CORYDON, Ind. — The Harrison County Popcorn Festival returns to Corydon this year in one of the biggest events of the season, held Friday, June 30—Saturday, July 1. Popcorn producers, local vendors and community members gather downtown to celebrate Harrison County’s sweeping popcorn industry with live music, popcorn-related contests, beer gardens, a firework show and more.

“Last year we had a very large crowd and everyone had a blast,” said Brian Churchill, Preferred Popcorn plant manager and Harrison County Popcorn Festival committee member. “Corydon is Indiana’s first state capitol and has a great downtown area showing this off with local artists of all kinds. Great food and lots of popcorn to eat.”

The Harrison County Popcorn Festival creates a gathering point for its community while fostering pride for its huge popcorn industry. The packed schedule offers something for everyone, all with popcorn — an agricultural export with a direct impact on the county’s farming and finances — at its center.

Indiana is among the prime popcorn producers in the states, second only to Nebraska, but Harrison County itself is responsible for producing more than 10 percent of the U.S. production. Popcorn production in Harrison County finds roots all the way back to the 1930s and has since grown to 20 private farms producing over 20 million pounds of popcorn annually, bringing home almost $5 million to Harrison County farmers.

Popcorn growing is firmly entrenched in the history and economics of the county, but beyond the statistics, popcorn growing is an important part of this community. The Harrison County Popcorn Festival is a chance to celebrate not only the product, but the people behind it. 

“The festival and parade allows us to show appreciation to all the farmers growing and employees cleaning and shipping the product,” Churchill said. “Our parade will feature several large pieces of farm equipment that everyone loves to see up close.”

The festival opens on Friday at 4 p.m. with food trucks and local vendors. The day features musical artist Blaze Streets and concludes with a performance by Lana Scott — a country performer who rose to fame in 2021 as a competitor in the popular TV singing competition, The Voice. 

On Saturday, the festival is open from 10 a.m. — 11 p.m. The day’s schedule is populated with a car show, cornhole tournament and a parade, with live music appearances by Travelin Mojos, Eric & The Iconics, the Hank Rose Trio, The Skinny and Lana Scott. The night ends with a firework show visible throughout Corydon’s downtown area.

The festival also boasts a popcorn truck that sprays local popcorn through the streets of Corydon: a main attraction for children and parents alike. 

The annual festival, originally established in 1986, disbanded in the early 2000s. The festival last year, reviving old tradition and introducing a new generation to its events. 

For a full schedule of events, festival map and more, visit https://www.thisisindiana.org/popcorn/.