The organizers of the “Big Fort Fest” announced on Monday that their inaugural event will take place in July 2025.
Scheduled for July 10-12 at Headwaters Park, Jake and Jes Farris secured the weekend for the festival as soon as it was revealed that the Three Rivers Festival board had voted to file for bankruptcy. Their vision is to start small and gradually expand, with an emphasis on attracting local vendors and appealing to a younger audience.
The Farris’ goal is to revive Fort Wayne’s summer events. They are pleased to see that some of the long-standing events will continue, even after the changes surrounding TRF.
Events like the Chalk Walk, Lawton Park Flea Market, and Runners on Parade, which were affiliated with TRF but not part of it, will continue as planned.
With a background in event and festival planning, the Farris’ are confident that “Big Fort Fest” will be a success. They are also behind Tattoo Fest and have plans for additional events across the country. They are already in discussions with a promoter and working on booking nationally recognized performers for the festival.
Food will also be a major aspect of the festival, with the Farris’ planning to offer a fresh take on Junk Food Alley. They are focused on featuring locally owned food trucks.
As small business owners themselves, supporting local is important to the Farris’ family. They regularly dine at local restaurants and shop at local stores, and they want to keep the money circulating within Fort Wayne by supporting local food vendors at the festival.
While the Farris’ are aware that planning a large event in a short time frame comes with challenges, they are eager to make it a success. They are working out the details and plan to include a children’s event. They also stressed that community involvement will be crucial to their success. To learn more about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, click here.
The Farris’ hope that the “Big Fort Fest” will become a new Fort Wayne summer tradition, with plans to expand the festival in 2026.
Visit bigfortfest.com for more info.
