About This Festival
The Shipshewana Mayfest Celebration is a vibrant, free, family-friendly annual event held in Shipshewana, Indiana, to mark the start of the summer season. It spans two days, scheduled for May 2-3, 2025, located northeast of downtown Shipshewana. The festival includes live music, basketball tournaments, a parade, a 5K run, food trucks, barrel train rides, face painting, bounce houses, garden tractor pulls, and various children’s activities.
The vibe of the event is festive and community-oriented, blending traditional small-town charm with engaging recreational and entertainment offerings, creating a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors of all ages.
Surrounding Area
Shipshewana is a small town in LaGrange County, known for its Amish heritage and cultural events. During Mayfest, downtown Shipshewana becomes bustling with activity, with locations like the Shipshewana Area History Museum hosting music, the Cove hosting sports tournaments, and food courts set up at downtown corners. The community emphasizes outdoor and family activities alongside cultural festivities.
Event Highlights and Activities
Friday, May 2, 2025
- Live Music: Starting at 8:30 a.m., John Dudley performs in the morning, followed by the Westview Jazz Band and Choir around 10:25 a.m.
- Silent Auction: Begins at noon in the main tent.
- Evening Entertainment: Full Measure performs at 5:45 p.m., followed by the Chris Graber Family at 7 p.m.
- Sports: Softball and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments at The Cove starting at 5 p.m.
- Horse Races: Old-fashioned horse races at Pletcher Track beginning at 5 p.m.
- Food Court: Open throughout the day at Main and Morton Street.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Grand Mayfest Parade: Starts at 10 a.m. featuring Mizpa Shriners and community floats.
- Shipshewana Mayfest Road Run:
- 8:15 a.m. — 1 Mile Fun Run
- 8:30 a.m. — 5K Run through scenic Lagrange County
- Children’s Activities: Face painting, bounce houses, barrel train rides.
- Garden Tractor Pulls and other traditional rural competitions.
- Continued live entertainment and food offerings downtown.
Schedule Rough Outline
| Date | Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, Friday | 8:30 a.m. | John Dudley performance | Main Tent, Shipshewana Area History Museum |
| 10:25 a.m. | Westview Jazz Band & Choir | Main Tent | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Silent Auction Start | Main Tent | |
| 5:00 p.m. | Softball & 3-on-3 Basketball Tourneys | The Cove, 705 N. Morton Street | |
| 5:00 p.m. | Old-fashioned Horse Races | Pletcher Track, 368 S. Van Buren Street | |
| 5:45 p.m. | Full Measure Concert | Main Tent | |
| 7:00 p.m. | Chris Graber Family Concert | Main Tent | |
| May 3, Saturday | 8:15 a.m. | 1 Mile Fun Run | Start/Finish Wolfe Building |
| 8:30 a.m. | 5K Mayfest Road Run | Scenic route through LaGrange County | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Grand Mayfest Parade | Downtown Shipshewana | |
| All day | Kids Zone (face painting, bounce houses) | Downtown area | |
| All day | Garden tractor pulls, barrel train rides, food trucks | Various downtown locations |
History and Founding
Mayfest has been an annual tradition in Shipshewana designed to celebrate the arrival of spring and the start of the summer season. It serves as a community kickoff to outdoor and recreational activities and highlights the town’s cultural heritage and close-knit community spirit. Over the years, the event has expanded to include a variety of family-friendly entertainment, competitive sports, and local artisan and food vendors, maintaining its free admission policy to encourage broad participation.
The Mayfest Road Run has emerged as a popular competitive part of the celebration, drawing runners of all ages to scenic routes in the surrounding area, enhancing the festival's reputation as both a cultural and athletic gathering.
Accessibility and Contact Information
The event is handicapped accessible. For more details, attendees can contact the organizers by phone at (574) 538-7923 or visit the website VisitShipshewana.com. The festival's locations are centered northeast of downtown Shipshewana, with events at the Shipshewana Area History Museum, The Cove, and public streets for parades and runs.
This comprehensive celebration blends cultural heritage, family fun, competitive sports, and local community spirit, making Mayfest a highlight in Shipshewana's annual event calendar.