Riley Festival

From Riley Festival Website:

The Festival

The Riley Festival invites you to enjoy one of the largest craft festivals in the state of Indiana, with designated areas for food, commercial and flea market booths and much more. The event follows years of traditions in the celebration of the birth date of James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier Poet. It begins every year on the first Thursday of October. Residents of Greenfield, Hancock County and the surrounding area join talent and resources annually to honor the memory of Greenfields noted native son.

The Greenfield Banking Company Entertainment Tent, is a showcase for a wide variety of talent that runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Parade of Flowers features Greenfield-Central Community School Corporations elementary students marching downtown to place bouquets of flowers around Mr. Rileys statue. The Parade of Flowers is well over sixty-five years old.

Each year one of Mr. Rileys poems is selected as the theme for the Festival. Themes for the next two years are: 2016 Indiana 2017 After the Frost. The Ameriana Bank Parade will be on Saturday, with over 75 units marching from the high school through downtown to Riley Park.

Over 460 exhibitors will be set up on the streets around the 100 year old courthouse. Mr. Rileys statue was placed in front of the courthouse in 1918 and is the focal point of the Riley Festival.

Many events take place during the Festival. The festival is one of the largest festivals in the state of Indiana, both in attendance and in exhibitors. The annual Queen Pageant sponsored by Keihin North America, Inc. is held prior to the Festival.

The Riley Festival follows years of tradition by celebrating the birthday of the Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley. It is a showcase for a wide variety of talent that runs continuously Thursday through Sunday in downtown Greenfield, IN.

Bring the whole family and enjoy one of the largest craft festivals in the state of Indiana, with designated areas for food, commercial and flea market booths, plus Fine Arts, Home Arts & Quilt Show, Photography, Poster, and Decorated Pumpkin shows.

Be sure to check out our complete Schedule of Events before you come. Several events take place during the festival and new ones are added each year. Shuttle buses run from the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds to the east entrance of the Festival you can ride for a donation of 50 cents. New this year mobility scooters and wheelchairs will be available for rent at the shuttle bus drop off at the east end of the Festival Area.