Valparaiso Popcorn Festival

45th Annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival
This long-standing community tradition will return in 2024 for its 45th year! The Valparaiso Popcorn Festival continues to offer family-fun activities for all ages. Over 250 arts & crafts booths, 50 food booths, the Ultimate Poppin’ Play Zone, Popcorn Panic races, live music, a beer tent, and the nation’s first Popcorn Parade are only the beginning of the excitement of this incredible festival.

Festival Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Parade: 10:00 a.m

Main Stage Entertainment:

12:00 p.m - 1:30 p.m: Jonny James
Jonny James is a Nashville recording artist from Northwest Indiana. He has been featured on multiple country radio stations as an "up-and-coming artist to watch out for". James has also been nominated for region Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year, and Country Artist of the Year. Jonny has opened for acts like Joe Diffie, Old Dominion, Lee Brice, and Cole Swindell to name a few, Jonny just dropped his 3rd EP in February of 2023 titled "Leaving Indiana" that is streaming everywhere music is sold.

2:00 p.m - 3:30 p.m: Mother Folk  
Serious songs from goofy people. That’s what you can expect from diverse, Midwest indie-rockers, Motherfolk. What started out as a writing project among two college friends turned into a fully realized band untethered to genres, with an endlessly bright future. Composed of Bobby Paver and Nathan Dickerson on vocals and guitar, bassist Clayton Allender, drummer Ethan Wescott, and Karlie Dickerson on keys Motherfolk are not only bandmates, but best friends. The band’s close-knit relationship allows each member to be their most authentic self, leaving every ounce of their souls to be poured into each song and high-energy performance.

Despite their light-hearted, groovy-rock sound Motherfolk is dedicated to creating a much deeper connection with their fans. They don’t shy away from the taboo, taking on heavy topics with a light heart. The results provide us with music you can dance to, whose impact is felt long after the song has ended. Since their formation Motherfolk has been on a steady upward trajectory, amassing well over 5 million Spotify streams on their three studio albums and selling out shows while touring heavily across the United States. You may have caught them at Lollapalooza in 2023 - or the Boston Calling Music Festival this spring.

4:00 p.m - 6:30 p.m: The Red Roses
Back again after one of the most memorable performances of the 2023 Summer Concert Series -The Red Roses are a Chicago-based 5-piece band that performs the alternative and indie hits that Millennials grew up on. Angular guitars, buzzy synths, sweaty beats and soaring vocals, all brought to the stage with edgy passion and authenticity. This band will have you on your feet dancing till the end of the festival with music from Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, The White Stripe, Beck, Foster the People, The Strokes, The Killers, Coldplay, Muse and more.