Ask yourself: Is it really the Fourth of July if you don’t come here? Would Katy Perry be proud of you if you didn’t watch the fireworks? Cue CarmelFest. Walk in, buy your elephant ear, and meander through the concerts, games, contests, and vendors. You’ll be in the American spirit within minutes and it’s exciting because the Fest gets bigger & better every year. The south-end of the festival boasts a lively children’s area full of rides, huge inflatables, and a kid’s stage. The coolest part are the mini trampolines with harnesses that you can pay to try. The harnesses allow you to jump and do cool flips in the air. Beginner Cirque de Solei? You also have to pay for the other games as well. Fairly cheap. The gazebo in the center of CarmelFest has live music with local bands that play both days. There’s always a singing competition during the day on the fourth and the finalists perform again that night. Always chalked full of local talent. Everyone brings a picnic blanket, chairs, and coolers, then lays out in the lawn all day, staking their spot. And the food? It’s your typical fair food(in a good way) plus some. Yep, it’s got your fried options, incredible Indian corn, swirly ice cream cones, and lemon shake-ups. There’s also guests like Bella Pizzeria and a new stir-fry-made-to-order booth. Cash is needed. There are about a hundred sponsor booths, hippie vendors, and interactive stops around the festival and without spending a dime, you could be entertained for at least an hour. If you haven’t been, check it out next year! Always on July 3rd&4th and no entry fee.
