About This Festival

Lanesville Heritage Weekend is a longstanding community festival held annually each September in Lanesville, Harrison County, Indiana, at Heritage Park. It celebrates the area's rich farming heritage and offers three full days of family-friendly activities, including a Queen/Princess pageant, fiddlers' contests, log-sawing competitions, horseshoe pitching, and demonstrations of antique farm equipment, steam and hit-and-miss engines, sawmill operations, and crafts. Additional attractions include tractor pulls, festival parades, midway rides, food and craft vendors, farm toy shows, and live entertainment, creating a vibrant, fun atmosphere for all ages.

The event's vibe is deeply rooted in nostalgia, tradition, and community pride, reflecting Lanesville's agricultural history and small-town charm. It is handicapped accessible and attracts around 75,000 visitors annually, including locals and visitors from nearby cities such as Louisville.

A rough schedule of the event typically spans three days starting on the second Thursday of September, with a mix of contests and activities spread throughout the day at Heritage Park. Common events include:

  • Queen/Princess pageant
  • Fiddlers’ contest
  • Log saw competition
  • Horseshoe pitching contest
  • Antique farm machinery and steam engine demonstrations
  • Tractor pull competitions
  • Parades
  • Midway amusement rides
  • Food and craft booths
  • Traditional sawmill and craft demonstrations
  • Running events: 8 Mile Run, 5 Mile Walk, 2 Mile Kid’s Run

Historically, the festival began in 1976 as the Lanesville Bicentennial Celebration, organized by local high school and community leaders to honor the nation’s Bicentennial and celebrate Lanesville's farming heritage. Over the past five decades, it has expanded into a major cultural event, marking its 50th anniversary in 2025, reflecting strong community involvement from churches, civic groups, families, volunteers, and vendors.

Overall, Lanesville Heritage Weekend offers a vibrant, welcoming environment with a rich program that both educates and entertains visitors about the region’s rural traditions and historical roots.