Panda Fest Indianapolis opens May 15 and runs through May 17 at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis, bringing a panda-themed Asian food festival to 601 W. New York St. The event is part of a series produced in more than a dozen cities, including Boston, and is being staged with experiential activities, tastings and market fairs.
More than 90 Asian vendors are set to serve more than 200 kinds of Asian street foods and drinks, including panda tanghulu, panda watermelon juice and panda buns. Each attendee gets two free gifts: a customized commemorative panda pin and a headband. The festival’s organizer describes Panda Fest as one of the biggest outdoor Asian food festivals in the United States, with food, art and cultural traditions from Asia at the center of the event.
Ticket prices are designed to keep the festival accessible for families and day-trippers alike. Advance general admission for ages six and up is $14 on Friday and Sunday, while Saturday tickets are also $14. Gate admission is $20. VIP tickets cost $35 on Friday and Sunday and $37 on Saturday, with a gift bag, fast pass entry and access to VIP areas that include shaded seating and bathrooms. Children under age six do not need a ticket, and tickets are sold at eventbrite.com.
The festival is arriving in Indianapolis after a busy run in other cities. Over the past few months in 2026, Panda Fest events have already taken place in Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, Charlotte, San Diego and Houston, underscoring how quickly the series has spread. That wider footprint matters because it puts the Indianapolis edition inside a national circuit rather than as a one-off weekend market.
There is one practical wrinkle for attendees bringing dogs. Pets are allowed if they are non-aggressive, kept on a short leash, remain under their owner’s control and wear a collar with ID tags at all times. Organizers also say proof of up-to-date vaccinations may be requested. The event’s panda branding is tied to food, merchandise and decorations, not live animals, which keeps the draw focused on the festival experience itself.
For Indianapolis, the next thing to know is simple: the festival opens Friday and closes Sunday, and the busiest hours are likely to hinge on the low advance ticket price, the free gifts and the draw of more than 90 vendors. If the event delivers on the scale promised by its organizers, Military Park will be packed with the kind of food-and-culture crowd Panda Fest has already built in Boston and beyond.
