Valparaiso Popcorn Festival (Official)

10/06/2026

09/17/2026

🍿🖍️ A POPPIN’ GOOD COLORING CONTEST! 🖍️🍿

The 2026 Popcorn Festival Coloring Contest brought some seriously creative artwork our way! 🎨✨ We received submissions from students at:

🏫 Cooks Corners Elementary
🏫 Central Elementary
🏫 Thomas Jefferson Elementary
🏫 Flint Lake Elementary
🏫 Heavilin Elementary
🏫 Memorial Elementary
🏫 Northview Elementary
🏫 Parkview Elementary

And now, the winning artwork is on display in the Valpo Events Office windows!👀🍿

Stop by and check out the colorful masterpieces from this year’s talented young artists at 150 W. Lincolnway, Suite 1006 (Right across Lafayette Street from Pickles!)

🏆 Winners will be receiving their prizes at school from their teachers very soon!

A BIG thank you to Chick-fil-A Valparaiso for their generous donation of prizes for our winners and to all of the students and schools who participated. ❤️

You all made this year’s contest POP! 🍿✨

09/12/2026

🍿🎉 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐘! 🎉🍿

The wait is OVER! Today, Saturday, September 12, we’re Poppin’ Through the Decades in downtown Valparaiso for the 47th Annual Popcorn Festival! 🕺✨

Here’s your day at a glance 👇

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ 7:20 / 7:30 AM — Popcorn Panic 5 Mile & 5K Runs

🍿 8:00 AM –6:30 PM — 340+ Food, Craft. Fine Art, + Commercial Vendors open throughout downtown!

🏃 8:30 AM — Lit'l Kernel Puff Run

🎡 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM — Ultimate Poppin' Play Zone open!

🎈 Popcorn Parade — 10:00 AM

🍻 11:30 AM - 6:30 PM — B**r Garden Open | Central Park Plaza

🎸 12:00–6:30 PM — Main Stage Music | Central Park Plaza, Home to the 1st Source Bank Amphitheater

🎶 6:00 - 9:00 PM — Post-Pop Jam | Memorial Opera House

📺 Can’t make it to the parade? Tune in to the Popcorn Festival Parade livestream and watch the fun from wherever you are!
https://youtube.com/live/ep6XQSKT0ds?feature=share

Grab your crew, bring your popcorn appetite and let’s make it a day to remember! 🍿🎶💃

SEE YOU AT POPCORN FEST! 🍿🎉

09/11/2026

🍿💛 MEET OUR FRIENDS OF POPCORN FESTIVAL! 💛🍿

Every bit of support helps keep Popcorn Festival popping, and we’re incredibly grateful for the local businesses and organizations who have joined us as Friends of Popcorn Festival!

✨ 2026 Friends of Popcorn Festival:

RB Smith
Ozinga
The Linc
Universal Restorations & Construction
Valpo Velvet Ice Cream

Thank you for helping us celebrate 47 years of popcorn, community, and fun! We couldn’t do it without you. 🍿🎉

Be sure to support these Popcorn Fest friends throughout the year!

09/11/2026

🍿👏 A BIG thank-you to our BRONZE SPONSORS! 👏🍿

It takes a whole community to make Popcorn Festival happen, and these businesses and organizations are helping us keep this 47-year tradition popping!

🥉 2026 Bronze Sponsors:

1st Source Bank
Indiana University Northwest
Meijer
Horizon Bank
Northwest Indiana Tents & Events
Valparaiso University
Ricci's Landscape Management, Inc.
UChicago Medicine

Thank you for supporting Popcorn Festival and helping us bring another unforgettable weekend of fun to Valparaiso! 🎉

Show them some love and remember to support the businesses that support your community! 💛

09/11/2026

🎈🍿 LET’S HEAR IT FOR OUR PARADE SPONSORS! 🍿🎈

The Popcorn Festival Parade is one of the biggest highlights of the weekend, and we’re giving a huge THANK YOU to the businesses and organizations helping make it happen!

🎉 2026 Popcorn Parade Sponsors:

PLATINUM PARADE SPONSOR:
Lori K Bath

GOLD PARADE SPONSORS:
Purdue Northwest
Centier Bank
Terry's Windows & More

Thank you for helping us bring the floats, bands, performers, candy, and community spirit to the streets of Valpo! ❤️

Grab your spot along the route and get ready to Poppin’ Through the Decades! 🎶🍿🎉

Can't make it downtown to see the parade? Tune into the PARADE LIVESTREAM: https://youtube.com/live/ep6XQSKT0ds?feature=shar

09/11/2026

🍿✨ POPPING WITH THANKS for our SILVER SPONSORS! ✨🍿

Popcorn Festival is made possible by the amazing businesses and organizations that choose to invest in this community tradition. Our Silver Sponsors are helping us bring another year of music, fun, food, family activities, and plenty of POPCORN to Valparaiso! 🎉

🥈 2026 Silver Sponsors:

Chick-fil-A Valparaiso
Indiana Beverage
Ivy Tech Community College: Valparaiso / Michigan City / La Porte
Team Chevrolet Valparaiso
Smith Ready Mix Inc
Strack & Van Til
U S Federal Credit Union - #1364
Valpo Athletics

Thank you for helping us make the 47th Annual Popcorn Festival one to remember! We’re so grateful for your support. 💛

Be sure to show some love to the businesses that help keep Popcorn Fest popping! 🍿

09/11/2026

🏁🍿 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐏𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓! 🍿🏁

Popcorn Festival weekend is officially pulling into Downtown Valpo! 🚗💨

Join us 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟒:𝟑𝟎–𝟗:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 at Central Park Plaza for a FREE night of cool cars, Hot Wheels races, and plenty of Popcorn Festival energy!

Here’s what’s waiting for you:

🏎️ Hot Wheels Race of Champions
- Registration: 4:30 - 5:30 PM
- Races: 5:30 - 9:00 PM

🚘 Team Kaibyo RC Car Drift Track

🔥 Popcorn Festival Automotive Showcase with Drivers' Gallery
- 5:30 START

🍿 Food Truck Rally

Whether you’re a car enthusiast, a Hot Wheels fan, or just looking for something fun to do tonight, make a Popcorn Pit Stop in Downtown Valpo! 👀🏁

📅 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 | 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏
⏰ 𝟓:𝟑𝟎–𝟗:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐚, 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫
‼️𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐀𝐃𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍!

And tomorrow? The 47th Annual Popcorn Festival from 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM! 🍿🎡🎶

Let’s get this weekend POPPIN’! 🕺💿🍿

POPCORN PIT STOP SPONSORS:
Chick-fil-A Valparaiso
Graff Auto Campus
Ivy Tech Community College: Valparaiso / Michigan City / La Porte
Valpo Athletics

09/11/2026

🍿✨ A golden thanks to our GOLD Popcorn Festival sponsors! ✨🍿

Our Gold Sponsors help make the magic of Popcorn Festival weekend possible, from the entertainment and activities to all the little details that make this celebration so special.

Join us in showing some love to the businesses and organizations popping in to support the 47th Annual Popcorn Festival! 💛

🌟 2026 Gold Sponsors:

Drive & Shine
Graff Auto Campus
Indiana Army National Guard
Journeyman Distillery
Lerner and Rowe
Wintrust Indiana

We’re so grateful for your support and your investment in our community!

Give these Popcorn Fest supporters some love! 🍿👏