What is in season in Indianapolis. and what to order when the market changes.
Spring
- Lenten fish fries: Catholic parishes citywide run Friday fish fries from Ash Wednesday through Easter, with cod, pierogi and sides for ten dollars.
- Morel mushrooms: Indiana morel hunters bring foraged mushrooms to Carmel Farmers Market in April, lightly battered and pan-fried at home.
- Asparagus: Indiana asparagus appears at the Original Farmers Market on Monument Circle from mid-April through May.
Summer
- Sweet corn: Indiana sweet corn arrives in July and runs through Labor Day. Carmel Farmers Market stalls move dozens of ears each Saturday morning.
- 500 Festival snacks: Carb Day at the Speedway in late May runs corn-on-the-cob, tenderloins, smoked turkey legs and Sun King taps from a long row of vendors.
- Strawberries: The Strawberry Festival on Monument Circle in mid-June moves through 50,000 servings of strawberries over biscuits and shortcake.
- Heirloom tomatoes: Indiana heirlooms peak at Broad Ripple and Carmel Farmers Markets through August.
Autumn
- Brown County persimmons: Native Indiana persimmons ripen in Brown County in October. Persimmon pudding shows up on holiday tables and at Story Inn.
- Pawpaw: The pawpaw, a custard-fleshed native Indiana fruit, has a two-week window in mid-September. Farmers market stalls sell them at peak ripeness.
- Indiana State Fair: The fair runs August 7 to August 23, 2026, with elephant ears, deep-fried Snickers, pork chops on a stick and corn-on-the-cob in the food building.
- Apple cider doughnuts: Apple orchards across central Indiana run weekend cider-doughnut counters from late September through November.
Winter
- Sugar cream pie: Indiana's state pie peaks at Long's Bakery and on Thanksgiving and Christmas tables across the city through December and January.
- Devour Indy Winterfest: Late January to early February brings 175 plus restaurants into a two-week prix-fixe event with three-course menus from twenty to fifty dollars.
- Hoosier chili: Indiana chili runs sweeter than Texas and often comes with macaroni stirred in or spaghetti served alongside, especially during the winter playoff stretch.
- Fried biscuits and apple butter: Brown County German-Hoosier comfort food, served at the country-style rooms in Nashville Indiana from November through March.