Are you ready? This year's Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival is set to return to Downtown Martinsville on October 12-15, 2023. This year's theme is "That Fall Feeling." This fun fall festival has been an iconic Morgan County fall tradition for more than 60 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 events.
This year's festival marks the event's 64th year of bringing carnival fun to the courthouse square. 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 pm and is approximately two hours in length.
Here's what's on tap for this year's Fall Foliage Festival - the four day event kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 12 with Family Bargain Night featuring special pricing on ride tickets. There will be free entertainment each evening along with rides, food and fun on the courthouse square as well as the annual Art Show, and several off site events such as the Car Show, 5K, Bed Races and Relay Races.
Thursday, October 12
5 pm Carnival opens (Family Bargain Night - all rides one ticket per rider)
5-9 pm Food Trucks & Craft Vendors open
5:30 pm Foodie Eating Contest
6 pm Studio J2 Dance Performance
6-8 pm Customer Appreciation Night
6:30-8:30 pm Art Show at the Art Sanctuary (190 N. Sycamore Street)
7-9:30 pm Free Stage: Family-friendly DJ
Friday, October 13
Noon-9 pm Art Show at the Art Sanctuary (190 N. Sycamore Street)
5 pm Carnival opens
5-9 pm Food Trucks & Craft Vendors Open
5 pm K-9 Demonstration
5:45 pm Clogging Demonstration
6:55 pm TAPS on the Square (Spirit of '45)
7:30-10 pm Free Stage: Cord Watkins & MLE Band
Saturday, October 14
9 am - 2 pm Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show (John R Wooden Middle School - Main Street)
Includes automotive swap meet, food truck and live entertainment.
11 am - 10 pm Food Vendors & Craft Vendors Open
11 am - 2 pm Kids' Activities: (Pre-registration form)
Bean Bag Toss, Bubble Gum Blowing Contest, Tricycle Race, Relay Race, Straw Search, Football Toss, Pedal Tractor Pull
Noon-3 pm Art Show at the Art Sanctuary (190 N. Sycamore Street)
1 pm Carnival opens. (Kids' Day: One Ticket Rides from 1-5 pm)
3 pm Bed Races & Relay Races (John R Wooden Middle School - Main Street)
2 pm Clogging Demonstration
3 pm Cornhole Tournament (Jefferson Street)
4 pm Bloomington Blockheads Roller Derby Team Demonstration
5 pm Gentry Martial Arts Demonstration
6 pm Elite Dance Demonstration
7-10 pm Free Stage: Otis Tucker Band
Sunday, October 15
8 am 5K Run/Walk Registration/Packet Pickup at Bell Intermediate Academy (Register Online)
9:30 am 5K Run/Walk begins (race travels the parade route)
Noon - 5 pm Carnival & Craft Vendors open
1 pm Fall Foliage Festival Parade (Leaves from Bell Intermediate Academy; Ends at Martinsville High School)
5 pm Festival concludes - See you again next year!
