The Festival of the Turning Leaves is taking place Sept. 25–27 in downtown Thorntown, bringing a weekend of fall activities and family entertainment to the community.
The annual Boone County tradition will feature a parade, 5K and 10K races, live music, a street fair, kids zone, food vendors, a cornhole tournament, car show, Touch-a-Truck and more.
Residents and visitors can enjoy the festival’s small-town atmosphere while shopping local vendors, enjoying festival food and celebrating the arrival of fall.
The Festival of the Turning Leaves continues through Sunday in downtown Thorntown.
Friday, Sept. 25
- 10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Sugar Creek Art Center
- 11 a.m.–4 p.m. — Thorntown Heritage Museum
- 5–7:30 p.m. — Navajo Tacos & Sweet Frybread, Lions Park Shelter
- 5:30–7:30 p.m. — Bingo Fundraiser, Friends of the Thorntown Public Library
- 6:30–7:30 p.m. — Foam Party, Tom Johnson Memorial Park
- 8 p.m. — Toy Story 5, Tom Johnson Memorial Park, with free popcorn
- Glow Foam Party following the movie
Saturday, Sept. 26
- 7 a.m.–until gone — Biscuits & Gravy, Lions Park Food Court
- 8:30 a.m. — 5K/10K Walk/Run Registration, East Church Street
- 9 a.m. — TRAIL HEAD 5K/10K Walk/Run Start
- 9 a.m. — Flag Raising and Opening Ceremony
- 9 a.m. — Street Fair & Food Court Opens
- 9 a.m.–5 p.m. — Thorntown Heritage Museum
- 9:30 a.m. — Tom Melville Patriotic Concert
- 10 a.m.–2 p.m. — Versiti BloodMobile, Main Street
- 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — Book Sale, Thorntown Public Library
- 10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Sugar Creek Art Center
- 10 a.m.–6 p.m. — Kids Area
- 10:30 a.m. — Arni’s Pizza Eating Contest
- 11 a.m. — Parade Lineup & Judging, Mill Street
- 11 a.m.–1 p.m. — Back Porch Pickers
- 1 p.m. — Parade, starting at Thorntown Elementary School
- 2 p.m. — Larry Gindhart, Native American Flute & Story of Ka-Wi-A-Ki-Un-Gi
- 2 p.m. — WCWO Wrestling, North Market Street
- 2 p.m. — Cornhole Registration, Lions Park
- 2–4 p.m. — Dave’s Barrel Train Rides, Heritage Museum
- 2:30 p.m. — Boone County Bike Night, West Main Street
- 3 p.m. — Cornhole Tournament, Lions Park
- 4 p.m. — WCWO Wrestling, North Market Street
- 5:30–7:30 p.m. — Bury ‘N’ McIntyre
- 7 p.m. — WCWO Championship Wrestling Match
- 8–11 p.m. — Rockology Chicago
Sunday, Sept. 27
- 7 a.m.–until gone — Biscuits & Gravy, Food Court
- 9 a.m. — Street Fair & Food Court Begins
- 9 a.m. — Car Show Registration, West Main Street
- 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. — Car Show, West Main Street
- 10:30 a.m. — Community Church Service, Christ the King
- 11 a.m.–3 p.m. — Sugar Creek Art Center
- 11 a.m.–4 p.m. — Kids Area
- Noon — Western Boone Star Voices
- Noon–3 p.m. — Touch-a-Truck, Lions Park
- Noon–4 p.m. — Thorntown Heritage Museum
- 1 p.m. — Talent Factory Arts & Dance
- 1 p.m. — WCWO Wrestling, North Market Street
- 2–4 p.m. — Backroad Revival
- 2–6 p.m. — Anything Goes, Tom Johnson Park
- 3 p.m. — Car Show Awards
- 4 p.m. — Retiring of Colors, Town Hall
- 4 p.m. — Festival Closes