1969 was a year for firsts. The Temptations won Motown Record’s first Grammy. It was the first year of Woodstock, Led Zeppelin released their first album, and Neil Armstrong took humankind’s first steps on the moon. During the same week as the Apollo 11 mission, another historic event was wrapping up its first week ever: Fort Wayne’s Three Rivers Festival.
Fast forward to 2025. It’s our city’s first summer without the iconic festival. The longest running festival in town would’ve celebrated its 56th anniversary this year. As with anything that spans more than five decades, the festival went through a lot of changes over the years. Some were popular, some weren’t. But no matter how you felt about the Three Rivers Festival as it hobbled along in its final chapter, if you’re a Fort Wayne native, then it’s likely you had at least one joyful childhood memory there during its heyday.
In its prime, the Three Rivers Festival (known affectionately to many as the TRF) was the ultimate Midwestern gathering. The community would flock to the streets of Downtown Fort Wayne, no matter how hot the summer day. Picture sweat dripping down the cheeks of happy festival goers as they share elephant ears and lemon shake-ups, while children’s laughter emanates from Headwaters Park. Music thumping. Sun blazing. The memory evokes warmth, in temperature and in sentiment. There was an air of camaraderie as crowds of Hoosiers came together in the thick, humid air to enjoy the sights of the Chalk Walk, the sounds of the parade, and the tastes of Junk Food Alley. What a legacy to leave behind…