Downtown Valparaiso Events Calendar: What's On in 2026

The single best reason to stay in downtown Valparaiso instead of out by the highway: Central Park Plaza, the events hub that keeps this town busy all four seasons — and it's one block from our apartments. Here's the 2026 rhythm, season by season, so you can time your visit.

Spring & summer: market season

• The Valpo Market — Tuesdays & Saturdays in season, 9 AM–1 PM at Central Park Plaza (63 Lafayette St). Farm produce, bakery stands, flowers, lunch vendors, live music. A Saturday-morning ritual.
• Summer outdoor movies — free films on the big LED screen at the 1st Source Bank Amphitheater; pre-movie activities at 5:30 PM, showtime 7 PM.
• Amphitheater concerts — the Northwest Health Amphitheater stage brings touring acts through summer (Jay Sean with Iyaz plays August 22, 2026).
• SAND + STEEL Art Fest — June 26–28, 2026, kicking off with a South Shore Orchestra community concert at the plaza. Art, makers, and music across downtown.

Fall: festival season

• Valparaiso Popcorn Festival — Saturday, September 12, 2026. The big one: the 47th annual celebration of Orville Redenbacher's legacy with 300+ vendors, the Popcorn Panic 5-miler, and the nation's first popcorn parade. Read our complete Popcorn Fest guide.
• Valpo Brewfest — Saturday, September 26, 2026. The 16th annual craft beer festival takes over Central Park Plaza two weeks after Popcorn Fest. Stay downtown and nobody has to drive.

Winter: lights and ice

• Winter Fest & Tree Lighting — Saturday, November 28, 2026, 5–7 PM. The plaza lights up for the season.
• Ice skating at Central Park Plaza — the rink runs through winter, and bringing a receipt from a downtown restaurant earns discounted admission. Dinner, then skating, then a two-minute walk home: that's a Valpo winter date night.

For exact dates and additions through the year, the city keeps the official calendars at valparaisoevents.com and centralparkplazavalpo.com.