I love this two-day festival. I go once or maybe both days. Free parking in the neighboring…read moregarage which informs the number of available spots on each of the 4 levels. Usual: I visit the City of Carmel booth to get a thermo lunch bag; I learned about their new logo. I stop by the Carmel Fire Dept. booth to learn about their upcoming Safety Day. The movie theaters have interesting games. This year: I tried a couple of free samples, which I did not like. One vendor was selling macarons on both areas of the festival. Lots of political booths. I seldom find food to purchase, but this year I noticed and tried el Patron food truck because they offered short rib taco, which I have never heard of. I bought 2 short ribs tacos and 1 steak taco with side of mild salsa, which was super hot to me. The tacos needed each lime wedge to moisten the delicious, hearty meats. I would recommend the $16 tacos (with tax). I wanted to listen to the concert tribute to Fleetwood Mac which was OK from where I sat to eat dinner. This year fireworks will be on the 4th. Parade will be on the 4th in the morning with people already placing something to hold their spot.

Went to Carmelfest for the first time and my family and I really enjoyed it! It felt like we were…read moreat a smaller version of a carnival with a Carmel feel to it. We started off grabbing a funnel cake and then walked around all the pop up shops! We headed over to the kid zone which was a ton of fun they had bounce houses and a few rides along with a petting zoo with goats, bunnies and horses. We did a pony ride and got to pet and feed the animals! Then to end our day we watched the concerts going on and had a blast listening and dancing to the music. Overall it was a fun experience and we look forward to coming back next year!

We had a great time as a vendor at the Oktoberfest. The people are exceptionally friendly. The…read morepastor walking around meeting and greeting people was really nice. I thought the crowd was a little light for the vendors but that can never be estimated.

Local festival in Fishers with several vendors, mostly jewelry, housewares, and cooking supplies -…read morenothing really 'German'. One booth was selling beer but only 2 choices and $7 for an 8oz plastic cup. One food vendor had brats and polish sausage but the rest of the food was chicken tenders, tenderloins, elephant ears - not exactly what I think of when it comes to Oktoberfest. It was a gorgeous day and fun to walk around outside but for those seeking authentic German food, music, decor, or memorabilia this event would sadly disappoint.

Last year the wait was over and hour and I didn't end up getting any strawberry shortcake because I…read morehad to get back to work. So, this year we did the pick up order for 10. Two of us walked over around 9 am to pick them up. Mind you a line had already formed outside and people were already enjoying their strawberry shortcake. So, we go inside and down to the basement of Christ Church Cathedral. So, we're thinking they had 10 shortcakes in a bag, a tub of strawberries in a container, same for the ice cream and whipped cream. So, when we got back we could make our own when we got a chance. NO!!! We get there and we don't even know how long the shortcakes had been sitting on the tables already made!!!! They had so much juice in them that transporting them was a mess in those flip containers they were in. By the time we got back it was mushy. Some of us didn't even eat them they just weren't fresh like you would get if you had them in line. Next year we won't be doing that. I wish they had them separated. My other coworkers were like why were they already made if you weren't even there yet? We were the only customers down there. No one was in the basement picking up orders. :-/ Hopefully next year will be better by going and getting in line. So, if your company or group of 10 want to order ahead know that they might be sitting for who knows how long....

I've gone every year and the festival only gets better! The lines move quicker, more people are…read morethere to enjoy, and the shortcake is always amazing. Definitely recommend getting there early OR ordering ahead for 10+ orders if you don't want to miss out

This was a great event. I am so glad we had the chance to go. Thank you to Granite City Downtown…read morefor the help with the tickets. There were great restaurants like Latitude 360 with sliders. They really hit the spot. Plus Latitude 360 had a wheel to spin and win prizes. Yay. We won tickets to see one of the comedy shows. I feel in love with McClure's Orchard from Peru IN. They were sampling the Bon-Bon hard cider. I went back for many samples. I can not wait to make the trip to Peru to get more. This is an event that I will do again.

This is an event where you can kiss your diet goodbye. Be prepared, maybe even fast a few days…read moreprior too and plan for a juice cleanse afterwards because you will eat endless supplies of bacon dishes and beer. You will sweat, bleed, and cry tears of bacon. Beer & Bacon 1, Brooke 0 - You win. There were two time slots for this event: a brunch & a dinner session. We were two lucky ducks (thanks to Yelp) and were able to attend the dinner portion of the evening. The line to get into Victory Field was pleasantly short. Once we were inside beer & bacon vendors wrapped around the entire stadium. It was as if we were the pigs in a blanket of various creative bacon themed dishes. Dish highlights for me: *240 Sweet Toasted Upland Beer Marshmallow with bacon, pretzel, & chocolate (have mercy I ate so many of these) *Pipers Chinese 5 Spice Bacon with Smoked Cheese & Chocolate *Fermenti Artisan Curtido with Candied Smoking Goose Bacon & Caprini Creamery Hard Goat Cheese (a nice balance of sour & savory) *Loughmillers Pub & Eatery Bacon Jam Bruschetta *The Exchange Pub & Kitchen Bacon Cobbler *The Pint Rooms Dry Rubbed Beer Bacon Drink highlights for me: *Noble Order Bacon Smoked Porter with a shot of Bacon *Tin Man Damascene Apricot Sour Ale *Tinker Street Coffee Shandy (hand shaken coffee & lemonade so very refreshing!) I was very surprised to find the lines for food and beer to be relatively short which I can only assume it was because this was the first year for this event. I was able to completely "pig out" going back for seconds and thirds going "hog wild" on any dish I pleased. The GA ticket price was $49 which I thought was high at first but given the number of beer and bacon vendors in attendance, a nicely made ceramic tasting glass, the quality of the food available, a plethora of activities (temporary tattoo station, giant jinga, corn hole, blow up bungee run, pretzel necklace making area). I think the price is fair. A few things that would make this event even better. *A map of food & beer vendors so you can come up with a plan of attack. It would also help you remember what you consumed and from where. Who know's you might find something you like and want to visit that restaurant or brewery TADA you have a handy list to refer back too. *I think it would be fun to have a "crowd favorite" where attendees could vote on their favorite dishes and beer selections. *It would also be nice to have more local eateries in attendence. It was great seeing the handful of local options that were present but wow this festival could be taken to a whole new level with the addition of more local options. This was a fun event! I would definitely return next year for sure!

If you live in Carmel, you will probably hear at some point: "You should go to SetonFest." Or, more…read moreaccurately: "You should go to that little carnival over at the Catholic church on 116th Street and Haverstick Road." No one I talked to could recall the name of the little carnival, just that it was at a Catholic church and had been around for some time. Does a name really matter when we're talking about ferris wheels and corn hole? Not particularly. A carnival appears, we go, and we have fun. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church hosts SetonFest every summer, usually the last week of July or the first week of August. It's an event that stretches across three evenings -- Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. This is a good place to throw down some change on carnival food. You'll find the usual fair fare, such as roasted corn, walking tacos, cotton candy, hot dogs and bratwurst, steak sandwiches and shaved ice. (I may or may not have eaten three of them. OK, I did.) There is also a beer tent. This area is where you can get your drink on -- discreetly. After you've had enough to drink, you might want to try your hand at some corn hole, play a few bingo cards, dance to the live music, or enjoy one of the several rides. Yes, there's a ferris wheel. There's also that ride where you go around in a circle. There's also a giant slide, the one with the swatches of burlap and the bumps. If you're at SetonFest on Friday and Saturday at dusk, you'll see the fireworks display in the night sky. It's a great way to cap off a nice time at a community event.

Good summer fun. Lots of food. Good beer garden. Rides are great for the little ones. The…read morevolunteers are super friendly. Live band was excellent. Make sure you go to this one. Tip of the day - get there early as parking is tight or ride your bike.

We love Feast! The park and neighborhood is alive with fun and filled with love. Great eventread more

First time attending the Feast of Lanterns. Great selections of vendors and entertainment. I love…read morehow can go with your family and friends to enjoy the weather, company, and booths of vendors. Would recommend visiting it if you are in town or just want a chill night out.

Not sure where to begin. Our hotel room door had a very large gap in it, so much so you could see…read morepeople as they walked by, there was a big iron burn on the carpet between the beds, there was a huge crack on the bathroom counter (where the tissue box was located), and you could see the vent from the shower and it was just caked with dust. But, the worst was the fact that in the morning we woke up to ants all over the ac unit. When I contacted the front desk, a maintenance man did come out and "treat." I asked for a discount on the room as this is disgusting and they were also all over the blanket my son used to sleep. I was told that we had a "ton" of food in our room and "ants are attracted to everything," so they were unwilling to give a discount. We had a pizza box in the room with one piece of pizza leftover. It was boxed up and off the floor and we were going to take it out the next morning because, as the hotel stated upon check in, they do not offer any trash removal services during guests' stay. To top it off, even after it was treated, what did we see this morning? More ants. We had to stay at this establishment for a soccer tournament and it was a required two night stay. I am a seasoned traveler because of my son's travel soccer and I will never stay at a best western again. They made me feel dirty and at fault. One last note, I posted a similar review on their website, and it was removed less than 12 hours later. So, rather than discussing the issue with me, they simply deleted it. Very shameful in my opinion.

Hear ye! Hear ye! What a great day for a Renaissance Faire! This was my first time at this…read morefestival, and I came dressed up a a fair lady of the Crown. Tickets are available at the gate for a fair price ($15/adult), and parking is free. I wasn't excited about driving all the way to Noblesville, so I hope that someday they hold it closer to the city. A smattering of booths and food stalls were available, and a tavern tent for the 21 and older crowd. My favorite part was the jousting. Like REAL jousting. It was awesome! Overall, a good time had by all, and I look forward to an even bigger turnout next year.

The Taste of Carmel. It is the food fest fundraiser benefiting Orchard Park Elementary School that…read moreI try my best not to miss each year. It never disappoints; just makes me a little uncomfortable by the end of the night. Take a look at just a few of the dishes served up tonight. You'll also see that theI I was invited to attend the VIP First Taste - the hour prior to the start of the event that grants serious foodies early access to sample creations by some of Carmel's award-winning chefs. Never been to this extraordinary eating extravaganza?? You are missing out! Get there next year, support a very worthy cause, and make your stomach extremely happy. #TasteOfCarmel2020 #OrchardParkElementrySchool

Taste of Carmel is a foodie fundraising event that happens in Carmel the first week of March. All…read moreof the profits go toward Orchard Park Elementary School, to help pay for classroom materials, field trips, school programs and teacher support. I attended in 2018, and I have to say, it was really great. There were at least three dozen food and beverage vendors set up in one big, indoor room at the event center, and you can just walk around and take samples from each one. Multiple samples! As many samples as you want! There were particular tables that I kept going back to (hello, endless vodka shots and meatball sliders). I came to the event hungry, and I left full, buzzed and happy. The great thing about Taste of Carmel (besides the fact that it is a fundraiser that directly helps a local school) is that the vendors at the event are all local and from the Indianapolis / Carmel area, so you get to discover new restaurants and businesses during the event. There were a few local distilleries that I had no idea existed in the area, so I was happy to sample their beverages. Parking is abundant at 502 East Event Center, where the event is held. But this event is really popular, so there are busses that will take you to nearby parking lots where there is more parking. I'm looking forward to Taste of Carmel next year!

What better way to spend an Independence Day than with friends, family and great music? I was…read moresurprised by several friends congratulation notifications that I won 2 tickets to this event that I'd already planned on attending. With family in town, we were seeking something that would provide entertainment for all ages. FSMF seemed to have us covered. After checking in with a friend who was already there, we were told there was no food or drinks for the kids, so we packed a cooler and picnic basket and headed out. Parking was easy, the same free lot that I always scope out. We made it over in time to see Kansas Bible Company representing local with each donned in a United States of Indiana shirt. The sound guy made it very uncomfortable to be under the tent to watch the show and pushed many away from the stage with the ear piercing volume that could have been easily managed. No I'm NOT too old - but it was too loud. A friend loaned the grandparents some chairs and we made our way through the crowds to say hello to all. There was a nice selection of local brews from New Day Meadery, Upland and Fountain Square Brewing Company. I saw some little ones running around with face paint, but they had packed up before we got there. The photo booth was a nice all ages addition to the event. Despite the overcast weather, the temps were perfect and the band line up kept the crowd happy. The kids had a blast splashing in the water out front and my teen found an amazing vintage swimsuit at Lux & Ivy who were set up next to United States of Indiana, who sold out of most of their merchandise. I'm sure the FSMF tees would have also sold out if they had been sold. I finally got to see Modoc, a band Elvis Mires has been raving about for ages, and was blown away. Needless to say, they have several new fans in my home. We left before the last band, thanking all responsible for a wonderful day. With this being their inaugural event, I hope the upcoming years may bring some of Ft. Square's best bites such as La Rev (tacos please) or B's Po Boys, or a little Red Lion fish & chips basket, if nothing else some local food trucks. Great job - thank you for a fun Fourth! Yet another reason to be proud to live in Indianapolis.

If I'm being honest, FSMF isn't really my scene. Despite that, I can recognize that it's a solid…read morelocal music festival for those that it caters to (20 somethings, hipster/artsy/eclectic). A real diverse mix of folks attend. Expect skateboarders, breakdancers, wacky costumes, graffiti artists - that kind of vibe. FMSF used to be on 4th of July weekend but moved up earlier in the calendar to target a music-centric population instead of patriotic partygoers. I think it worked in their favor that it was a beautiful spring weekend. A day pass is $37 ($50 for VIP), but I don't think you have to pay if you just want to stroll around Fountain Square while it's happening - only if you want to see a show (which there are lots of). Pros: -Free parking is easy to find in Fountain Square -So many great local places to eat and drink in Fountain Square! Check 'em out! -50% of all net proceeds benefit Musical Family Tree and Girls Rock Inc. - yay for supporting nonprofits! Note that you must be 21 to buy a pass and attend any shows.

This is an amazing annual event held a Watermans' farm. It also goes by the name of Christmas at…read morethe Farm and runs on the weekends in December. It is very reasonably priced and my littles loved it. They offer free parking and have food trucks on site. The parking lot is a bit dark in spots and hard to navigate, but I made it. Now, it is a festival hosted in December which means it is more than likely going to be very chilly at best. I recommend checking the weather and dressing accordingly. The staff there, from the ticket takers, to the vendors, to the characters, to the ride operators, were so very friendly. They were all awesome. The place has an awesome walk-thru interactive light show. They have some cool music that syncs to the lights. It is worth the price of addmission all by itself. During the COVID year they made it a drive thru attraction. Within the maze of lights there are trailers that has characters that you can take photos with including the Grinch, Jack Skellington from the nightmare before Christmas, Ana, Elsa, and Olaf, and of course, the jolly one himself, Santa. Our favorite was the Grinch. He really played his role and looked great. There are also characters roaming the grounds like an old Mickey Mouse, a deer, and a panda. The festival has a small ride/game area that has a tall rock-climbing wall, bungee trampoline, an archery game where you try to hit floating balls with an arrow. A bear affair spinner, a basketball shot game, and a wizzer. They are all included with your admission and you can play/ride as much as you want. As I mentioned, it is reasonably priced, but has a bunch of add-ons. There is a train that costs $5 per person and takes you along the festival grounds and through the lights. The train is cash only and they have an ATM on site, if you need it. Also, you are not allowed to take personal photos with the characters in the trailers. You must pay for their photos. They are $10 per photo. So, as you can see, the amount of money you spend can creep up very quickly. They have a lot of food options. They have a kettle corn vendor on site selling various flavors of kettle corn. There is also a small snack bar and a couple of food trucks. They have set up a small tent where people can eat and have a heated restroom trailer nearby. They were playing classic Christmas movies on a large screen on the grounds and had a bonfire going. I must admit, We hung out at the bonfire for a while to warm up. They also have a very tall inflatable slide. One of the tallest that I have seen. I looked like a small mountain. Other attractions include a hayride, a set of illuminated wings that you can take a picture in front of, a creepy Christmas maze (it is not too scary and is ok for little kids to go in), and a photo op with Krampus in a trailer behind the snack bar and next to the slide. No attraction is complete without a gift shop. This place is not different. They have a gift shop next to the movie screen and near the entrance. We had an amazing time here. It is definitely a well kept secret. They have been doing this for at least 4 years and this is the first time that I heard about it. I definitely will be back next year. Hopefully, my littles will be ready to visit Krampus by then. They did not make half way into the trailer this year. I know time is running out this year to purchase one of their dated tickets, but you should have it on your radar for next year if you can't squeeze it in this year.