Published: September 30, 2009 02:43 pm      

A very festive fall

Activities abound in and around Hamilton County

If summer seemed to slip by you without much fun in the sun, never fear – the temperatures might be cooler in the fall, but it’s is a hot time to get your fairs and festivals fix. Here’s a snapshot of some of the best around, both in Hamilton County and a little bit beyond.



Harvest Moon Festival

Dates: Oct. 3-4, 2009

Location: Biddle Memorial Park, Sheridan

Cost: Free

Sheridan might be a tiny town, but this festival is big on fun. It features much more than just the standard hayride; a motorcycle classic car show, food and craft vendors, and amusement rides are a few of the highlights.



Fishers Renaissance Faire

Dates: Oct. 3-4, 2009

Location: Conner Prairie

Cost: $8 for adults; $5 for kids ages 5 to 12

Craving something a little different? The Fishers Renaissance Faire is all about unique entertainment, featuring fire eaters, jugglers, archery, Irish step dancers, magicians, and even medieval combat demonstrations.



Pumpkin Harvest Festival

Dates: Sept. 26 – Oct. 31

Location: Stonycreek Farm, Noblesville

Cost: $5 for parking; various fees for events and games

All things Halloween abound at Stonycreek, with far more than just pumpkins for picking. Families are first here, with hayrides, farm animals, face painting, a haunted house, pony rides, and more. Various games provide cheap entertainment, too (most are just $1 each), such as an inflatable “kiddiepillar.”



Fall Harvest Festival

Dates: Sept. 26 – Oct. 31

Location: Indianapolis (7010 E. Raymond St.)

Cost: $5

The Fall Harvest Festival gives good bang for your buck, with a flurry of fun activities included for your $5 fee. A corn maze, kid-climbable straw mountain, tricycle trail for children 10 and younger, and seven inflatable games make the festival a good family deal.



Pumpkinfest

Date: Every weekend in October

Location: The Country Market, Zionsville

Cost: $8 for adults, $7 for children 3-12

The Country Market lives up to its name with its annual Pumpkinfest, providing all the down-home fun you’ll need, with farm animals, bluegrass music, pumpkin decorating and much more.



Christmas in October

Date: Oct. 10, 2009

Location: Fishers High School

Cost: $5 for adults

If you live for having the best-decorated house on the block around Christmas, the annual “Christmas in October,” held at Fishers High School, might just be for you. The fair features more than 150 craft exhibitors.



International Festival

Dates: Nov. 20-22, 2009

Location: West Pavilion – Indiana State Fairgrounds

The International Festival might have the best festival food around this fall, featuring cuisine from numerous countries around the globe. Cultural performance groups on two different entertainment stages will also be a highlight.