Mitchell Persimmon Festival
Since 1947, the Mitchell Persimmon Festival has brought the community together and encouraged everyone to savor this local fruit. The festival takes place in late September when persimmons start to drop from the tree branches. Tours, parades, carnival rides, vendors and live music turn these early autumn days into a week to remember. Admission is free, although some events and carnival rides require tickets. Festivities start with the Annual Tri Kappa Candlelight Tour, which shows you how the Pioneer Village looked in the 1800s. After days of celebrations, the festival culminates with a Grand Parade that showcases schools, farmers, entertainers and community organizations. Bring your RV for a week of family fun. Check out the top 10 landmarks in Indiana if you're stopping at Mitchell during a road trip. While you're at it, browse local events for more excitement.
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
The Mitchell Persimmon Festival offers a full week of entertainment, including: • Live music • Grand Parade • Annual Tri Kappa Candlelight Tour • Persimmon Queen pageant • Contests During contests, residents compete to produce the best persimmon dish and win prizes for their crafts and photography. If you want to compete, expect to pay an entry fee.
ON-SITE AMENITIES
The festival grounds host several food vendors that offer a variety of drinks and cuisines. Persimmon pudding is a common snack at this event. Throughout Mitchell, you'll find parks, stores, restaurants, gas stations, restrooms and entertainment venues.
LOCATION
The address for the main festival site is 527 W Main St, Mitchell, IN 47446. However, the festival takes place throughout the city of Mitchell. Check the official map to find the activities that interest you, and then plan to walk or hitch a ride. Most streets and venues don't have RV parking.
LINEUP
The 2025 lineup for the Mitchell Persimmon Festival will be announced soon. For the latest updates, visit the official event page.
RVING AT THE EVENT
The Mitchell Persimmon Festival doesn’t make any special accommodations for camping and RVing. If you’re thinking about bringing your own RV or trying out an RV rental from RVshare, don’t worry; the surrounding area offers some excellent camping opportunities. Reaching some of the campsites requires a bit of a drive, so if you stay at one of these, you’ll need to bring a passenger vehicle to get to and from the festival. You can drive your RV into town, but finding adequate parking may be a challenge. The closest campground to the festival is available less than 4 miles away at Spring Mill State Park. The on-site dumping station is handy for RVs. Here, you can wake up to views of the forest and spend your days exploring caves, hiking through the trees, and checking out the historic Pioneer Village. There’s also a nature center that’s popular with families. The best part? This spot is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Mitchell, so it’s easy to get to and from the festival. Make sure to reserve your campsite online in advance. Looking to get off the beaten path? Head west about 16 miles to the Martin State Forest Campground. Its 26 primitive sites offer a great way to immerse yourself in the spectacular Indiana wilderness. Bring your angling gear because the area lakes offer excellent fishing and wildlife viewing. Nearby, check out the Hoosier Woodland Arboretum, or explore the forest on the local trail network. If you're bringing your family to the Persimmon Festival, book a campsite at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort at Lake Monroe, about 24 miles north of the festival grounds. With its jumping pillow, waterslides and pools, it’s a great place to make the most of the early fall heat. You’ll also find a range of family activities like wagon rides and pedal carts. Every site features free Wi-Fi and full hookups; choose between pull-through and back-in options. This park fills up fast, so reserve your spot as early as possible.
WHERE TO STAY
Your only local hotel option is the Mitchell Inn Motel. Just outside of town, the Spring Haven Motel offers a few rooms. The nicest option in the area is Spring Mill Inn, which is located inside Spring Mill State Park. About 20 minutes north in Bedford, you’ll find a variety of hotels, including Holiday Inn Express, Quality Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn and Super 8.
HOW TO GET THERE
Two major highways bring you right to Mitchell for the festival. If you’re coming from the north or south, hop onto Highway 37. From the east or west, get on Highway 60. Both highways pass right along the edge of town, less than a mile from the festival itself.
PARKING
During the Mitchell Persimmon Festival, you can park on the street or find a parking lot. Note that the city might block off a few streets before the Grand Parade.
TICKETS & PRICING
Admission is free, but you'll need to buy tickets for carnival rides. These are the prices: • Advance sale coupon: $20 • Wristband: $30 • Tickets: $1.50 each or $30 for 22 You can grab an advance-sale coupon at a presale location, such as Mid-Southern Bank, the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce, or Hoosier Hills Credit Union. These coupons are cash-only and count for one wristband or 22 tickets. Wristbands give you access to unlimited rides. For more information, visit the official tickets page. Additionally, the Annual Tri Kappa Candlelight Tour costs $7 for Indiana residents and $9 for nonresidents.
WRAP UP
The Mitchell Persimmon Festival is a unique event that takes place at a main venue and also spreads throughout the city of Mitchell, Indiana to offer visitors a variety of experiences. There are tours, parades, carnival rides, vendors, and live music that the entire family can enjoy. Admission is free for all ages, but you'll need tickets for carnival rides. Bookmark the official Mitchell Persimmon Festival website, so you can check for updates. When fall arrives, get ready to sink your teeth into delicious puddings and snacks made from this popular fruit.
Please note, this is not the official source of the event information. While we try to be as comprehensive as possible, some details may have changed since the time this article was written. Please confirm final details with the official event page.
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