Summer's End Festival

The Summer's End Festival in Rossville, Indiana, is an annual community event held at Rossville Town Park on the fourth full weekend in August, specifically August 22–23, 2025 this year. It is a family-friendly, accessible celebration marking the end of summer, drawing locals and visitors for a weekend of food, entertainment, and community fun.

Location and Vibe

The festival takes place in a charming small-town park setting in Rossville, Clinton County. The atmosphere is festive and homecoming-oriented, popular for reunions of families and classmates. The event focuses on community bonding, reflection on summer's close, and a welcoming vibe that welcomes all ages, including accessible accommodations for handicapped attendees.

Activities and Features

Key activities include:

• Craft and Food Vendors: A variety of local crafts and diverse food options available throughout the weekend.
• Saturday Morning Parade: Starting at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, featuring floats from local organizations, businesses, churches, and class reunions, plus marching bands, decorated golf carts, horses, llamas, fire trucks, antique tractors, and cars. Prizes are awarded for float categories.
• Car and Bike Show: Showcasing antique and custom vehicles.
• Contests: Various friendly competitions related to the parade and festival activities.
• Beer Garden: For adult attendees to enjoy local brews.
• Entertainment: Live music and performances on main stages Friday and Saturday evenings.
• Games: Family-friendly games throughout the park for children and adults.
• Fireworks Display: A highlight concluding the festival Saturday night.
• Golf Tournament and Town-wide Garage Sales: Adding to the weekend's activities beyond the park.

Schedule Highlights

• Friday evening: Main stage entertainment begins.
• Saturday:
  • Morning: Parade lineup starts at 8:45 a.m. at Rossville School, with the parade at 10:00 a.m.
  • Daytime: Car and bike shows, contests, craft and food vendor booths, and games.
  • Evening: Main stage performances and fireworks.
• Parking is available all day at the town park for $5 per vehicle, with only service animals allowed on-site.

History and Founding

The Summer’s End Festival is a long-standing Rossville tradition celebrated every year on the fourth full weekend of August. The festival was founded to celebrate the close of summer with a local gathering that combines fun, food, entertainment, and community pride. It has evolved into a homecoming event attracting former residents, families, and friends, with organized reunions often coinciding with the festival weekend.

Additional Details

• Vendor booth registration must be submitted by mid-June with payments due on time.
• The festival prohibits fireworks-related novelties and offensive items for safety.
• Organizers maintain a welcoming, safe environment encouraging pedestrian traffic except for those with handicapped accessibility needs.

Overall, the Summer’s End Festival offers a festive small-town ambiance ideal for reconnecting with community, enjoying a variety of entertainment and food, and celebrating the seasonal transition with a broad range of activities in Rossville Town Park.