GREENFIELD — The Riley Festival begins every year on the first Thursday of October in downtown Greenfield and will run from Oct. 3 through Oct. 6. The event follows many years of traditions in celebrating the birth date of famed “Hoosier Poet” James Whitcomb Riley. Residents of Greenfield, Hancock County, and surrounding areas combine their talents and resources to honor the memory of Greenfield’s native son. Each year, one of Mr. Riley’s poems is selected as the theme for that year’s festival. The 2024 theme is “A Barefoot Boy.
The Greenfield Banking Company Entertainment Tent is a showcase for a wide variety of talent that runs Thursday through Sunday during the festival. The Parade Of Flowers, which has been taking place for well over 65 years, features Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation’s elementary students marching downtown to place bouquets of flowers around Mr. Riley’s Statue on Friday at 12:30 p.m. The statue was placed in front of the courthouse in 1918 and is the focal point of the Riley Festival. Another parade will be on Saturday with over 75 units traveling from the high school through downtown to Riley Park.
Hours are 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, 9-9 on Friday and Saturday, and 11-5 on Sunday. Shuttle buses will run from the Hancock Co. 4-H Fairgrounds to the east entrance until 9 p.m.
For a complete list of events, visit rileyfestival.com/event-schedule online.