West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Named Best Fall Festival in the U.S.
Evansville’s West Side Nut Club Fall Festival has always been a beloved local tradition, but now it holds national recognition as the #1 Best Fall Festival in the United States. This honor, awarded by USA Today’s 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards for 2024, cements its reputation as a must-visit event not just for the region but for festival-goers from across the country.
A Time-Honored Tradition
Since 1921, the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival has celebrated the spirit of the community with food, entertainment, and family-friendly fun. Held annually during the first full week of October, this festival spans six days and brings hundreds of food booths to Franklin Street, offering an array of unique and delicious local specialties. From classic festival foods like corn dogs and funnel cakes to Evansville favorites like brain sandwiches, stromboli, cobblers and so much more.
What Makes it #1?
The festival’s recent top spot among fall festivals highlights its ability to blend tradition with innovation. It’s more than just the food booths; the event is packed with live music, carnival rides, a talent show, a parade, and even a pet parade. Visitors love its family-oriented atmosphere, and the sense of history and pride that permeates every aspect of the event. This mix of nostalgia and entertainment brings out over 200,000 visitors annually, proving it’s a festival that stands out for both locals and newcomers alike.
One of the most exciting additions in recent years has been the West Side Nut Club Half Pot, a wildly popular raffle drawing that grows larger with each passing day of the festival. Participants buy tickets throughout the week, with a chance to win half of the total pot—making it one of the most talked-about aspects of the festival.
Celebrating the Best Fall Festival
The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival’s national recognition is no surprise to those who have experienced it firsthand. The combination of diverse food options, entertainment for all ages, and the deep-rooted tradition of the West Side Nut Club continues to draw a crowd year after year. Whether you’re attending for the first time or you’re a lifelong festival fan, there’s no doubt that 2024’s event will be a celebration to remember.
Make your plans now to join in on the fun, and experience for yourself why the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival is now officially the best fall festival in the U.S.!
For more information on the event, visit the official website, or check out the full announcement on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards here.