Brownsburg Events: Hayrides, Parades, and More

Brownsburg, Indiana is a small satellite community located just west of Indiana state capital Indianapolis. Many people move to Brownsburg because it’s so close to the Indianapolis International Airport and the rest of the Circle City, but it still maintains a quaint, small town charm that’s all its own. Integral to the small town atmosphere is huge variety of town-sponsored events that take place month after month in Brownsburg. This growing, progressive town is the site of some fun, family oriented Brownsburg events that keep residents and visitors alike entertained year after year.

Perhaps the most popular Brownsburg event is the Festival of the Arts. Sponsored by the town’s Chamber of Commerce, this festival is a celebration of Brownsburg arts and brings hundreds of visitors, artists, and vendors to the green spaces of Arbuckle Acres Park every July. Live Indianapolis music floats between booths stuffed full of crafts, paintings, sculptures, and more. Vendors from Brownsburg businesses and Brownsburg restaurants are on hand to fill your stomach or show off their wares. There’s even a special Children’s Area for Brownsburg children to take part in the fun!

Like the spine tingling thrill of visiting haunted places in Indiana? Brownsburg is the place to go around Halloween time; the whole town comes out to turn Arbuckle Acres Park into a deep, dark frightfest every October for the Haunts of Hidden River Haunted Hayrides. Sponsored by the Brownsburg Parks and Recreation Department and dozens of other Brownsburg businesses, this Brownsburg event isn’t your normal hayride. These hayrides are decked out with spooky music, threatening monsters lurking in the bushes, blood chilling decorations, and a whole lot of creepy fun. Hayrides run all throughout the week leading up to Halloween.

In addition to the hayrides, Haunts of Hidden River also has plenty of fun contests and events that aren’t scary. For Brownsburg children, the festival features a Kid’s Costume Contest, where kids can show off their spooky get-ups to receive awards and applause. During the Haunted Chili Cookoff, Brownsburg culinary geniuses clamber around their booths, throwing in ingredients, testing the broth, and letting the whole pot simmer in its own juices. Competing teams create their own chili and decorate booths that dot Arbuckle Acre Parks on the first day of the Haunted Hayrides event. At the end of the day, judges award prizes for best chili, best booth, and best non-traditional chili. And don’t worry: if you lose, you still get to enjoy the spoils!

For Brownsburg sports enthusiasts, there’s only one event to be excited about: the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park. This is the oldest and most widely known drag racing competition in the United States, and people come from all over Indiana to watch these hot rods growl and tires squeal. Held on Labor Day each year, the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is a great event for gearheads to get their racing fix after the Indianapolis 500 takes over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

What’s a good small town without an excellent 4th of July celebration and fireworks display? Brownsburg does not disappoint here; its 4th of July Extravaganza is a weekend chock full of fun, fair food, and fireworks. Kicking this Brownsburg event off is the 4th of July Carnival, featuring rides, midway games, and tons of fair food like the kind you’d find at the Indiana State Fair. For foodies at the carnival, there’s a special Corn Tent where you can get roasted ears of corn dipped in rich butter and seasoned to perfection, or there’s the Lions Kitchen where there’s burgers, applesauce, tenderloins, and more to be had. And, of course, you can’t have a 4th of July Extravaganza without a parade and fireworks; the Brownsburg iteration has these as well.

Ending the year each year in Brownsburg is the Christmas Under the Stars: Parade and Winter Wonderland event. Yet another Brownsburg event taking place in Arbuckle Acres Park, Christmas Under the Stars is a perfect way to celebrate the holidays with your friends and family. This festival features an ornament decorating contest, a Parade of Lights that begins in Arbuckle Acres Park and winds its way through downtown Brownsburg, and a Winter Wonderland at the Brownsburg Community Center. During the Winter Wonderland, participants can watch the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, take pictures with Santa Clause, and play some fun holiday themed games.

There’s a Brownsburg event for every season. During the summer, residents and visitors can take in the breadth of art and culture in Central Indiana during the Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of the Arts or celebrate America’s independence during the Lions Club 4th of July Extravaganza. In October, the Haunts of Hidden River Haunted Hayrides cause participants to jump out of their skins before they relax with award winning chili and a hilarious costume contest. And in December, the magic of the holiday season comes alive with Brownsburg’s Christmas Under the Stars event. Brownsburg has enough events going on to ensure there’s never a dull moment in this growing little town.

Brownsburg Town Government
61 N Green St
Brownsburg, IN 46112
317.852.1120
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