Farmer’s Pike Festival: A Guide to Indiana’s Ultimate Labor Day Weekend Treasure Hunt

Every Labor Day weekend, a field in Henry County transforms into one of Indiana’s biggest treasure-hunting destinations with the Annual Farmer’s Pike Festival.

The 46th Annual Farmer’s Pike Festival returns September 4–7, 2026, bringing more than 400 vendor spaces, live music, food, antiques, collectibles, handmade goods, and plenty of unexpected finds to 1965 S County Rd 850 E in New Castle.

Disclaimer: This blog post was written for Henry County Destination Development. You can find the blog post here.

Nearly 2 Miles of Treasure Hunting Paradise

The Farmer’s Pike Festival spans nearly two miles of back-to-back vendor booths, creating a massive outdoor shopping experience in the Indiana countryside.

Vendors offer antiques, collectibles, fine art, and unique crafts from across the country. You’ll also find clothing, jewelry, yard art, holiday decorations, pet supplies, power tools, plants, hardware, toys, electronics, perfumes, and plenty of random treasures. One thing that sets Farmer’s Pike apart is the effort to keep the selection varied.

“We try very hard to limit duplicate items,” festival organizers explain. While it can be difficult to turn away vendors, the goal is to offer something for everyone rather than rows and rows of the same merchandise. Despite the festival’s enormous size, first-time visitors may be surprised by how easy it is to explore. Vendors are positioned back-to-back and as close together as possible, which means less walking between booths.

Farmer’s Pike Festival is an easy Labor Day weekend outing for families. Children 12 and under receive free admission, and there’s plenty to keep younger visitors entertained. Kids can search for toys and clothes among the vendor booths, sample their favorite festival food, ride the complimentary shuttle, dance on the dance floor, and visit the lighthouse.

Come Hungry For the Many Food Options

Shopping works up an appetite, and food booths and trucks serve a variety of festival favorites and international flavors. Depending on your mood, you might choose from steak tips, hand-breaded tenderloins, corndogs, street corn, corn-on-the-cob, and Tex-Mex and Filipino cuisine.

Then there are the treats – the ones that make a festival truly a festival, like hand-braided soft pretzels, elephant ears, funnel cakes, deep-fried goodies, pork rinds, homemade ice cream, freeze-dried candies, fudge, lemonade shake-ups, kettle corn, and candied nuts.

Shop, Listen, and Dance

Multiple stages feature live entertainment throughout the festival, with performances spanning Gospel, Bluegrass, Country, and more. There’s even a dance floor where visitors can kick up their heels and enjoy some country dancing. For families, the entertainment offers an easy way to take a break from shopping.

Don’t Miss the GloryLand Lighthouse Chapel

One of the can’t-miss sights at Farmer’s Pike Festival is the GloryLand Lighthouse Chapel, a lighthouse and chapel on the festival grounds.

In the early 1980s, Rheta Land dreamed of building a lighthouse on the island in the family’s pond. Blueprints were drawn up, and the family’s field sale grew into the Farmer’s Pike Festival. According to the family’s story, Rheta felt called to set aside 10% of the festival’s gate fees each year toward building the lighthouse in 2000. Construction began in October 2000, and the lighthouse was built taller and the chapel larger than originally planned. Builders assembled the tower in sections on the island. In April 2001, a 2,500-watt beacon arrived from Italy. By spring 2002, the finishing touches were underway on the tower and chapel, along with the Rainbow Bridge connecting the island to the grounds.

Today, the GloryLand Lighthouse Chapel remains one of the festival’s most distinctive attractions. Take some time to walk around it while you’re visiting. It’s a piece of the Farmer’s Pike story you won’t find at the average flea market or festival.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Explore

With hundreds of vendors spread across nearly two miles, you won’t want to rush your visit to the Farmer’s Pike Festival. First-time visitors often underestimate the event’s size. Festival organizers recommend giving yourself plenty of time to browse, eat, and enjoy the entertainment.

Organizers say first-time vendors are often surprised when they arrive early to set up and see crowds gathering in what feels like the middle of nowhere, surrounded by Indiana corn and soybean fields. Those same vendors often return to the office after the festival to sign up for the following year.

Visitors travel from farther away, too, and hotels, campgrounds, and Airbnbs in the area can sell out. The festival’s visitor book, once kept inside the lighthouse chapel, has collected signatures from people across the country. Vendors have traveled from places including California, Florida, and the Carolinas.

Accessibility at Farmer’s Pike Festival

Festival organizers made accessibility part of the planning. Ample designated handicap parking is available, and shuttle drivers assist visitors getting on and off at each stop. Festival aisles are kept clear of cords and hoses to make navigation easier for wheelchairs and strollers.

A limited number of mobility scooters are also available to rent through the festival office. Visitors looking for a place to sit and recharge will find seating near the entertainment areas, benches near the restrooms, and Amish-built swings and gazebos toward the back of the festival. Many food vendors also provide tables and chairs near their booths.

If temperatures climb, misting fans are provided where possible. The festival takes place outdoors, so visitors should still plan for grass, uneven ground, and changing weather conditions.

Everything You Need to Know

Farmer’s Pike Festival is located at: 1965 S County Rd 850 E, New Castle, IN 47362
Admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 and under are free.
Parking is free on the festival grounds, and a complimentary shuttle provides transportation to the main gate.
Leashed pets are welcome.
Personal golf carts are not permitted.

What To Know About Rainy Weather

Farmer’s Pike Festival is generally prepared to continue through typical rainy weather. Organizers add gravel to parking areas each summer to help with muddy conditions, and entertainment can continue beneath gazebos with tarps when necessary.

In severe weather, visitors may be directed back to their vehicles for safety. If the weather passes, guests can receive a stamp allowing them to return later that day. In roughly four decades, the festival has closed only twice because of extreme weather.

Plan your visit to the Farmer’s Pike Festival by visiting FarmersPike.com

Farmer’s Pike Festival: A Guide to Indiana’s Ultimate Labor Day Weekend Treasure Hunt