Valparaiso goes retro at the opening concert of the annual Popcorn Festival

Valparaiso’s Popcorn Festival weekend has officially begun after the city hosted its annual Popcorn Festival kickoff concert on Thursday, September 5. A live performance by The 1985, an ’80s tribute band, thrilled the crowd and kicked off the city’s biggest weekend of the year in style.

Neon colors and retro sounds blared from the stage as attendees crowded into Central Park Plaza. The 1985 played something for everyone, from Madonna to Metallica, while footage from classic films, music videos, games and more was beamed into the park’s amphitheater. Some audience members danced next to the stage while others crowded around the statue of Orville Redenbacher.

44 photos

“This event follows directly on the heels of our summer concert series and brings people out here to enjoy the beautiful weather here at Central Park Plaza,” said Tom Clifford, Executive Event & Marketing Manager for Valparaiso Events. “For 45 years, this city has celebrated its founding, Orville Redenbacher and the legend of popcorn. We are excited to continue the tradition and be part of that legacy.”

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Popcorn Festival and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. The lineup includes popular events like the Popcorn Panic 5 Mile & 5K Walk/Run and the annual Popcorn Parade that draws thousands of spectators. Valparaiso Events has also put together one of its most dynamic music programs yet and the team can’t wait to show people the results.

“This is the culmination of a lot of work, it’s the flagship event that Valparaiso Events is known for,” Clifford said. “Traditionally, there is one main act on stage that serves as the musical headliner of the festival. This year we’re featuring three acts that we think everyone will enjoy.”

Jonny James, a local Nashville recording artist, will take the stage at noon on Saturday. He will be followed by Motherfolk, a band that performed at Lollapalooza just last year, and closing with The Red Roses, a Chicago band that created a stronghold of local fans with its performance at the 2023 Summer Concert Series.

Attendees at the kick-off concert eagerly awaited the festival’s start. One such attendee was Jerry Mangel, a longtime Valpo resident who has only missed two popcorn festivals since the event’s inception 45 years ago.

“They’ve changed a lot of things, like they’re having this concert here now, whereas we used to have music up in the courthouse,” he said. “It’s as big and as good as ever, I think!”

Mangel loves a good party and joked that he sometimes has to be carried home.

“Things like this attract everyone and I’m happy to see all the different friends who still come,” he said. “I hope the weather doesn’t ruin it, but it always seems to be nice. We’ve had a few years where it rained, but in the morning it turned out beautiful.”

Valparaiso Events is hosting one more event before Saturday’s festivities – the Hot Wheels Race of Champions & Food Truck Rally on Friday, September 6. Kids are invited to race Hot Wheels around a giant track at the William E. Urschel Pavilion starting at 4:30 p.m. Registration is just $1 per car, and participants can bring their own car or purchase one on-site for $2.

The Popcorn Festival itself begins with the Popcorn Panic and the Lit’l Kernel Puff Run & Kernel Korral, both of which begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Over 320 craft, food and fine art vendors open their booths at 8 a.m., and the Popcorn Parade starts at 10 a.m.

For a complete list of events, vendors and musical performances at the 45th Annual Popcorn Festival, visit valparaisoevents.com.