Crisp autumn evenings, seasonal flavors, local arts, and the unmistakable feeling of fall are coming to the heart of Goshen!
Building on the excitement of past Harvest-themed events, downtown streets and businesses come alive with festive décor, pumpkin-themed activities, warm seasonal food and drinks, live music, family fun, an Artisan Market, and special promotions from participating Goshen businesses and restaurants.
The Harvest Festival also features Goshen’s annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration and, in an important milestone for the local arts community, the 5 p.m. ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Northern Indiana Clay Center—a major new cultural asset that further establishes Goshen as a regional destination for arts, culture, and creativity.
Created by the Northern Indiana Clay Alliance (NICA) at 118 S. Main St., Suite 2, the approximately 8,000-square-foot ceramics center represents the culmination of decades of artistic collaboration and mentorship within Goshen’s deep clay community. NICA recently received a $300,000 READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grant to support renovation and equipment purchases for the new center.
Shopping and dining deals are in the mix—as well as in-store events and promotions, plus the Silver Circle for older adults and the October Artisan Market—and live musical entertainment features Levi Lamberjack, Esther Lanting, and Sanchez Agency!
DON’T MISS OUT on the chance to celebrate the harvest season in The Maple City with your friends, loved ones, and family—join us for the Harvest Festival this Friday!
The fun begins at 5!
The Harvest Festival gets underway at 5 p.m., with activities, food and drink, shopping, entertainment, and community organizations spread throughout Downtown Goshen.
Among the evening’s biggest moments is the 5 p.m. ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Northern Indiana Clay Center at 118 S. Main St. The opening marks a new chapter in a ceramics tradition built across generations of Goshen-area clay artists and educators. The new center brings many of the resources of that longstanding clay community under one roof, with studio and classroom space, kilns, a gallery, workshops, artist programming, and classes beginning in November.
During Harvest Festival, visitors can tour the new facility, watch live artist demonstrations, enjoy free clay activities for all ages, and even try their hand at throwing clay on a pottery wheel.
Throughout the festival, visitors can also connect with area businesses and community organizations. Commercial and informational booths include Excel Center, Goshen Health, Everence, Froggy 102.7, LoveWay Inc., The Post Youth Center, LITE Recovery Hub, Goshen Art House, Goodwill of Michiana, Elkhart County Voter Registration, Nest and Grow, Renewal by Andersen, Hallmark Excellence Realty, and Pearle Vision.
Artisan Market participants include the Goshen Painters Guild, Pastries by Steph, Curly Sue, Tom’s Makershed, Aha Design, La Musera, Manzanas Enchiladas, and the Blood in the Cornfields Podcast.
Live music, dance, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Live entertainment runs throughout the evening, blending Harvest Festival traditions with the music and cultural programming that have become hallmarks of First Fridays.
The event includes a celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, continuing an important component of Goshen’s October First Fridays tradition and providing an opportunity to recognize and honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of local Indigenous peoples.
Madalene Big Bear and the Iron Bear Singers & Dancers take the Main Stage, bringing Indigenous music and dance to the heart of the celebration. Later in the evening, Goshen band Sanchez Agency performs from 8 to 9 p.m. Other entertainment includes Levi Lamberjack at the Silver Circle, Esther Lanting at Maple City Market’s Fall Faire, and a festive Halloween pop-up market!
Festivalgoers can also head to The JAM, 233 S. Main St., from 5 to 10 p.m., where South Bend Latin Dance offers free salsa lessons throughout the evening.
Bring an appetite!
Harvest Festival offers plenty of opportunities to make dinner, dessert, warm drinks, or a seasonal treat part of the evening. At JoJo’s Pretzels, 136 S. Main, visitors can warm up with the Big Dipper, featuring soup and pretzel bites, and follow it with a S’mores Shake for dessert. Shirley’s Popcorn gets into the autumn spirit with its Hot Cocoa popcorn, available at both the downtown store—at 106 N. Main—and its event booth, and Cortado, 132 S. Main, features its Harvestfest Special: a warming fall brat with pickled mustard seeds, caramelized onions, bacon, squash, maple pecans, and parmesan with toasted kale.
Maple City Market, 314 S. Main, presents its annual Fall Faire featuring seasonal beer and wine on the patio, pork posole in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, vegan three-bean chili, Mediterranean veggie stew, and baked potatoes with a variety of toppings.
Festival food and drink vendors include Ojitos Lindos, Rulli’s On Wheels Pizza, Shirley’s Popcorn, La Cocinita, Tropicana Ice Cream, and Wiener Shack.
Those festival offerings join Downtown Goshen’s restaurants, cafés, bars, and other establishments, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to grab a meal, drink, snack, or treat while supporting local businesses.
Free family activities around downtown
Families can find plenty to do as they make their way through Harvest Festival, with free kids’ and family activities at participating businesses throughout Downtown Goshen.
In addition to the hands-on clay activities, pottery-wheel experience, and artist demonstrations at the new Northern Indiana Clay Center, Garden City Church—at 134 S. Main—offers a free fall-inspired kids’ craft and an activity for all ages, and Maple City Market’s Fall Faire presents a kids’ craft corner and a bouncy house.
The Post Youth Center invites families to its festival booth to play cornhole and enjoy fresh candy apples, while Kindred Wool Co., 108 W. Washington St., offers a creative kids’ make-and-take fall yarn craft.
Downtown businesses get into the harvest spirit
Downtown businesses add their own flavors to Harvest Festival with special activities, promotions, and experiences throughout the evening.
From 6 to 8 p.m., Fables Books, 215 S. Main St., hosts a special Meet the Authors event featuring Michiana writers Rebecca Maureen, author of The Wolf and the Doe, and M.A.B. Wyman, author of Mountainroot: Book One.
Catitude Cafe, 210 S. Main, offers its First Fridays special from 5 to 9 p.m.: buy one cat lounge visit at regular price and receive a second visit half off; Goshen Brewing Company—at 315 S. Washington—serves as a First Fridays warm-up station, inviting festivalgoers to gather around its outdoor fire pit; and The Green Bee, 111 E. Washington St., offers 25% off Upcycled Fabric Pumpkins and all kitchen items.
Shops, restaurants, and businesses throughout downtown join in the Harvest Festival fun, giving visitors plenty of reasons to browse, eat, shop, and explore throughout the evening.
Silver Circle offers entertainment, resources, and connection
Older adults once again have a welcoming gathering place at the Silver Circle, presented in part by Greencroft, Green Oaks of Goshen, Goshen Health, and Senior Talk Michiana. Designed as a comfortable and inclusive space, the Silver Circle brings entertainment, connection, and useful resources together in one centralized location, with Levi Lamberjack providing live music during the evening.
Silver Circle resource booths include Senior Talk Michiana, Green Oaks of Goshen, Majestic Care of Goshen, Greencroft, Angela Wentz Consulting, Council on Aging of Elkhart County, Karing Hearts, Seniors Helping Seniors, Waterford Crossing, Reith Rohrer Ehret Funeral Homes, Goshen Health, and Riverview Adult Day Health Center.
Accessible parking is available directly next to the Courthouse on West Clinton Street. Senior transportation vehicles may also use the space with advance notice, and organizations planning to bring senior clients are encouraged to contact Downtown Goshen, Inc. in advance.
The October First Fridays Harvest Festival takes place Friday, Oct. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Goshen. The event is free and open to the public. Programming at The JAM continues until 10 p.m.
