you gotta get there early to get a good view of really short dogs (race starts 2 pm Sat.). Plenty of free street parking. Don't miss this festival - it's one of southern Indiana's best!

Great family friendly festival for all ages. Being of German heritage, I really enjoy being a part…read moreof the celebration that features the old style culture of the German people. Lots of games, events, music, food, and of course beer to enjoy. So grab a stein and head to Freudenfest for what is always a good time.

Lived the street fair! So many crafts and food check it out next year. It takes maybe 60-90 minutes…read moreor more if you stop to eat lol

Love this street fair. But go early if you want to park in town. If not head toward youngs dairy…read more... across the street from it there is free parking in a field and buses going back and forth .. all free. The street fair has lots of venders and interesting things... crafts, hand made things, art, if you want cool hippie shirt, belly dancing, food trucks. Sometimes field of sunflowers outside of town.

It was a decent little experience. The pumpkins were ginormous, lots of pumpkins and little shops…read moreto buy all kinds of things my favorite being the coffee truck. It was much needed. Whoever thought of the coffee truck was a great idea. There was only one which I was very thankful for. More expensive and not as good as Starbucks, but it did the job.

Pretty cool experience!!!... the pumpkins were ginormous!! .... The coffee truck was much needed !!read more

Hamilton's Oktoberfest hits 46 years old in 2011. It's one of Butler County's oldest German…read morefestivals and it shows -- this three-day event is authentic. The food is all homemade the week of the festival, including bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad, Limburger cheese (ekk, acquired taste there!!), cream puffs, sauerkraut balls, and cabbage rolls. My personal favorites are the last two listed. Like all Oktoberfest celebrations, there is a ton of beer and live bands singing German and "Germanized" versions of popular American music. But this festival also has Jägermeister and wine booths, tons of kids rides and games, and the keg-tapping of an authentic wooden keg from Munich. You will meet some of the most interesting people here with life stories to last weeks. I met a Yugoslavian man who was in concentration camps under Hitler when he was a boy. Great place to go with a large group of friends for a fill of German heritage without having to go all the way to Cincinnati.

This place has so many games and it has really great food I went there last year and I am going…read morethis year but it is really FUN

In a spur-of-the-moment decision, my husband and I decided to make the drive from Louisville to go…read moreto the Boone County Fair with our kids. We grew up in Boone County, and our family, who still lives there, met up with us. And we had such a lovely night, making new memories while also thinking about past ones. We started by entering the kids rock race with some round rocks we had found while on vacation. I love how wholesome the fair contests are, especially for the kids. And this is pretty much like it sounds; the kids raced rocks down a track, and the rock that rolled the farthest won. This ended up being both of my kids, who won in their age groups. There was lots of food to choose from. The donuts and popcorn were my kids' favorites. We checked out the demolition derby and the 4H competitions with the livestock. Then we took in some rides. The $15 per person admission is a bit steep but seems more doable when you consider it includes all rides. I have a soft spot for local fairs and festivals, which perhaps started my attending this one when I was little.

LIGHT UP THE FAIR: this Christmas display is located at the Boone County Fairgrounds. I was out…read morethat way for a Christmas party and it was recommended to check out this drive-through light display for Christmas. I was debating whether to check out Florence's huge light display just down the road, but this specific drive-through was open an hour later and did not close until 10 PM. This worked so much better with my schedule! I was really impressed with how long the drive through the lights were. I loved how all the lights were synchronized with music that we could access with our car radio. It was pretty cheap compared to how long the display lasted. I'm so glad a local recommended this to me! Perfect holiday activity--especially for families.

The Taste of Cincinnati is an event I always look forward to each year and I have to say that 2026…read morewas much better than 2025! This year there was a larger variety of cuisine types. Last year I felt like I was at a Texas Rodeo with only BBQ options. Highlighting our Cinci Food Trucks and Findlay Market restaurants is always one of my favorite parts. Most if not all restaurants in his year we're showcasing specialty items so it was great to see different options vs everyone having pulled pork bbq or cheeseburgers and so I had the opportunity to try so many things and places that I didn't even know about. Service was also very quick at almost every stop so no long lines, food was hot and the workers were all friendly. Being outside is always a treat and i was thankful it was warm, not HOT, partly cloudy and not sun blazing. This is a great family friendly event, if you haven't gone before, hit it up in 2027!!

Have been coming for 30 yrs. Love to find new places to check out and try new things. Tried to come…read moreyesterday but the rain got real. But today was gorgeous. We usually come when they start as the crowd and lines are fair less. Everything we tried was good and enjoyed the live music. My hubby is not a dancer but I would have like to dance a bit. Anyway great day here with gorgeous weather.

They now changed the pork chop recipe and it's not nearly as good. Unless they change it back, I…read morewon't be going back as this is the main draw for me. 45 minute drive each way is no longer worth it.

2025 Update...I have to downgrade as there was NO beer and wine tent…read more This was our fifth year attending and they always had it. I had a bad feeling when I checked the website and saw no mention of opening time for the "Hog Haus" beer/wine and entertainment tent, and the phrase "family friendly " was used a little too much. My hunch was correct and glad we brought along our own beer in a cooler bag. I mean, what's a big summertime festival with music, parade, food and tons of vendors if you can't get a beer? Everything else was fine but that was a big miss. We'll see what happens in 2026.

Oh, the fair. A summertime staple in Franklin County. A place where everyone comes together to…read morecelebrate all things rural and local. Things to expect and see: - animal shows (swine, horse, sheep, goat, dairy, beef, rabbits, dogs, etc.) - 4-H exhibits on show - tractor pulling and mud racing - lots of fair food - fair rides - lots of traffic going in and out of the fair Great place with lots going on. Always a great time and a staple memory of a great portion of my childhood.

It was a great way to kick off the holiday season. I love that there was an outdoor craft show at…read moreWashington Park at the same time, so I got a "two-fer." I shopped there for the traditional arts and crafts gifts, then went into the side door of Music Hall (yes, at you're looking at it, the fair can only be accessed through the left-hand side door of music hall) for unique artist-made crafts. I didn't buy much -- just a silk-screened t-shirt and some tasty Jalapeno jelly -- it was the perusing itself, and talking directly to the artists that was the joy of the season. And I had some great, animated conversations with the artists themselves, who were helpful and excited to talk about their work. Yes, these are hand-made specialty items, so the price was high. But it is going directly to the artists, so it is worth it.

My first time attending the Crafty Supermarket, and it did not dissapoint. The space is beautiful…read moreand uplifting - warm, inviting, roomy, and festive. The booths were very high-end, offering great design and well-made products. Eli's BBQ was there, along with a bar, coffee stand, and gelto. It wasn't very crowded when we went, so take that for what it is. YMMV. Be prepared to spend some serious cash, also. I didn't buy many things, but the bill was high. I like supporting artists and designers, so I don't mind, but it certainly isn't a budget shopping experience.