American folklore legend John ‘Johnny Appleseed’ Chapman reportedly planted his final seed in Fort Wayne. To honor the prolific propagator of the American apple tree, the Johnny Appleseed Festival is held in the park where he is believed to be buried. Over 300,000 apple-lovers enjoy traditional food, crafts, and historical demonstrations recalling the era of Mr. Chapman.
Each year in mid-June, the four day meatapalooza of BBQ RibFest at Headwaters Park, showcases barbecue rib cooks and vendors. The event attracts roughly 40,000 visitors, but for those cravings that don’t abide by a calendar, satisfaction awaits at Red Rok BBQ and Bourbon Salon.
Fort Wayne loves to root for players before they get called up to ‘the show’. The TinCaps of baseball's Midwest League is just one of three minor league teams that call The Fort home, but their home stadium Parkview Field ranks among the top minor league stadiums in the country and the team won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.
For 28 years, the Festival of Gingerbread has showcased Fort Wayne’s most talented gingerbread builders. The real winners, though, are spectators.
They know how to put the “fort” in Fort Wayne, but people are genuinely friendly. They won’t even roll their eyes if you can’t figure out if you need to go to St. Joe Blvd, St. Joe Rd, St. Joe Center Rd, St. Joe River Dr and Upper St. Joe Center Rd.
Most people know that the Hoosier state is full of basketball nuts, but did you know that the NBA franchise Detroit Pistons got their start as the Fort Wayne Pistons? Fort Wayne hasn’t forgotten, they won three Championships before heading north.
Several big inventions of the 20th century got their start in Fort Wayne and there is no shortage of talk about the gas pump, the television and yes, even the Breathalyzer.
Seyfert’s chips are the best chips. Why are we even having this discussion?
Cindy’s is one of those restaurants that is woven into the fabric of a town. You can’t call yourself a resident of the Fort if you haven’t sat elbow-to-elbow with your neighbors and eaten a Murphy’s Donut.
Northeastern Indiana's cultural hub, Fort Wayne, is home to 15 museums and art galleries but sometimes it’s just easier to look down at the city’s Chalk Walk. Take a page out of Mary Poppins and step into works from trained professionals to local tots and every skill-level in between.
Every year Fort Wayne celebrates the street performer at BuskerFest. Entertainers line 91 blocks to dazzle audiences. The mimes are fine, but if you really want to turn up the heat, get up close and personal with the fire-breathers.
They call Fort Wayne ‘The City That Saved Itself’ but even if you haven’t found salvation there is still hope for you yet. With 360 churches within the city limits you can practically try a church per day all year until you find the right one.
ShindigZ National Soccer Festival, held annually each summer, is a premier collegiate soccer event. Featuring national contenders from across the country, this Fort Wayne staple encourages education and exercise tempered with good old-fashioned competition.
The Fort sometimes Refers to itself as the ‘City of Restaurants’ and who could fault them what with gems like the Main Street Bistro & Martini Lounge rolling out the red carpet for local diners. Monday night is sushi night, but the French onion soup is always amazing.
No one in Fort Wayne wants to be limited in their options of cold beers. At the Dash-In, they see fit to make sure that no palate goes wanting. Patrons can choose from 23 rotating taps (something unheard of until recently in the mid-West) or peruse bottles of over 50 craft and domestic beers, as well as wines, Lambic and cider options.
Three Rivers Festival, the nine-day celebration of Fort Wayne’s waterways, draws an estimated 400,000 river rats each year. Attractions include a festive parade, a bed race and what River Fest would be complete without a raft race down the St. Mary’s?
The Allen County Public Library is home to the one of the largest genealogy research collections in the world. Incorporating records from around the world, the genealogy center gives patrons an inside look into their lineage.
The National Arbor Foundation has given Fort Wayne the designation of ‘Tree City USA’ for over 18 years. With 86 public parks and three public golf courses, totaling 2,805 acres of green space, its easy to see why.
Launched in 2008, the Fort4Fitness festival strives to motivate residents and inspire leading healthier lifestyles. The Fort has to train year-round for events which include a certified half marathon, 4-mile (6.4 km) run/walk and a health food fair.
The mid-West isn’t always known for its openness when it comes to embracing the LGBTQ community, but The Fort has been wearing its pride on its sleeve since 1996. With events like the Pride March, Fort Wayne's Finest Drag Show, live entertainment, food vendors and comedy routines, this two-day party at Headwaters Park is one nobody should miss.
It snows in Fort Wayne, but that doesn’t get people down, it just inspires them to make the best out of what the sky gives them. In this case, best is a giant polar bear.
Plenty of Fort Wayne’s finest have gone on to find fame, but no one will let them forget where they got their start. National rap act Nyzzy Nyce calls the Fort home and he has company in NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson and U.S. Men’s National Team member and international soccer star DaMarcus Beasley to name a few.
When a place has been serving hot dogs for this long, you better believe there’s a loyal customer base. You know you’re a regular when you can walk in the back door.
DeBrand Chocolate stores have been serving the Fort Wayne community for over 25 years. That’s a quarter-century of delighting area loved ones for Valentines, special occasions or monumental apologies.
Fort Wayne residents know that nothing smells better than a hardware store, and nothing feels better than building or fixing something on your own. Based in Fort Wayne, Do It Best has spread those ideals across the globe.
Or drinking copious amounts of beer. Either way, Fort Wayne’s eight day Germanfest has been going strong since 1981. Prost!
Nothing goes better together like a slice of fresh, hot pizza and an ice cold beer, but you don’t have to tell Fort Wayne that, they’ve got it down just fine, in fact they named an awesome spot after it; 816 Pint & Slice.
