Since 1980, people have cheered and celebrated whenever the Bears of Blue River Festival comes to town. It is the one time of year when people can forget their everyday trials – car repairs, house mortgages, constant bills, debt settlement – and just go out and have some fun.

Originally starting as a kind of teen and outdoor social, the festival grew and gathered power and momentum as the years and the popularity grew. People would leave their jobs, come home, throw on some civvies, and head out into the Indiana heat for some good old fashioned music, food and entertainment, and the tradition continues to this day.

However, the festival has gotten even bigger and now there are even more events to choose from. There have even been 10k runs or walks for various benefits and organizations, and there have also been so many musical performances and entertaining shows by such big name groups that tourists from all over the country have made it a point to take a trip down to Shelbyville whenever the festival comes to town. It’s great fun for the whole family and if you ever wondered what being a part of a community feels like, you need only spend a little time in Shelbyville.