The annual Van Buren Popcorn Festival is a festival held each August, typically during the 1st or 2nd full Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the month, in Van Buren, Indiana.[1] The festival is held in celebration of the central role of popcorn to the town. As with many small town festivals, Van Buren's focuses on a theme that has meaning to the community. First held in 1973, the Popcorn Festival has become a homecoming event to many "expatriate" residents of this small community.[2]

Since 2020, strict measures are undertaken, such as wearing masks & social distancing.

Schedule

Whilst the schedule varies each year it usually tends to follow a similar pattern:

Thursday:

  • evening: Boy Scouts Popcorn tent opens, serving popped popcorn; centerpiece of the town "midway" of fair booths and kiddie rides
  • evening: many food and craft booths
  • 6:30 p.m. Parade
    • hundreds of units participate, including area school bands, civic clubs, first responder volunteers and so forth
    • a frequent highlight of the parade is antique cars and antique tractors
    • the 50-year reunion class of the Van Buren High School rides a float in parade each year
  • late evening: entertainment on the stage

Friday:

  • afternoon and evening: Boy Scouts popcorn tent opens
  • afternoon and evening: food and crafts vendors
  • late afternoon: children's bicycle parade
  • early evening: pet parade
  • evening until late: open-air concert downtown

Saturday:

  • early morning: volunteer fire department pancake & sausage breakfast
  • early morning: "Fun Run" and 5K "Kernel Classic" run
  • all day: civic and festival events
    • Free Cholesterol Testing
    • food and craft vendors
    • Fincannon Memorial Car and Motorcycle Show
  • Cornhole Tournament
  • afternoon: Boy Scouts Popcorn Tent
  • afternoon: Children's Biblical Festival at the United Methodist Church Annex
  • late afternoon: Baby Parade
  • evening until late: open-air concert downtown

References

  1. Morrow, Tier (1 February 2019). "Popcorn facts many pop-ably don't know". Ball State Daily. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  2. "Van Buren Popcorn Festival". Retrieved 27 June 2019.

40°37′1″N 85°30′23″W / 40.61694°N 85.50639°W / 40.61694; -85.50639

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