Navy Bean Fall Festival Returns September 18-19

The annual event takes place in downtown Rising Sun

(Rising Sun, Ind.) - The City of Rising Sun will host its annual Navy Bean Fall Festival Friday and Saturday, September 18-19 on Main and Front Streets in downtown Rising Sun.

The festival has been a local tradition for more than 30 years and marks the beginning of the fall season in Rising Sun and Ohio County. 

Festival hours are 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Activities include arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, a photo booth, a princess and queen pageant, live music, amusement rides and fireworks. Saturday's fireworks display will begin at 10:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. 

Admission to the festival is free. Amusement ride wristbands are $25 for Friday and $30 for Saturday. Presale wristbands are available for $20 per day through September 16 at City Hall, 200 N. Walnut Street, during normal business hours. 

Hurst Beans of Zionsville has been a longtime sponsor of the Navy Bean Fall Festival and has generously provided the navy beans for this year's event. The bean soup will be prepared by the Education Center of Rising Sun. Soup will be available while supplies last. Cost is $5 for a 12-ounce serving with one corn muffin or $13 for a 32-ounce serving with three muffins. 

Friday's activities begin at 4:00 p.m. with the sale of navy beans and official Navy Bean Fall Festival T-shirts. 

At approximately 4:30 p.m., this year's Grand Marshal, Tim Hillman, will be introduced in front of the Main Street Pavilion and Stage. The Lion’s Club Distinguished Citizen will be introduced at 4:45 p.m. The festival princess and court will be introduced at 5:00 p.m. 

The Rising Sun Church of Christ Worship Team will perform on the Main Street stage from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., followed by LunchBox from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. 

One of this year's special occasions will be the wedding of festival mascots Mr. Bean and Lady Bean. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place in front of the Main Street Pavilion and Stage at approximately 8:10 p.m. Friday.