GREENFIELD – The 2023 Riley Festival is coming to downtown Greenfield Oct. 5-8, and several contest entry forms are available online now.
Anita Turner, president of the Riley Festival board, said an estimated 78,000 come to the four-day festival every year.
“The festival is such a celebration and a come-together for our community,” Turner said. “It supports our downtown merchants and the city of Greenfield as a whole. The tourism dollars that impact the county are evident as well, with hotels being booked for the festival.”
The annual event coincides with the birthday of Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley, a native of Greenfield. This year’s theme is Riley’s poem “Nine Little Goblins.”
Turner said they are sold out of vendor space already.
“We look forward to 450 vendors – arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing, boutique items. We’ll also have traditional food trucks and commercial booths are there as well.”
Just prior to the actual festival is the selection of royalty: the Riley Festival Queen Pageant at 6 p.m. Sept. 24 at Trinity Park Church.
The Children’s Flower Parade – the tradition of laying flowers at the Riley statue – will have a traditional feel this year: school is in session, so school groups have been invited to participate as a special trip to downtown Greenfield. The last few years, the flower parade was small due to Fall Break. The flower parade is at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 6.
The Riley Festival Parade takes place at 11 a.m. Oct. 7; the deadline to enter is Sept. 13. There are usually around 75 entries in the parade, which travels from Greenfield-Central High School to downtown Greenfield.
The photography contest, fine arts show, and home arts/quilt shows run throughout the festival Oct. 5-8, with drop-off Oct. 4. The fine arts can be viewed at the Twenty North Gallery while photography and home arts will be at the Hancock County Courthouse Annex.
There will also be a Little Miss and Little Mr. Riley Festival Pageant Oct. 6, with applications due Oct. 2.
Several poetry contests with prizes are coming up, including a written poetry contest based on this year’s theme (deadline Sept. 25); open poetry reading Oct. 7 (register by Oct. 2); a fourth grade poetry contest (due Oct. 2).
Apples are the theme of this year’s Baker’s Best contest, hosted by Hancock County Extension Homemakers and Tuttle Orchards. Entries are due Sept. 30 for judging and the grand champion will win $50 and be asked to create a new baked entry for the mayor at the Mayor’s Breakfast Oct. 7.
A pumpkin-decorating contest will be at the Hancock County Courthouse Annex Oct. 5. Participants may use paper, glue, paint or other craft items to decorate with the theme “Nine Little Goblins” and pumpkins will remain on display through Oct. 8.
Turner said she’s thankful for the city of Greenfield’s support, as well as the Indiana Department of Transportation in closing streets for the event.
Now all that’s left to wonder about is the weather, she added. The early-October festivities have faced all kinds of weather over the years.
“We tell our vendors to prepare their booths for anything – wind, rain, snow, sun,” she said.
For more information and to enter contests, visit rileyfestival.com.
