Love festivals, live music and special events? Looking to get out and explore more of Indiana this year?
Well, we've got 24 reasons for you to visit Morgan County in 2024 so you can get started planning this year's adventures. Don't forget - National Plan for Vacation Day is officially January 30, but we say why wait? Get started planning your fun getaways for 2024 with the more than 20 great Morgan County events and activities listed below.
1. Indiana Foodways Alliance Food Trails – Any time
I know, we said events, but honestly, isn't a great meal an event worthy of celebration? There's no set time frame involved with this one - stop in at one of our amazing restaurants any time whether you're here for the weekend or just passing through. Check out which Morgan County restaurants are currently featured on the statewide culinary trails to get you started. Be sure to check out Visit Indiana's culinary trails passport promotion so you can get credit for checking in at Morgan County eateries on the Indiana Foodways Alliance trails. We've got a wide variety of options to choose from including local eateries, a 100 year old candy shop, two breweries, a winery and a distillery... even a honey farm!
2. Paragon Speedway - April-Oct.
The 2024 schedule is yet to be announced, but you can be sure that the historic Paragon Speedway will have loads of fun things planned for 2024. Enjoy family-friendly, open air dirt track racing on this historic oval raceway that's been in operation since 1954... wait, that makes this year their 70th Anniversary season! That makes this the perfect year for your family to check out this iconic Morgan County racing tradition. Races will start in the spring (possibly in March, but they'll race in April for sure) and continue through early October, featuring 410 Springs, Super Stocks, Bombers and Hornets, plus some fun specialty races as well.
3. Total Solar Eclipse Weekend - April
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this area... seriously, if you miss this one, the next total solar eclipse that will be visible from North America won't occur until 2044, and the next one to impact Central Indiana won't be until 2099! Morgan County is perfectly positioned for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, with between and a half to four minutes of totality expected throughout the county - in fact, the path of greatest totality for Indiana passes right through Morgan County! The area east of Martinsville will see more than four minutes of total darkness on the afternoon of April 8! There will be tons of events and celebrations throughout that weekend, so be sure to keep an eye on our Solar Eclipse Page for updated information as the date draws nearer!
4. Drink at the Creek Concert Series – May-Oct
Way more than a single event, the Drink at the Creek Concert Series hosted by Cedar Creek Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Martinsville brings nationally-touring performers to the area for outdoor concerts from May through October. This year's series will kick off in May and run through early Oct. Keep an eye on our calendar (and our blog) for more information on this year's performances. All ages are welcome. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 day of show. (Also watch our calendar for lots of casual, free performances at Cedar Creek throughout the year.) Tickets will be available online at rdproductions.com.)
5. Annual Country Music Concert - June 15
The Morgan County Fairgrounds is the location for a big annual concert featuring nationally known country performers. Presented by RD Productions, this year's big summer concert performers are Martina McBride, Tracy Lawrence, and Diamond Rio with local opening acts Rose O'Neal and Michael McCartney. This will be one huge evening of live outdoor music with Cedar Creek Winery and Brewery on site with locally crafted beverages. Ticket prices range from $25 to $100 per person. Bring your own seating; all ages welcome. Watch for more details!
6. Summer Concerts at Pioneer Park & Bicentennial Park – May - July
Pioneer Park in Mooresville is a great place to visit any time of year, but the summer months mean live music in a beautiful outdoor setting, or choose live music in downtown Mooresville at Bicentennial Park. Beginning in May, the Mooresville Free Summer Concert Series will feature five live music events at Pioneer Park and three at Bicentennial Park, scheduled on select evenings with free admission, a regionally-known food truck on site and locally crafted wine and beer vendors as well. Bring your own seating; all ages are welcome.
7. Summer Concerts in Downtown Martinsville – May - July
Not to be outdone, Martinsville will also host a free summer concert series in the heart of downtown! The City of Martinsville Downtown Concert Series will run from May through July on select evenings at The Venue, located at the corner of Jefferson and Pike Streets just one block from the courthouse. Featured performers include regionally known bands and local favorites. It's a great reason to enjoy all that downtown Martinsville has to offer, including overnight accommodations at Brickhouse Loft, if you'd like kick off your weekend getaway a bit early! Bring your own seating; all ages are welcome. Watch for other fun events at The Venue throughout the warmer months as well.
8. Willowfield Lavender Farm – late May/early June - October
One of Morgan County's favorite seasonal destinations is Willowfield Lavender Farm. Watch for an announcement on this year's opening weekend - the popular attraction typically opens to visitors is late May or early June and remains open into October. The farm offers plants for sale, limited you-pick lavender sales, a gift shop with signature lavender tea and cookies as well as occasional special events. You might also want to mark your calendar for their annual Holiday Open House in mid-November - the on-site store is a great place for gift shopping!
9. Morgan County Antique Machinery Show - June 21-23
The last weekend in June means it's time for the Morgan County Antique Machinery Show at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. This event is always a fun one featuring demonstrations of steam powered equipment, antique tractors, a toy show, swap meet and even a tractor parade! Be sure to check out our blog post to find 10 reasons to attend this fun annual event. There's always great food on site as well, including homemade recipe ice cream!
10. Roadrunner Rally in the Valley - June 22
The annual Roadrunner Rally in the Valley is a 5K race, car show, motorcycle ride and more! This fun event brings a wide variety of cars and bikes to Martinsville to show off in early to mid June. The 5K race takes participants through historic downtown Martinsville neighborhoods and there are always fun activities for the kids throughout the day as well. If you love car shows, put this one on your must-attend list.
11. Anderson Orchard – July-October
Another popular seasonal attraction that made our list is Anderson Orchard. They open for the season on the first weekend of July. Mark your calendar for their popular events - they host an Apple Festival and Craft Fair the last weekend in September; slightly over a week of fun fall break festivities in October; and Central Indiana's only 5K held on the grounds of an apple orchard in mid-October. Of course, you can always stop in any time, July through October for fresh produce, you-pick berries, cider slushies and so much more! (The kids will love their play area, too!)
12. Morgan County Fair – July 8-13
Always a great reason to visit, the Morgan County fair takes place in late July/early August and features everything you'd expect from a county fair. There are carnival rides, a fantastic food court featuring local vendors, 4-H projects on display, vendor booths, live music on the free stage, grandstand events and of course, cute farm animals. This year's fair dates are earlier than in previous years, so be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss it!
13. Dust Bowl 100 Gravel Bicycle Race - July 27
A relatively new event to Morgan County, this one takes a bit of planning. Registration begins Jan. 1 for this year's - Indiana's only gravel century race for bicyclists. If you'd like to participate, get registered early as spaces are limited and they're filling up fast with riders from throughout the state and beyond. The event features three course lengths to choose from so if you're not quite up to a century ride yet, that's okay. Each course offers gorgeous rural scenery and historic bridges as you travel through Morgan and Putnam Counties.
14. Artie Fest - July 27
This fun Martinsville festival takes place each year and features the Artie Fest 5K on Saturday morning, an outdoor concert, a Craft Show, Kids' Activities, Car Show, fun performances throughout the day at The Venue and of course great festival food! Watch for more information on this year's featured musical performers and other details about this fun annual event in Downtown Martinsville! (Also save the date for the Artie Fest Holiday Craft Fair on November 9.)
15. Old Settlers Picnic & Fair - August
A uniquely Mooresville event, Old Settlers Picnic & Fair takes place at Pioneer Park. Enjoy end-of-summer festival fun at the park with carnival rides, games, local booths, fair food and live music. The fun lasts three nights and the timing makes it a great "end of summer" celebration to enjoy with the family. Ride tickets can usually be purchased in advance at the Pioneer Park office. This event, and others in Mooresville, will have the added attraction of this year being the town's Bicentennial Celebration! Check out mooreville200.com for more details on all sorts of fun bicentennial events.
16. Small Town Fall Festivals – September
September is a month that's chock-full of fun festivals and every one of Morgan County's small towns has their own event! Starting with Labor Day Weekend, when the Paragon Homecoming Festival celebrates 100 years this year with live music, great food and festival fun! There's literally something happening every single weekend throughout the whole month of September. Don't miss the Monrovia Festival, Eminence Harvest Days, Colonel Vawter Day in Morgantown and more. Each small town celebration has its own unique highlights and all include live entertainment and lots of fun, so be sure to watch for more details on our calendar.
17. Hunter’s Honey Farm – September (or any time, really)
Okay, so you can visit Hunter's Honey Farm any time of year - they're open year-around and offer fun honey barn tours for groups of all sizes - but September is when they host their annual Fall Harvest Celebration. A celebration of the honey season, this fun one-day event features free tours, live hive demonstrations, kids activities, a great concession stand featuring local honey and even helicopter rides! This family-owned and operated farm has been making life sweeter in Morgan County for four generations.
18. Old Town Waverly Park Festival - September 28-29
The Old Town Waverly Park Festival should already be on your must-do list for 2024 (here are 10 reasons why). The two-day event is always a ton of fun featuring live entertainment, historic reenactments, craft vendors, farm animals, kids activities and traditional arts demonstrations, plus a car show on Sunday! Keep an eye out for more details as we get closer.
19. Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival - October 10-13
A Morgan County tradition for over 60 years, the Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival is always a highlight of the year. This four-day long festival features all kinds of fun, live performances each day, carnival rides and midway games, an art exhibit, queen contest, a 5K race along the parade route and more! The parade takes place on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 pm followed by a final afternoon of carnival rides.
20. Candy Cane Demonstrations - Saturdays in November/December (and select dates throughout the year)
The Martinsville Candy Kitchen does live candy cane demonstrations each Saturday in November and December. The holiday season is peak viewing time and Santa is typically on hand on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and the 3rd Sat in December (cameras are welcome!). Want to visit during a less crowded time? Be sure to watch their Facebook page for other demonstration dates and fun specialty candy canes like hearts for Valentine's Day, clovers for St. Patrick's Day and red white and blue candy sticks for the 4th of July! They make candy canes throughout the year for the store, but don't miss the candy counter and ice cream options when you visit!
21. Victorian Christmas Celebration - December 7
This annual holiday celebration in Mooresville is like no other! Stop back in time to the Victorian era (costumes are welcome but not required) where you'll encounter Father Christmas, Ebeneezer Scrooge and other fun characters. Enjoy a day of holiday celebration and shopping with multiple sites throughout town featuring vendor booths, live entertainment, great food, hands-on activities and so much more. One of our very favorite holiday traditions, Victorian Christmas is fun for all ages. A free trolley is available for transportation between stops throughout town. (Don't forget to check out the Mooresville Holiday Light Tour while you're in town, too!)
22. Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Music Spectacular - December 8
This relatively new holiday event is already a local favorite! The Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Band, which includes the son and grandson of original Jingle Bell Rock performer Bobby Helms is a featured part of the evening's festivities, but additional live music, carriage rides, a trackless train for the kids, candy cane demonstrations at the Martinsville Candy Kitchen and even ice skating are all part of the fun! The evening concludes with the lighting of the downtown Christmas Tree around 7 pm.
23. Christmas Light Tours - December
Each December, bring back the simple childhood joy of a family drive to look at Christmas lights! Both Martinsville and Mooresville have self-guided Christmas light tours, so you know exactly where to go to see the best displays, plus a chance to vote for your favorites online. Indulge in dinner at a locally owned eatery and you'll have a family memory that will last a lifetime!
24. Martinsville Cookie Stroll - December 14
Did someone say cookies? The Martinsville Cookie Stroll is presented each year by Rediscover Martinsville, the city's Main Street organization. If you're lucky enough to get a Cookie Passport (quantities are limited and they always sell out) you'll get a cookie at each of 20+ stops throughout downtown Martinsville. We recommend sharing a passport with friends or family, as you really only need one (or two, depending on the size of your group). Even if you don't get one of the coveted cookie passports, you'll still enjoy a festive day of downtown fun with holiday shopping, a variety of live entertainment, vendor booths, fun characters like Peppermint the Penguin, the Grinch, Santa Claus himself, and so much more. Don't forget to stop by the Martinsville Candy Kitchen to see (and smell) candy canes being made!
There you have it - 24 great reasons to visit Morgan County to create memories at fun events throughout the year! This is by no means an exhaustive list, so be sure to check back on our calendar of events as many more events will be added as the we move further into the new year. Don't forget about all other the fun things to do in Morgan County, including farms to visit, trails to explore and more, available anytime throughout the year! Make it a full weekend with an overnight stay, and be sure to check out the area's many unique local restaurants while you're here to fuel the fun.
