Cultural Festivals
Topeka is full of celebrations that happen year round. Check out our list of festivals to find something for you! If you can't find what you're looking for, make sure to check out our calendar of events for current events happening in Topeka, KS >>
IrishFest
Irish or not, all are welcome to enjoy the Topeka IrishFest! Held each year on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, this annual celebration of Irish culture and heritage promises a day full of fun for the whole family. This year’s festivities included a 5K fun run, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, beer garden, games, live bands and Irish dancing.
Juneteenth
Each year, Topekans come together to celebrate the traditions and heritage of the area’s Black community through the annual Juneteenth Festival, put on each summer by the Topeka Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration committee. Festivities include the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant, a unity walk, downtown parade, essay contest, and the Juneteenth Gospel Extravaganza. Open to all, these experiences offer a chance to reflect and learn more about the Black experience in the Topeka area.
Fiesta Topeka
For 90 years, Fiesta Topeka (previously Fiesta Mexicana), organized by Topeka’s Our Lady of Guadalupe parish and community volunteers, has celebrated Mexican culture and history, and it claims to be one of the oldest community Hispanic celebrations in the U.S. Today, Fiesta Mexicana is held each summer, usually in the month of July, and includes a downtown concert, and exciting multi-block celebrations in the Oakland neighborhood, a historic Latino community. Enjoy live music and dance performances, as well as the best Mexican food in the Midwest. Learn more >>
India Mela!
Celebrate the culture, food, and music of India at Topeka’s annual India Mela! “Mela” is a Hindi term meaning festival. Held in August at Evergy Plaza in downtown Topeka, this festival is produced by the India Association of Topeka. The event features music, dancing, food vendors, fashion show, and a movie night.
Aaron Douglas Art Fair
The Aaron Douglas Art Fair takes place each September at Aaron Douglas Park in central Topeka. Since 2006, the art fair has been held to celebrate the legacy of Topeka native Aaron Douglas, a world-renowned artist and esteemed African American painter who was active in the Harlem Renaissance. The free one-day festival typically showcases 30-50 talented emerging artists, who perform near the park’s one-of-a-kind mural wall.
