Lapel Village Fair

The Lapel Village Fair is an annual community event held in the small town of Lapel, Indiana, typically on Main Street over two days in July (July 11-12 for 2025). It is organized by the Lapel Community Association, which founded the fair over 30 years ago to bring the community together and has grown it into a major local attraction drawing thousands from Lapel, Madison County, and surrounding areas.

The fair features a town-wide rummage sale on both Friday and Saturday, with over 100 vendors including craft and food booths available on both days. Food offerings are ample and varied, including traditional favorites such as chicken noodle dinners, fish fry, pork tenderloins, and all-you-can-eat breakfast options spearheaded by local groups like the American Legion. Live music enriches the atmosphere throughout both days, creating a festive and engaging vibe.

Saturday holds special highlights, featuring a large parade down State Road 13 onto Main Street with many participants, as well as a car show showcasing classic and old cars, often organized with support from the local Fire Department. These marquee events bring a celebratory energy to the town center. The fair is handicapped accessible and offers free admission, making it welcoming for all visitors.

The event's vibe is warm, community-focused, and family-friendly, emphasizing local pride, social gathering, and enjoyment of small-town traditions with a festive ambiance. Despite weather challenges in some years (such as storms in 2025), the fair remains memorable and well-attended.

Typical schedule outline for the two-day event includes:

• Friday (Day 1): Town-wide rummage sales start early morning, craft and food booths open, and live music performances scattered through the day and evening.
• Saturday (Day 2): Rummage sales continue, again with craft and food booths open, live music ongoing; parade in the afternoon along Main Street; car show running concurrently; other community activities and smaller attractions.

The fair’s history traces back to its founding by the Lapel Community Association in 1988, whose mission extends beyond the fair to improving town wellbeing through proceeds funding streetlights, decorations, flags, community donations to fire and police departments, food banks, and local schools.

The Lapel Village Fair embodies a strong sense of local heritage with many volunteers and community groups fostering a lively, welcoming environment where residents and visitors alike celebrate the town’s unique spirit. Contact for booth, parade, or sponsorship information is available through the Lapel Community Association.

In summary, the Lapel Village Fair is a vibrant, family-oriented, small-town festival deeply rooted in local community tradition with diverse activities centered on crafts, food, live entertainment, a parade, and classic cars—spread throughout Main Street in Lapel during a lively summer weekend.