Valparaiso Popcorn Festival

Name: Valparaiso Popcorn Festival — Valparaiso Events
Start: 2026-09-12T08:00:00-0400
End: 2026-09-12T18:30:00-0400
Location: Downtown Valparaiso

Saturday, September 12, 2026
8:00 AM 6:30 PM 08:00 18:30

Downtown Valparaiso 79 Lincolnway Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 United States (map)

Google Calendar ICS

47th Annual Valparaiso

Popcorn Festival

Saturday, September 12, 2026

DOWNTOWN VALPARAISO

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

Parade: 10:00 a.m.

Don’t miss this long-standing Valparaiso tradition as it returns for its 47th year! After watching the Popcorn Parade, explore 340+ vendors lining Downtown Valpo’s streets, enjoy the Beer Garden and Main Stage Music performances in Central Park Plaza, frolic at the Ultimate Poppin’ Play Zone, and so much more! There’s fun for all ages!

festival map

vendor list

Popcorn Festival Brochure

Popcorn Festival Parade Map

parade livestream

Valpo Parks Popcorn Panic Race & INFO

ADDITIONAL PARKING OPTIONS:

256 Brown Street (corner of Brown St. & S. Napoleon St. near Journeyman Distillery) - $15 per car
455 W Lincolnway (parking lot behind Franklin House; enter off Lincolnway) - $15 per car
Lots by Journeyman Distillery - Valparaiso Creative Council fundraiser - $15 per car
Porter County Administrative Building Parking Garage - $20 per car

HANDICAP PARKING OPTIONS:

Bartholomew Funeral Home - 102 Monroe Street
Shuttle Parking Lot - 1201 E. Lincolnway
- Shuttle is handicap accessible!

Main Stage Music Lineup

THE SHAGADELICS | 12 - 1:30 PM

Get ready to boogie, Valparaiso! The Shagadelics bring the glitter, groove, and funky vibes of the 1970s to life at weddings, corporate events, and city festivals throughout the Chicagoland area. Based in Des Plaines, IL, they perform across the suburbs and throughout Northwest Indiana, making every event a far-out disco party.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB | 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Step into the time machine and blast off with The Breakfast Club – the electrifying rock dance band that brings the best of the 80s back to life! Every song is a chart-topping anthem, sparking epic ‘I KNOW this song!’ singalongs that’ll have the whole crowd rocking out. Let The Breakfast Club take you on a neon-lit journey through the most radical tunes of the 80s – it's going to be a totally awesome ride!

NO CRYING IN BASEBALL | 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Chicagoland’s Hottest ‘90s rock tribute band will close out the day. From the band - “Hey, Region Peeps! We’ll be rockin’ downtown Valpo like it’s never been rocked before with our catalog of ‘90s rock tributes! As a bonus, we’ll be bringing you some ‘00s tunes in honor of this year’s theme, “Poppin’ Through The Decades.”

47 YEARS OF TRADITION

This long-standing community tradition will return in 2026 for its 47th year! The Valparaiso Popcorn Festival continues to offer family-fun activities for all ages. Over 280 arts & crafts booths, 80 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.