Three Rivers Festival returning to campus with two events

The Three Rivers Festival Children’s Fest is returning to Purdue University Fort Wayne, and another big event is tagging along.

Fort Wayne’s 55th annual summer celebration will close out its final two days with a pair of its most prominent offerings. The Children’s Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 19 and 20 on the campus spine of Mastodon Way, while the International Village jumps in later in the day from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 19 and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 20 on the Science Mall.

All the events will be held outside.

The last time PFW hosted the Children’s Fest was in 2019, but the pandemic canceled the 2020 TRF, which contracted back to the downtown area for 2021. Downtown construction has limited several areas, meaning the festival needed to adjust, including moving the Children’s Fest and International Village from Freimann Square. A relocation committee approached PFW about possibly hosting the events.

“The problem is if we need to expand the things we are doing with our festival, it is hard to do because we are running out of space,” said Keri Roby, TRF operations manager.

Roby said PFW served as the best option for several reasons.

“It’s all big enough for some of the bigger pieces of the Children’s Fest that just could not work in Freimann Square,” Roby said. “The parking is also fabulous and close by and free, which helps everyone.”

The Children’s Fest includes everything that produces giggles and smiles from those ages 3–9, with face painting, rides, ice cream, lemonade, dozens of vendors, resource information booths, and first responder vehicles to explore. The International Village includes various food options, art, culture, and a stage for dancers and singers. It’s a great place to explore the world and ask questions—as a college campus should be.

Roby said she’s been finalizing details with Lisa Zerkle, PFW’s director of special projects and campus emergency preparedness. She also met with Kim Grannan, chief of staff to the chancellor and community relations officer.

“Community engagement is a pillar of the strategic plan, and doing outreach is part of that,” Grannan said. “We have a lot of land and space, and we want to be an asset to the community in that regard. We should be part of these community staples. I love bringing people to campus so we can show it off.”