This story has been updated to correct the time of the opening ceremonies for the Riley Festival.
GREENFIELD — You can almost taste the pineapple whip and teriyaki chicken on a stick.
The Riley Festival returns Thursday, Oct. 7, with opening ceremonies kicking off at 6 p.m.
This year’s theme is all things bumblebees, based on the poem “The Bumblebee” by festival namesake James Whitcomb Riley, whose October birthday is the inspiration for the festival each year.
This will be the 51st year for the Riley Festival, which converts the area around State and Main streets in downtown Greenfield into a four-day street party, complete with vendor booths, festival foods, live music and libations.
The festival celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, but was canceled last year — for the first time ever — due to COVID-19.
Given the fact the festival draws tens of thousands of people to the downtown each year, many weren’t surprised by last year’s cancellation, but festival organizer Nancy Alldredge said it broke her heart nonetheless.
Armed with a walkie talkie and a golf cart, Alldredge is among a small army of volunteers who devote themselves to making sure Greenfield’s fall festival is a success.
Things are looking much brighter this year than last, she said. The festival board has received an outpouring of positive support for the festival’s return.
“It makes us feel good to know how much the festival means to people,” said Alldredge, who is eager to see the downtown streets abuzz with activity. “It’s good to be back. It really is.”
Festival organizers hope the wait will make this year’s festival even sweeter.
“I think it’s something everyone’s really hungry for,” said Alldredge’s daughter and fellow board member, Anita Turner. “People are excited to be out, and have really missed all the tradition that goes along with the festival.”
Organizers will not be enforcing any mask or social distancing restrictions this year, said Turner, but hand sanitizer stations will be available.
Here is a summary of what you can expect at this year’s event:
VENDORS
Browsing the various vendor booths is among the highlights at each year’s festival.
Turner said the festival’s 450 vendor spaces typically sell out quickly, but new vendors are still rolling in due to last-minute cancellations.
“The last-minute cancellations are not uncommon, and they give new vendors the chance to participate. A lot of them have been vendors at other festivals, and are choosing to join us this year,” said Turner, who is happy to see the field grow.
While food vendor spots always fill up the fastest, Alldredge said the number of vendors requesting spots in the flea market section on North Street were down significantly this year.
Festival-goers seem to love the booths offering handmade items, especially those made by local artisans, said Turner, and most everyone has their favorite food booths they visit each year.
“I’d say the pineapple whip ice cream, fried veggies and tenderloins are among the most popular,” she said.
LIVE MUSIC
Live music has always been a part of the Riley Festival, but this year’s lineup of musical acts just might be the most diverse and talented one yet, said Tony Seiler, who runs the Greenfield Music shop east of downtown Greenfield.
Seiler has been tasked with lining up the musical acts for the Riley Festival for about a decade now, and he’s blown away by the acts he’s been able to secure this year.
“As the festival grows each year, our music budget grows, and we’re able to pull in better and better bands,” said Seiler, who schedules entertainment at three different festival locations: the Gazebo Stage on Courthouse Plaza; the Rock Stage in the Living Alley off Main Street; and the Entertainment Tent on South Street.
All performances are free. The Rock Stage and Entertainment Tent will each feature a beer garden.
This year’s opening act will be the Woomblies Rock Orchestra, an Indianapolis-based band that will take the Entertainment Tent stage right after the festival’s opening ceremonies Thursday night. They take the place of longtime headliners The Wright Brothers, who retired earlier this year.
The Entertainment Tent will be headlined by Polka Motion on Friday and Elvis tribute artist Todd Berry on Saturday. On the Rock Stage, festival favorite The Flying Toasters will headline on Friday, followed by JAMBOX on Saturday night.
Seiler said the Gazebo Stage is reserved for local dance troupes and acoustic acts. All the performers but the headliner — Dave Muskett of Indianapolis — call Hancock County home. Muskett — who headlines both Friday and Saturday nights — frequently performs at the Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis.
“The acts we have lined up are very good. There are a lot of talented people in Hancock County,” said Seiler, who is excited about more than just music at this year’s fair.
He’s also lined up pony rides and a petting zoo for the Kids Zone, on the southeast corner of State and North streets.
The entertainment tent will also feature a poetry reading and clogging performance.
“You definitely don’t want to miss any night, because you’ll be missing something really good,” Seiler said.
TRAFFIC AND PARKING
Turner points out that the festival also wouldn’t be possible without the city of Greenfield’s support.
“We could never do all this without the cooperation of the city, the mayor’s office and all the departments that make this possible. From the police and fire departments to the street department, parks and power and light, we couldn’t do any of it without them,” she said.
Greenfield street superintendent Tyler Rankins said all construction areas in the festival area have been reopened, and the only street closures are ones created by the festival — which shuts down most of the immediate downtown area each year.
Truck traffic traffic on U.S. 40 will be diverted on Franklin Street to the west and Blue Road to the east of town this year, he said, with Blue Road serving as an alternate route to Apple Street, which was used in the past.
Traffic will then be sent down McKenzie Road, then back south to U.S. 40 via Franklin Street and Blue Road.
Rankins understands the concern about how traffic tie-ups on Interstate 70 could negatively impact city streets during the festival — given the high number of accidents along the interstate this year — but said the city will do its best to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible no matter what.
“We have had issues in the past with I-70 and wrecks (during the festival), and it’s always inconvenient, but we’ll get through it and have a great event,” he said. “I remember a few years ago there was a police chase and all kinds of things on a Saturday morning right before the parade, but it always works out.”
As for parking, Rankins said there are a number of parking spots available in downtown Greenfield, but he recommends using the free parking offered at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, where visitors can catch a shuttle ride to the festival for 50 cents per ride.
“That would be your best bet,” he said.
LEARN MORE
A complete schedule of Riley Festival events is available on the festival website: www.RileyFestival.com.
A PLACE FOR KIDS
While the Riley Festival is family-friendly all around, here’s a look at some specific kids activities this year:
-A petting zoo, entertainment, games and bounce houses will be available in the Kids Zone, located on State and North Street. The zone is open any time the festival is open and features free fun.
-Head to downtown Greenfield for the Children’s Flower Parade Friday and participate if you like. The annual tradition of laying fresh flowers at the statue of the Hoosier poet welcomes any child of any age, as well as “alumni” who want to rekindle childhood memories. The parade starts at 12:30 but if you want to participate, bring your own flowers and line up at the Pennsy Trail and South State Street between 12 and 12:15 p.m.
-The Little Miss and Little Mister contest will be at 5 p.m. Friday in the entertainment tent. Contestants line up at 4:30 p.m.; call the Riley Festival office at 462-2141 to see if there’s still room to participate.
-Moms of small children can take a break in the white tent on the south side of the courthouse lawn. The Hancock County Breastfeeding Coalition offers privacy for feeding babies and changing diapers; changing tables, wipes, diapers, sanitizer and bottles of water are all provided.
