Each September, downtown fills with 100+ vendors, live entertainment, and sunflowers everywhere you look. La Porte’s signature fall festival and a community tradition.
Situated along Michigan Avenue, the Sunflower Fair is one of the largest area festivals, featuring artisan vendors, food from local eateries and non-profit organizations, and activities for the whole family. Beyond browsing the vendor-lined streets, attendees can also view an antique auto show, enjoy live music, and cheer on competitors at the rib cook-off and the sunflower growing contest.
Stroll Michigan and Jefferson Avenue and browse goods from over 100 area artisan and craft vendors.
Grab a bite from the food court, featuring food trucks and non-profit vendors serving smoked meats, pizza, roasted corn, tacos, and more.
Enjoy inflatables, carnival games, face painting, and kid-friendly vendors in the designated kids’ zone.
Presented by the Black Sheep Car Club, the Sunflower Fair’s Antique Auto Show brings rows of beautifully preserved classic and antique vehicles to Michigan Avenue. Registration opens the morning of the event, all vehicles are welcome, and awards are presented in categories including Mayor’s Choice, Sheriff’s Choice, and Best of Show.
Enjoy local talent throughout the day at the Sunflower Fair. Live entertainment plays near the front of the fair at the intersection of Michigan and Lincolnway, with a rotating lineup of performers from morning through late afternoon.
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10AM–11AM
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11AM–12PM
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12PM–2PM
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2PM–3PM
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3PM–4PM
Open to all ages, the Sunflower Contest invites growers to bring their best blooms to the fair for judging. The contest is named in tribute to seven-year-old Wyatt Wilke, who grew a winning sunflower but passed away unexpectedly the day of the competition; his family delivered his bloom to the fair, and he was awarded first place. The contest continues each year in his memory.
How to enter: Deliver your entry to the Sunflower Judging booth at Jefferson and Michigan Avenue before 10 a.m. Judging begins at 11 a.m., with winners announced at noon.
The Rib Cook-Off (formally the Tom R. Fara Memorial Great Pork-Rib Cook-Off) is open to amateur cooks only. Contestants compete for trophies and prize money, judged on appearance, texture, taste, and sauce.
Every event runs on volunteer power from setup crews and booth greeters to parade marshals and cookie counters. Give a few hours and watch the whole town show up.
Food trucks, artisans, and local shops: our events put thousands of neighbors in front of your booth. Applications for the 2026 season are open now.
Have a question about the event? Send us a message, and we’ll get back to you.
Yes! Admission to the Sunflower Fair is free and open to the public. Come enjoy a full day of shopping, food, live entertainment and family fun in Downtown La Porte.
There are several public parking lots and on-street parking spaces throughout Downtown La Porte. Because the Fair takes place across much of downtown, some streets may be closed or have temporary restrictions. We recommend arriving early and allowing extra time to find parking.
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome at the Sunflower Fair. Please be mindful of the crowds, weather and other guests when deciding whether to bring your pet.
The Sunflower Fair features a wide variety of artisan, craft, handmade and local vendors, along with nonprofit and community organizations. It’s a great place to discover unique products and support small businesses.
Yes! The Sunflower Fair offers plenty of family-friendly activities, including face painting, inflatables, carnival games and other children’s activities. There’s something for little ones to enjoy throughout the day.
The Sunflower Fair Rib Cook-Off is a friendly amateur competition for backyard pitmasters and rib enthusiasts. Teams compete for bragging rights and prizes while showing off their best ribs. More information, including registration details and rules, is available in the Rib Cook-Off section of the page.
The Wyatt Wilke Memorial Sunflower Growing Contest celebrates the flower that gives our Fair its name! Participants grow their sunflowers throughout the season and bring them to the Fair to compete for top honors. Open to all ages, the contest is named in tribute to seven-year-old Wyatt Wilke. More information, including entry details and rules, is available in the Sunflower Contest section of the page.
We keep a close eye on the forecast leading up to the Fair. Though we are a rain-or-shine event, weather plans may vary depending on conditions, particularly when severe weather, high winds or other unsafe conditions are expected. Any changes or cancellations will be announced through our official social media channels and other event communications.
Follow Downtown La Porte Events and the Sunflower Fair on Facebook for event announcements, vendor spotlights, schedules, weather updates and other important information.
Whether you’re selling, sponsoring, or lending a hand, there’s a place for you in downtown La Porte. Let’s make this season the best one yet!