Carmel International Arts Festival

The festival is well organized. A great destination for all ages. There should be a bit of something for everyone. Performers, food, art from casual to pricey. Weather is enjoyable this time of year to spend a few hours outdoor.

This is a great event to spend 2 – 3 hours of an early Autumn day. It’s not as big as Talbot Street and some of the same artists from Penrod go, but this is free whereas Penrod is not. (I still haven’t gotten over an art fair that charges a fee, having lived around Ann Arbor for ten years where one of the largest art fairs in the US resides — free).
There are also performances by various local groups, language schools, etc. And if you missed the Indiana State Fair, there’s the obligatory artery-​hardening, lifespan shortening fair food. The grease used to fry everything has probably been accumulated over the various state fairs so it’s extra aromatic.
This event is another example why Carmel was just selected by Money Magazine as the #1 small city in the US to live in.

The Carmel International Arts Festival might be the nicest part of and best reason to visit Carmel’s Arts and Design District.
The annual event, only a few years old, is held on the final Saturday and Sunday of September. This is a pretty large event, when you consider its location — in 2008, over 150 artists and craftspeople will present their creations and wares. Media range from clay and watercolor to fiber and precious metals and gems — as in jewelry :-)
This festival also features entertainment with an international flair, including cloggers, Chinese, Russian and Latin dance performances, magic and various types of tunes.
If you go, you’ll see some of the same artists and vendors here that you did at Penrod… but, bonus! this event has no admission charge! So even if you don’t buy a single thing, it’s nice to just stroll the street — which in my opinion, should always be a pedestrian street (hint, hint Mayor Brainard & Co.) — and then perhaps grab a bite at Bazbeaux, Bub’s or one of the other eateries in the vicinity.