We Found The Best Carmel Indiana Festivals For 2025
If you find yourself in the city of Carmel, Indiana you're in luck! Moms in surrounding areas flock to this city because it's known for family fun. In fact, Carmel has received numerous awards, including being one of the top places to live in the entire country! Why?!? Because the vibe of Carmel, Indiana is community. And that's what we are all about at theCityMoms.
A few other reasons we love Carmel...it is home to a vibrant performing arts and culture scene and boasts some of the most family-friendly festivals in the U.S.
Whether you’re looking for live entertainment and food trucks to enjoy with your family on a Saturday night in the summer, or maybe you want to immerse yourself in culture by going to the Carmel Christkindlmarkt around Christmastime, keep reading for our Carmel, Indiana Festival Guide.
Don’t forget to start marking your calendar so you don’t miss a single one!
Photo credit: Visit Hamilton County Indiana
Here’s a seasonal breakdown of the Carmel festivals.
Carmel Spring Festivals
1. Cherry Blossom Festival
Your family may not have plans to take a trip to Japan anytime soon, but you won’t need to if you can manage a trip to Carmel’s Cherry Blossom Festival! This special celebration has everything you need, from martial arts performances, music, dancing, Japanese food vendors, and lots of cultural activities.
2. EidFest
This is the first time this event has been held in downtown Carmel, celebrating diversity. Your family will have the opportunity to experience the traditions of over 15 countries, all without leaving Indiana! This is one of the many free events listed for the whole family! Everyone will enjoy henna art, live cultural performances, and food from local restaurants.
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3. Indiana Peony Festival
Very few things remind us of spring the way peonies do. We welcome spring each year by heading to Noblesville (close to Carmel) for the Indiana Peony Festival! This free event is open to the public and fun for all ages. An homage to Indiana’s state flower, your family can spend the entire weekend visiting and shopping over 150 local vendors that highlight flowers and bouquets, art, delicious food, and drink.
Don't miss out on the gorgeous floral installations, live music, and the festival’s Brunch & Blooms event, the perfect avenue for food and retail therapy (this is a great time to send the kids off with your partner so you can enjoy some “you” time at your own pace!)
Last but not least, the entire family can join in on voting for the best peony window display!
Carmel Summer Festivals
1. CarmelFest
CarmelFest is your chance to be a part of Indy’s largest Independence Day celebration! This two-day festival is the pride of central Indiana and has everything from a Kidzone that includes a pet farm and face painting, marketplace packed with Indy-based and Carmel vendors, local cuisine, beer and wine garden, rides, parade, fireworks, and music ranging from a live symphony to rockin’ cover bands. It’s seriously such a good time.
2. Jazz Fest
Jazz, Blues, and R&B, oh my! This celebration of music brings together artists and vendors from the Carmel community for a weekend of musical bliss. If you have budding musicians in your brood, this is the perfect place to show them jazz-inspired live music, with lots of food and drink vendors, too.
3. Brews on the Boulevard
There’s no better time than Carmel’s Brews on the Boulevard festival to "tap" into the local beer scene (see what we did there?). You've probably been to a food festival, but consider this a "drink festival." This special event showcases the many independently owned breweries and wineries, making it a great experience for the whole family – you don’t have to be 21 to enjoy. Bring the gang and get your fill of food vendors, live music, and more. The cost for tasting tickets is $30.
Photo credit: Do317
Carmel Fall Festivals
1. Chinese Mooncake Festival
Did someone say “dragon parade?” Head to Carmel for the Chinese Mooncake Festival, and not only will you see a dragon make its way through Midtown Plaza, but your family can take in the sights and sounds of traditional Chinese music and dancing, and of course, lots of mooncakes.
2. Carmel International Arts Festival
From photography and painting to ceramics and jewelry, there is no shortage of Carmel residents and artists showing off their skills at this festival. Families can take in the plethora of local artistry, and kids can head to the Young At Art section to whip up their own works of art.
Be sure to check out the cultural exhibits before enjoying food and drink from local vendors. You can cap off Saturday night at ART ROCKS!, a free, family-friendly dance party packed with live music.
3. Porchfest
If you are a music festival lover, you won’t want to miss Carmel PorchFest. This free, family-friendly festival brings together local musicians with incredible talents to perform on neighborhood porches in the Carmel Arts & Design District! This year’s PorchFest will include FIVE events, four of which are Late Night on Main events.
Did we mention there are tons of food and beverage vendors, too? This is a great way to spend outdoor time together with the fam during the fall season.
Porchfest takes place on Rangeline Road and the Monon Trail north of Main Street and south of 136th Street/Smokey Row Road.
4. Oktoberfest
As you’ve probably picked up on, we LOVE free events! That's one of the many reasons we love the German-themed Oktoberfest. It's an annual tradition for so many because it's fun for the whole family. We’re still waiting on all the deets for the 2025 Carmel Oktoberfest celebration. Head to Carmel City Center to indulge in all the lederhosen you can handle (yes, you should totally consider dressing the part!!!) There is also live music, delicious food, and drinks. You can even do some shopping at the City Center shops if you forgot your traditional German attire.
5. Diwali Festival of Lights
Celebrate the spirit of Diwali with Carmel’s Festival of Lights! This unique event brings together traditional music via live performances, Henna, Diyas, the traditional Indian art form of Rangoli, food vendors with tasty treats like Ladoos, cold spark fireworks, and family-friendly activities. There’s no better way to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and good over evil than this event!
Carmel Winter Festivals
1. Festival of Ice
We know, you’re probably sick and tired of the snow and cold come January, but Carmel’s Festival of Ice may just entice you to come outside! This free winter event is an homage to professional ice carvers, complete with a People’s Choice carving competition! Warm yourself up by sampling the Carmel Fire Department chili cook-off, before hitting the rink for some ice skating at The Ice at Carter Green.
2. Carmel Christkindlmarkt
This may not be a "festival" per se, but we can't leave off the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. This event feels like a European north pole right in the heart of the city! The Carmel Christkindlmarkt is a cherished holiday tradition that offers a festive European-style market experience. Come hungry because your family can enjoy authentic German cuisine. Grab a hot chocolate to sip on while doing Christmas shopping for handcrafted gifts (we LOVE the handmade cuckoo clocks!)
Get a taste of the performing arts with both sing-alongs and German cultural performances. Highlights include the 33-foot Glühwein Pyramid, ice skating, and family-friendly activities in the Kinderecke and Spielhaus.
Whether you’re looking to pack your summer with some festival fun or mark a bright spot on your calendar to look forward to in a cold season, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Carmel! If you attend one of these festivals, be sure to tag us on Instagram @thecitymoms
