Van Buren Popcorn Festival Explained

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

External links

• Festival Home Page
• Van Buren, Indiana

40.6169°N -85.5064°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Popcorn facts many pop-ably don't know. Morrow. Tier. 1 February 2019. Ball State Daily. 27 June 2019.
2. Web site: Van Buren Popcorn Festival. Van Buren Popcorn Festival . April 14, 2024.