Herbstfest opens Thursday with petting zoo, pickleball and chainsaw art among new additions

Huntingburg–Herbstfest opens at 5 p.m. today in Huntingburg City Park, starting a four-day run that ends with Sunday’s parade.

This year’s schedule adds several events not on last year’s lineup. They include a Thursday open mic night, a Saturday pickleball tournament, a free petting zoo from Cottonwood Ridge Farms, chainsaw art by Earth Sense Chainsaw Art and a Dubois County Daughters of the American Revolution crafts booth.

Women’s professional slow pitch softball also takes a bigger role. An all-star game is set for 8 p.m. Friday at League Stadium, and games run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Last year’s festival featured one Saturday morning game.

Some past events are not on the 2026 schedule, including Saturday’s sand volleyball tournament and the fire department’s Smoke House Trailer.

Steve Bell will play the Main Stage when the festival opens Thursday and Friday. Cody Ikerd & the Sidewinders headline Friday night. Saturday brings Hayley Payne in the afternoon, Borrowed Time in the early evening and Eighty-Sixt to close the night.

Returning favorites include the Baby Photo Contest, the craft show, Balloons of Faith, corn shelling demonstrations, the corn shucking and hot dog eating contests, the cornhole and horseshoe tournaments and the Kids Firefighter Challenge.

The annual Herbstfest Parade steps off at 2 p.m. Sunday at Third and Van Buren streets. It heads west on Third Street to Walnut Street, south on Walnut to First Street, then east on First Street to Cherry Street near City Park.

Schedule of events

Thursday, Sept. 24
5 p.m. — Herbstfest opens: Baby Photo Contest begins (Information Booth), craft show (Main Shelter House), food booths, pumpkin patch, Jumping Jacks Entertainment, beer garden, Steve Bell (Main Stage)
6–8 p.m. — Open mic night, Main Stage
6 p.m. — Baby/Toddler Talent Contest registration, Information Booth
6:30 p.m. — Baby/Toddler Talent Contest, volleyball court area
9 p.m. — Herbstfest closes

Friday, Sept. 25
11 a.m.–1 p.m. — Select food booths open for lunch
Noon — Golf scramble check-in, Huntingburg Country Club
1 p.m. — Golf scramble starts, Huntingburg Country Club
5 p.m. — Herbstfest opens: Baby Photo Contest begins (Information Booth), craft show (Main Shelter House), food booths, pumpkin patch, Jumping Jacks Entertainment, beer garden, Steve Bell (Main Stage)
5–8 p.m. — Balloons of Faith (free), Midway
6:30 p.m. — Corn shelling demonstration, parking lot by Little League Field
7 p.m. — Teen/Adult Corn Shucking Contest (free), parking lot by Little League Field
7 p.m. — Little and Junior Miss Pageant, Main Stage
8 p.m. — Women’s Professional Slow Pitch All Star Softball Game, League Stadium
9–11 p.m. — Cody Ikerd & the Sidewinders, Main Stage
9 p.m. — Pumpkin patch, Baby Photo Contest, craft show and Jumping Jacks close [Editor’s note: Confirm 9 p.m.]
11 p.m. — Food booths close
Midnight — Herbstfest closes

Saturday, Sept. 26
8 a.m.–noon — Car, tractor and motorcycle registration and show, Gazebo/North Parking Lot
8 a.m.–10 p.m. — Women’s Professional Slow Pitch Softball games, League Stadium
9 a.m. — Pickleball tournament, pickleball courts
10 a.m. — Craft show opens, Main Shelter House
10 a.m.–10 p.m. — Dubois County DAR crafts
10:30 a.m. — Corn shelling demonstration, parking lot by Little League Field
11 a.m. — Herbstfest opens: Baby Photo Contest begins (Information Booth), food booths, pumpkin patch
11 a.m. — Earth Sense Chainsaw Art
11 a.m. — Silly Safaris (free), next to Main Stage
11 a.m.–3 p.m. — Jumping Jacks Entertainment
11 a.m.–7 p.m. — Cottonwood Ridge Farms Petting Zoo (free), east lawn by Main Shelter House
12:30–1:30 p.m. — Kids games (free), City Park entrance
12:30 p.m. — Corn shelling demonstration, parking lot by Little League Field
1 p.m. — Cornhole tournament, basketball courts
1–4 p.m. — Hayley Payne, Main Stage
1:30–3 p.m. — Pumpkin painting (free), by Information Booth
2 p.m. — Horseshoe tournament, horseshoe pits
2 p.m. — Kiddie Tractor Pull (free), entrance of Main Shelter House
2–4 p.m. — Balloons of Faith (free), Midway
3 p.m. — Kids Firefighter Challenge (free), pool entrance
4 p.m. — Beer garden opens, Midway
4:30 p.m. — Corn shelling demonstration, parking lot by Little League Field
5 p.m. — Jumping Jacks Entertainment opens
5–8 p.m. — Balloons of Faith (free), Midway
5–8 p.m. — Borrowed Time, Main Stage
5:30 p.m. — Teen/Adult Hot Dog Eating Contest registration (free), Information Booth
6 p.m. — Teen/Adult Hot Dog Eating Contest (free), lawn by Main Shelter House
6:30 p.m. — Corn shelling demonstration, parking lot by Little League Field
9 p.m.–midnight — Eighty-Sixt, Main Stage [Editor’s note: Poster reads “9-12am.”]
10 p.m. — Pumpkin patch, Baby Photo Contest, craft show and Jumping Jacks close
11 p.m. — Food booths close
1 a.m. — Herbstfest closes

Sunday, Sept. 27
2 p.m. — Herbstfest Parade, starting at Third and Van Buren streets. Route: west on Third Street to Walnut Street, south on Walnut to First Street, east on First Street to Cherry Street.