Are you ready? This year's Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival is set to return to Martinsville on October 8-11, 2026. This year's theme is "Communities Celebrating Together." That's right, this fun fall festival has been an iconic Morgan County fall tradition for over 65 years! You'll find just about everything you can ask for in a fall festival, and maybe even a few surprises. Don't worry - we've got all the details. Check the event schedule below for specific event times.
**Please note that this year's Fall Foliage Festival will be held at the Morgan County Fairgrounds due to an ongoing renovation project at the Morgan County Courthouse. This project is in the second year of a two-year time span, after which the festival committee will reevaluate whether or not to return to downtown Martinsville in October of 2027, or remain at the Fairgrounds.**
This year's festival marks the event's 67th year of bringing carnival fun to Morgan County. Carnival rides are open Thursday through Sunday, there's entertainment and events throughout the weekend and the annual parade takes place on Sunday. The parade begins at Bell Intermediate Academy on Columbus Street, turns right onto 2nd Street, then left onto Washington Street. The parade continues on Washington Street to the downtown courthouse square. From there, the parade will proceed south on Main Street, then left heading east on Columbus Street, right onto Home Avenue, then left onto Gray Street, ending at the Martinsville High School parking lot. As always, the parade steps off at 1:30 pm and is approximately two hours in length.
Here's what's on tap for this year's Fall Foliage Festival - the multi-day event kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 8 with Customer Appreciation booths and Family Bargain Night on the midway featuring special pricing on ride tickets. There will be free entertainment each evening along with rides, food and fun, as well as several other events such as the Car Show, 5K Run/Walk, and even Bed Races. Get the details below:
Thursday, October 8
5-9 pm Baby Photo Contest Voting Open
5-10 pm Carnival Midway Open (Family Bargain Night - all rides one ticket per rider)
5-10 pm Food Trucks & Vendor Booths open
5:30 pm Studio J2 Dance Performance
6-8 pm Customer Appreciation Night
7 pm Free Stage: Common Ground
Friday, October 9
5-9 pm Baby Photo Contest Voting Open
5-10 pm Carnival Midway Open
5-10 pm Food Trucks & Vendor Booths Open
5:30 pm Elite Dance & Acrobatics Performance
6:45-7:15 pm Echoing Taps Presentation (Spirit of '45)
7:20 pm Free Stage: Phil Pierle & The Enablers
Saturday, October 10
8 am - 3 pm Car Show
9am - 6 pm Hazelnut Forge Blacksmithing Demonstrations
10 am - 2 pm Kids' Activities (Pedal Tractor Pull, Pumpkin Painting, Water Balloon Toss, Egg Carry Obstacle Course, Prize Search)
10:30 am Bed Race
5-8 pm Baby Photo Contest Voting Open
2 pm Rhythm Chasers Clogging Group Performance
3 pm Martinsville Academy Gymnastics Performance
4 pm MHS Vocal Jazz Choir
5 pm Gentry Martial Arts Demonstration
7 pm Free Stage: Michael McCartney Band
Sunday, October 11
8 am 5K Run/Walk Registration/Packet Pickup at Bell Intermediate Academy (Register Online)
9:15 am 5K Run/Walk begins (race travels the parade route)
Noon - 4 pm Carnival & Vendors open
1:30-3:30 pm Fall Foliage Festival Parade (Leaves from Bell Intermediate Academy; Ends at Martinsville High School)
4 pm Festival concludes - See you again next year!
