Purdue Fort Wayne brings community together for inaugural DonFest

Nearly 2,000 people gathered at Purdue University Fort Wayne recently for the university's inaugural DonFest, a free community celebration that brought together families, students and neighbors from across Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.

Held across the Purdue Fort Wayne campus, DonFest featured live music, kayaking and riverfront recreation, pontoon rides, bicycle tours, interactive exhibits, inflatables, games, face painting, tie-dye and other activities for all ages. Food trucks, community organizations and local partners also joined the celebration, showcasing the people and programs that help make northeast Indiana a place to live, learn and grow.

As the first DonFest hosted by Purdue Fort Wayne, the event marked a new opportunity to bring the university and surrounding community together for an evening of activities, entertainment and celebration.

"Seeing so many people come together on campus for our first DonFest was an incredible way to celebrate Purdue Fort Wayne and the community we call home," said Krissy Surface, vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and the Student Experience. "This event was about creating a place where our students, families, neighbors, and community partners could come together, experience our campus and simply have fun. We are incredibly grateful to our title sponsor, the Purdue Fort Wayne Foundation, and to everyone who helped make the first DonFest such a success."

The celebration began with live music from Alicia Pyle and the Locals opening for Mason Dixon Line, and continued throughout the evening with activities across campus and along the riverfront. Attendees also had the opportunity to cheer on the Mastodons during Purdue Fort Wayne's first Club Football home game and Division 1 Women's Volleyball game before the evening concluded with a spectacular fireworks display.

DonFest was designed to open Purdue Fort Wayne's campus to the broader community, welcoming people of all ages to discover more of what the university has to offer and connect with one another.

Mark your calendars: next year's DonFest will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2027.