All In Good Fun
Big Fort Fest Fills Summer Slot and other Changes to Community Events
Summertime in the Summit City might look a little different this year but the same good times are poised to create great memories. After 55 years, Three Rivers Festival filed for bankruptcy in February. The Three River Festival was a beloved city tradition, and it left big shoes to fill for any event that followed it. Enter the new Big Fort Fest, a festival put on by brothers Jes and Jake Farris. During and after the Farris’fest, aspects of the Three Rivers Festival will return, some under new guises, including HeArt in the Park, Lawton Park Flea Market, Art Chalk Walk, Runners on PACE and, later in August, the Summit City Carnival.
Graphic via Big Fort Fest
The inaugural day of Big Fort Fest will be Thursday with live music from various recording artists including Bone Thugs-n- Harmony (5.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify). The Big Fort Fest will run through Saturday at Headwaters Park. The Big Fort Fest will also be hosting the Big Fort Forum, a marketplace for local creatives and craftspeople. The Big Fort Fest will bring food trucks featuring local favorites and classic confections. Big Fun Fest is an all-daycelebration for all ages with dance parties, inflatables and activity stations. The weekend promises to delight everyone.
Jes and Jake Farris, the organizers of the Big Fort Fest, have put on some large-scale events before. As local tattoo artists and owners of Studio 13, they have organized conventions and festivals for tattoo artists — and their work — both in Fort Wayne and nationally. When they saw the open weekend in July, they knew what must happen. The brothers scrambled to get sponsors and headliners for the live music, and secured some well-known musical artists to play at Headwaters Park all three nights of the Fest. Jes Farris said, “As a father of two young children, I am most excited for Big Fun Fest! Events like this can be a major strain on family finances. On July 12, we aim to put on an event that is entirely free to families and those who wish to attend. Games and crafts for the kids put together by some of the finest our community has to offer.” The brothers have had assistance in organizing the event from younger brother John Farris, co-organizer Jake Slater, and Jes’ wife, Addie Farris. After planning for just months, BFF is still in its infancy. The brothers describe 2025 as a “a launchpad for what the festival can become.” They are definitely planning for future years of BFF.
Another new event that is designed to replace a beloved old one is HeART in the Park, returning to Freimann Park on Saturday and Sunday. Local artists will have their work on display. Artists attend HeART in the Park to support one another, network and enjoy the art. The event is for artists, by artists, but anyone is welcome to come to “ooh and ahh” the art and take a walk in the park. Daniel Church of HeART in the Park said, “We want people to know that HeART of the City and HeART in the Park is a true labor of love–created by local artists, for local artists. Everything you see at the event comes from our own pockets and hard work. It’s all about building community, celebrating creativity and making something special together.” HeART in the Park is a community event that serves to support local artists and offers community enrichment.
Lawton Park Flea Market is a venerable event that is returning, even though the Three Rivers Festival has gone away. Lawton Park Flea Market will be from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There will be over 70 exhibitors with new, vintage and rare items. Items from comic books to high-end toys are all up for sale. Steve Meyer, event organizer, described the slotted vendors as a “good mix.” The history of the flea market is long-standing with many second and third generation dealers, making them less like friends and more like a family. Steve Meyer wants people to know they will keep the flea market going “as long as we can.”
Power’s Hamburgers courtesy of Power’s Hamburgers
As a part of the Big Fort Fest, Power’s Hamburgers has a powerful fest that will be returning for a sophomore season.” Powers Fest, celebrating Power’s 85 years of operation, is Thursday through July 16. Last year’s Power Fest looked more like a grand reopening. As an affiliate event of Big Fort Fest, Powers wants to focus on “creating and preserving cherished memories.” Get excited for a record-setting week at Power’s. Stay up on Thursday because Powers is open until 2 am and the first 12 “Powers Packs” after midnight will receive a Power’s Hamburgers mug. Managing partner, Alex Richardson, says Power’s wants to give back to the late-night crowd. Saturday is Family Day, including face paint, kids’ meals and balloon creations. Monday is the Power’s Hamburgers car show. To take part in the car show, register in-person. Can you eat more than 20 sliders? On July 15, you have a chance to beat the prior record at the slider-eating contest. For your chance to set the record, register in-person. Powers will be trying to break the world record for most sliders sold in one day. To aid in their endeavor, buy some sliders on July 16 during special hours and with special guests.
Chalk Walk in previous years via FWMOA.
Back for the 25th year, the Chalk Walk, put on by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, will be on Saturday and Sunday. “We are delighted to continue this community event for the 25th anniversary!” said Emily Uphoff, events director at the museum. The “canvases,” which are squares of pavement, are all sold out as of now, but the waitlist is still available. The Chalk Walk is based on a tradition from 16th century Italy, known as “i madonnari” or street painters. The awards for best use of a sidewalk blemish, people’s choice and best under age 12. Artists and bystanders alike will enjoy the 25th annual Chalk Walk.
Runners on PACE Course Map (courtesy of Fort Wayne Running Club)
Runners are on pace to take part in the annual 5K race, previously a part of TRF. Now known as Runners on PACE (ROP), it will be presented by Fort Wayne Orthopedics. The race is on Saturday at 8 am. To register, visit the website and register before race day. For runners aged up to 17, the registration fee is $25. For adults 18 and over, the fee is $33. “We kept the race going for both serious racers and those who are running for fun,” said race director, Steve Heim. These fees also cover post-race snacks, T-shirts and cash prizes for winning participants. Fort Wayne Orthopedics is sponsoring the race and “have been an absolutely fantastic and great partner.” Many of their doctors and nurses take part in the race. Steve Heim said, “We are in the same boat as [The Big Fort Fest], striving to keep these summer traditions alive rather than being lost due to the dissolution of that organization. We are rooting for their success as I am sure they are rooting for ours!” The course will have nice loops with a straight section of paved trail in the last mile of the race.
Arial view of fair via Kessel Entertainment
“This is more than a fair” said Paris Kissel about the Summit City Carnival. Summit City Carnival, which may evoke memories of the Three Rivers Festival midway for some folks, will be held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum parking lot from August 1-9. Kissel Entertainment will host the carnival, and it promises “The biggest carnival Fort Wayne has ever seen, bringing unparalleled entertainment for attendees across the Midwest.” Kissel Entertainment is bringing original whimsical characters for photo ops. , Toys based on these characters will be available as prizes. A deep-fried tribute to the Three Rivers’ Festival’s Junk Food Alley will be incorporated into the carnival. The Summit City Carnival promises to bring “strong attendance” and its organizers have contracted with law enforcement, private security and safety professionals to ensure the safety of carnival attendees. Kissel Entertainment is “the first and only Sensory Inclusive™ certified traveling entertainment provider through our partnership with KultureCity,” said Kissel. The carnival classics will be in attendance: fair foods, games, rides and related experiences.
Returning traditions are coming back to the Summit City but there are plenty of new events to try and traditions in the making. Whether it is carnival games, chalk artwork, a 5k or a flea market, there is something for everyone. Vendors, sponsors and visitors alike are hoping for a successful festival launch, with enough momentum to keep the Big Fort Fest on for years to come. “We are just getting started,” said Farris. “This is your festival. We are listening. Tell us what you want! … We can do better, and we love what we’ve seen so far as response to our event. Get involved, volunteer, sponsor, & attend. This community and Big Fort Fest have to be representative of our community.” This summer in Summit City is sure to be full of new events and returning traditions, with something for everyone from slider-eating contests to flea markets to carnivals.
