The Riley Festival honors James Whitcomb Riley, “The Children’s Poet.” It is one of Indiana’s largest craft festivals and emphasizes the arts by featuring exhibits, contests of poetry, photography, fine arts, posters, home arts, quilts, and antiques. The festival also includes 1840s encampment entertainment, a car show, parades, pumpkin decorating, a queen pageant, and much more. The festival begins the first Thursday in October.