41st Annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival — September 7, 2019 — [always the Saturday after Labor Day]

valparaisoevents.com/popcorn

The festival began in 1979. The idea popped up as a suitable way to salute Valparaiso native Orville Redenbacher (1907-1995), America’s Popcorn King.

YouTube from 2009

To see how much fun you can have at this festival, click here to watch a YouTube video from 2009.

Eat at the Orville Redenbacher Tent

    • Prime Rib

    • Vodka Chicken (ID required?)

    • Southwest Crab Cake (there are crabs in the Southwest?)

    • Turkey Pie

    • Heirloom Tomato Salad

    • Red Velvet Cake

    • And, of course, corn on the cob

Cutest Baby Contest

We’re not sure what the relationship of babies to popcorn is, but it’s nice to see that they are having a contest like this nonetheless — the winning boy bady and the winning girl baby will ride, accompanied by the parents of course, in the Popcorn Festival Parade:

    • Open to all babies ages 9-24 months from Porter County at the time of the contest

    • Babies should be dressed in outfits that are comfortable

    • Bring a toy for your baby to keep the baby amused, which will help pass the time

    • Judges will judge for 1.5 minutes per baby

    • Scoring basis: 20% clothes, 40% facial appearance, 40% personality

    • Once your baby is judged, you are free to go home; take baby with you