Blues Fest

The Blues Fest in 2025 is a free, two-day festival celebrating blues music held at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater (NPD AMP) in Fishers, Indiana. This event features local, regional, and national award-winning blues musicians and highlights the history and culture of blues music over August 30–31, 2025. The amphitheater is fully handicapped accessible.

The Nickel Plate District Amphitheater is a premier outdoor venue in Central Indiana with a capacity of about 6,000 people. It is located at 6 Municipal Drive in Fishers and offers diverse programming, including concerts and festivals, year-round. The venue underwent significant renovations in 2018, with enhancements such as a deeper stage, sound wall, a 1,700-square-foot pavilion with meeting space, and a family-friendly splash pad. The amphitheater hosts a variety of community and cultural events and provides amenities like food, drinks, alcohol vendors (with wristband age verification), and accessible parking[1][4][5][6].

Regarding the event atmosphere and surrounding area, the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater is situated in a vibrant district with nearby attractions including shopping centers, restaurants, and community spaces like farmers markets and a splash pad. The vibe at the festival is festive, family-friendly, and community-oriented, reflecting the rich musical heritage and culture of blues. Lawn chairs and blankets are generally welcome at non-ticketed events like Blues Fest, enhancing comfort for attendees[4].

Activities at Blues Fest typically include live performances from multiple blues musicians across the two days. While a precise schedule is not published in the information available, these festivals usually feature staggered sets on the main stage, allowing attendees to experience a variety of artists. Additional activities often associated with such festivals might include food and beverage vendors, merchandise booths, possible blues history exhibits or talks, and kid-friendly activities in the venue’s pavilion or splash pad area[4][6].

A rough schedule format might be:

• Afternoon to Evening (Day 1: August 30)
  Opening performances by local artists, food and vendor booths operational, family activities available.

• Afternoon to Evening (Day 2: August 31)
  Continued live shows with regional and national artists, culminating in headliners, food and beverages continuing, with community engagement activities throughout.

As for the event’s history and founding, specific details about the origin of Blues Fest at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater are not provided. However, the amphitheater itself opened prior to 2018 with ongoing enhancements to become one of the Midwest’s top outdoor music venues, hosting a variety of free and ticketed festivals with a focus on community celebration and cultural music heritage[1][6].

In summary, Blues Fest at NPD AMP is a culturally rich, community-focused blues music festival held outdoors in Fishers, featuring acclaimed musicians and supported by a venue designed for a welcoming, vibrant festival experience with multiple amenities and family-friendly activities.