Indiana
Pickles, pierogis and popcorn: These food-themed festivals are happening around Indiana
Sights and sounds of the AES 500 Festival Parade
The AES 500 Festival Parade marched through downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, May 25, 2024, on the eve of the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Summer is here, and if you’re looking for sweet or savory ways to spend the next few months, Indiana has an assortment of food-themed festivals that should serve up good memories.
Here’s what to know about summer food festivals happening around Indy.
Taste of Indy
Starting off our list is Indy’s largest food festival, Taste of Indy. There is a kids play area and bounce house, as well as performances, a video game truck, face painting and a rock climbing wall.
When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 6
Where: White River State Park 901 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Website: tasteofindy.org
Things to do: Taste of Indy fest returns with dozens of food vendors
Pickle Fest
The annual Pickle Fest in Saint Joe, a town north of Fort Wayne in DeKalb County, features a pickle juice contest, a pickle eating contest, pizza eating contest, a volleyball tournament, parade and more.
When: July 18-20
Where: Saint Joe, Indiana
Website: stjoeindiana.org/pickle-festival
Pierogi Fest
Indiana’s Pierogi Fest is celebrating 30 years this year. There will be live music, food vendors, arts and crafts, beer gardens and more. Visit the website to view the festival map and schedule of events.
When: July 26-28, Parade is at 7 p.m. on Friday
Where: 1417 119th St., Whiting, Indiana
Website: pierogifest.net
Juneteenth 2024: Indy has everything from jazz performances to boxing to celebrate the holiday
Hot Dog Festival
This annual festival takes place in Frankfurt and includes art and food vendors, a 5K race, Dock Dog diving, the Doxie Dash competition for daschunds, a classic car show and (of course) a hot dog eating contest.
When: July 26-28
Where: 62 N. Main Street, Frankfort, IN 46041
Website: frankfortmainstreet.org
Van Buren Popcorn Festival
The Van Buren Popcorn Festival is a free festival. This year marks the 51st anniversary of this event and this year’s theme is ‘Poppin’ Up Behind the Scenes Honoring the Blue Collar Worker.” There is music, parades, a 5K and more. Visit the website for the full 2024 schedule.
When: August 1-4
Where: 205 S. 1st Street, Van Buren, IN 46991
Website: popcornfestivalofvanburen.org
Chocolate Walk
Are you a lover of chocolate? Hancock County will host its 15th annual Chocolate Walk, a scavenger hunt type of event, where attendees pick up a punch card and stop by local business to receive samples of chocolate. Register to attend the event on their website, $20 per ticket.
When: Chocolate Walk is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9
Where: One Courthouse Plaza, Greenfield, IN 46140
Website: greenfieldcc.org
More Indiana Festivals
For the full list of festivals across the state through the rest of the year, the Indiana Festival guide can be viewed here.
Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.
Indiana
Nicolas Cage to make his first U.S. comic convention appearance in Indiana
Catch everything that went on at day 1 of the Indiana Comic Convention
Day 1 of the 2025 Indiana Comic Convention is in the books. IndyStar reporter John Tufts gives you an inside look of everything that went on.
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is making his U.S. comic con scene debut, appearing at the Indiana Comic Convention this week.
Fans can meet Cage and get an autograph or photo with him during the June 5-7 event taking place at the Indiana Convention Center.
The appearance marks Cage’s first at a U.S. comic convention. The 62-year-old actor, who has starred in movies spanning romance, action and superhero genres over more than 40 years, appeared at the Osaka Comic Convention in 2025.
Cage’s Indiana visit comes after the May 27 release on Prime Video of “Spider-Noir,” the live-action superhero series he leads. He voiced the character in the 2018 animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and will reprise the role in 2027’s “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.”
Among his other superhero genre movie roles are Big Daddy in “Kick-Ass” and Johnny Blaze in Marvel’s Ghost Rider franchise. He was set to star in director Tim Burton’s scrapped Superman movie in the 1990s. Fans finally got to see him on the big screen as the Man of Steel when he cameoed in “The Flash” in 2024.
Cage, whose movies have grossed more than $6.4 billion, also starred in “National Treasure,” “The Rock,” “Face/Off,” “Con Air,” “Valley Girl,” “Raising Arizona,” “Adaptation” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
“Nicolas Cage is one of the most accomplished and recognizable actors in the world, and to have him choose Indiana Comic Convention as his first fan convention is huge for fans and a tribute to the reputation they’ve built for treating celebrity attendees with so much love and respect,” show producer Dan Farr said in an announcement of the appearance.
Watch ‘Spider-Noir’ on Prime
How much is a Nicolas Cage photo op?
Indiana Comic Convention features celebrities, authors, comic creators and exhibitors that cater to a wide spectrum of interests and fandoms, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel.
In-person Nicolas Cage autographs will cost $400. Photo ops are $250. A pre-signed autograph is $225. A photo op/pre-signed autobiography bundle is $450.
Tickets and photo ops are available now at indianacomicconvention.com.
Contact reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky:@cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
Indiana
Hobart police officer rescues family from house fire
Monday, June 1, 2026 3:34AM
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — A northwest Indiana family is safe thanks to the heroic actions of a Hobart police officer.
Adam Zormier rescued a woman and four children from a burning home.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
ABC7 talked to Zormier, who told us he was on patrol in Hobart on Sunday when he noticed heavy black smoke in the air.
He discovered it was coming from the windows and roof of a house in nearby Merrillville.
A Good Samaritan helped him knock on doors. When there was no answer, he forced his way in.
Zormier was treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously hurt.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
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