Three Rivers Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three Rivers Festival |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Pop |
| Begins | First Saturday after Independence Day |
| Ends | First Sunday after Independence Day |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Years active | 1969–2023 |
| Inaugurated | 1969 |
| Previous event | 2023 |
| Organised by | Three Rivers Festival, Inc. |
The Three Rivers Festival was a big yearly event in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It usually lasted for nine days in July, starting right after Independence Day. People enjoyed many fun activities like concerts, a big parade, exciting amusement rides, and art shows. There were also special mini-fests for kids and seniors, an International Village, and a spectacular fireworks show to end it all.
This festival celebrated the history of Fort Wayne. The city was founded during the French and Indian War where three rivers meet: the Maumee, St. Marys, and St. Joseph.
Contents
Festival History and Growth
The very first Three Rivers Festival happened in 1969. About 100,000 people came to see a grand parade and enjoy 60 different events. It was a huge success right from the start!
Milestones and Big Moments
In 1973, the festival grew even bigger, attracting one million visitors. A special highlight that year was an amazing air show by the Navy's Blue Angels. By 1976, the festival had over 2 million visitors! That year, it even hosted a convention for international beer can collectors.
The festival added fireworks for the first time in 1977. Its opening day parade was the second largest in the entire state. In 1979, the festival began with 700 balloons released from the top of a city building.
By 1980, the Three Rivers Festival had grown to include 206 events all over Fort Wayne. The next year, a children's parade was added. Organizers also tried to set a record for the World's Longest Hot Dog, which was 527 feet (161 meters) long! In 1980, the festival featured the World's Biggest Pretzel, measuring 10 feet (3 meters) across.
Art and Community Focus
In 1991, a grant helped expand the art events to include Seniors Day and the Children's Festival. By 1999, the "Art in the Park" section grew to feature 85 national artists. That same year, about 500,000 people attended the festival. This made it the second-largest event in Indiana.
Why the Festival Ended
In February 2025, it was announced that the Three Rivers Festival would not happen in 2025. The organization that ran the festival faced financial difficulties. They decided to close down the festival permanently.
Main Festival Events
Most of the Three Rivers Festival events took place in Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne.
Art In The Park Show
"Art in the Park" was a popular event held on the first weekend of the festival. It featured a special show and sale of fine arts. Over 100 artists from all over the country came to sell their beautiful works. You could find paintings, watercolors, photographs, sculptures, and pottery.
Opening Day Parade Fun
The festival always kicked off with a two-hour parade. It started in the West Central neighborhood and moved through downtown Fort Wayne. A local music group usually started the parade by playing the national anthem. Then came many parade groups, high school marching bands, local famous people, and about 100 other entries.
Fireworks Finale Show
The grand finale of the festival was a huge fireworks show. It was known as one of the biggest fireworks displays in Northeast Indiana. It was a spectacular way to end the nine days of fun!
Festival Support
The Three Rivers Festival was a non-profit organization. This means it was not trying to make money for owners. It was funded by fees from vendors, sales of souvenirs and refreshments, ticket sales for entertainment, and support from local businesses.
For example, Fort Wayne Newspapers was a main sponsor in 2009 and 2010. Other big sponsors in 2010 included PNC, Sweetwater, and STAR 88.3. National Serv-all sponsored the fireworks show that year.
