2B: White River Festival
As the defining natural resource in Central Indiana, a festival celebrating the White River can connect residents and visitors alike with this important waterway. The existing White River Festival, put on by the White River Alliance, should be supported and expanded to become a signature annual event for Indy. This event can include events large and small at anchor attractions and neighborhood destinations along the river, providing a wide array of experiences and activities to enjoy. The festival should strive to create long-term stewards of the river through these experiences which would provide positive memories and a greater understanding in the value of this community asset.
Value to the Community
The White River is lined by an abundance of public parks, making it the centerpiece of many residents’ recreational and community experiences. Because the river flows through neighborhoods of all types, it provides a perfect platform for sharing how individual neighborhood stories contribute to the larger city narrative.Value to the Hospitality Industry
As the White River Vision Plan notes, the White River connects more than 14,000 acres of parks, open spaces, and cultural amenities, making it collectively an experience on the scale of a smaller national park. A festival tied to outdoor recreation can easily entice visitors from all over the Midwest.Updates
- June 2024. White River Paddle Days & Festival. This three-day event allowed participants to race by canoe, tandem kayak, or single kayak while being able to enjoy food and refreshments as well as entertainment. White River Alliance partnered with Canoe Country, Frank’s Paddlesports Livery, and White River Canoe Company to provide a festival-like experience.
- April 2024. Solar Eclipse. With the city being in the path of totality, there were multiple activities and events available for the attendees coming in from all over the country. Lunacy! At White River State Park provided over 30,000 guests with family-friendly activities, food trucks, live entertainment, and more in the park. Frank’s Paddlesports Livery gave the opportunity to experience the eclipse on the river offering paddle boarding, kayaking, and canoeing opportunities.
- July 2021. White River Art Canoes. After cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19, a public art project of 10 canoes painted by local artists along the river will serve as a COVID-friendly standin for the festival. Storytelling events at several of the locations are also included.
- September 2019. Dragon Boat Races. In 2019 the White River Alliance held its second annual Dragon Boat races as part of its annual White River Festival. Such races for the 2020 and 2021 festivals were cancelled due to COVID19.
Key Partners
Confirmed Partners
Recommended Partners
Priority + Progress
Monitoring priorities are the middle 60% or so of actions that TTI is keeping its eye on and supporting as needed.
TTI Role
The support role means TTI is actively supporting partners in their implementation of this action. This type of role is typically applicable when partners seek to engage Visit Indy regularly or seek help in an important yet limited role.
