India Fest was on hiatus for three years due to COVID. India Fest is normally held in the Agricenter, as there is ample space for people and parking. It was good to see ample security inside and outside. There are parking lots, but they fill quickly. Be mindul of where you can AND can't park, as towing is enforced. Tickets were $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12-18, and free for kids under 11. You can purchase online and at the gate, but on site is cash only.
Upon entry, the vibrant colors and beautiful clothes really stand out! They had several areas of information highlighting many religious, historical, and current literature about the Indian culture with the event schedule posted after this area. There is an area special made for children. I thought that was nice as keeping children occupied during events can be challenging at times.
There are many vendors with meals and desserts for sale with seating readily available. The food smells great, and each booth has the restaurant's name and menu. With plenty to choose from, there are plenty of lines. While several restaurants were well organized taking orders and payment, there were a couple that didn't have the same organization. Pricing depends on what you want and have a taste for.
For the time we were there, we watched several groups performing traditional dances and a drum show. There were other vendors selling lovely jewelry, saris and other clothing items, a table doing henna, Bombay salon providing brow services (they're awesome), and other tables advertising Mathnasium, yoga and other services within the community. However, the friendliness seemed to vary from vendor to vendor. While some were very welcoming of patrons, a few left the impression that you were not welcome to their table in particular. But overall, we had a really good time and I recommend checking out this festival. It's great to venture out and learn about different cultures and enjoy what the city has to offer. read more