34th Annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival — Valparaiso, Indiana — September 8, 2012 [always the Saturday after Labor Day]

valpariso popcorn day

valparaisoevents.com/popcorn

The festival began in 1979 when the idea popped up to salute a Valparaiso native, Orville Redenbacher, America’s Popcorn King.

YouTube from last year

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