By Jill McMillen, Anderson Gaslight Festival—
ANDERSON, IN — The Anderson Gaslight Festival is preparing for its biggest celebration since returning to Historic West 8th Street in 2023, expanding into a full weekend of entertainment, history and community activities Aug. 21-23, 2026.
What began as a revived one-day festival has continued to grow each year, drawing increasingly large crowds to Anderson’s historic district. This year’s event will feature activities on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, creating a full weekend celebration of Anderson’s history, architecture and community spirit.
One of the most anticipated additions is the return of the Gaslight Bed Races, a popular tradition that will bring teams, creatively designed beds and plenty of friendly competition back to West 8th Street. Six teams are expected to compete this year as the event returns, with organizers hopeful that participation will grow in future years.
“The Gaslight Festival is one of Anderson’s most treasured traditions,” said presenting sponsor Mayor Thomas Broderick, Jr. “It showcases our history, our neighborhoods and the creativity of our community. We are proud to continue supporting its growth as a signature event for our city. The return of the Bed Races and the expansion into a full weekend demonstrate the energy and enthusiasm surrounding this festival and the pride our community has in Anderson’s history.”
Friday’s activities will include a Night Bicycle Ride and the return of the Bed Races, launching a weekend designed to give visitors more opportunities to enjoy Historic West 8th Street.
Saturday, Aug. 22, will feature the festival’s main celebration, with more than 200 vendors, artisan booths, specialty food trucks, local businesses, live entertainment, a classic car show, a pie baking contest and auction, historic lectures, the popular Kids Zone and the growing Fourth Grade Art Gallery. A parade and other activities will add to a full day of entertainment along the historic street.
“We are so excited about how much the Gaslight Festival has grown since we brought it back in 2023,” said Darla Sallee of the Gaslight Festival Committee. “This year, becoming a full weekend event is a major milestone for us. We are especially excited to bring back the Bed Races. We have six entries for the first year, and we hope to see that number grow as more people discover how much fun this tradition can be. We also
wanted to make Sunday special so people can enjoy the home tours and Afternoon Tea without missing the full festival experience on Saturday.”
The festival will conclude Sunday with the popular Afternoon Tea and tours of historic homes. Organizers said the Sunday schedule allows those interested in the architectural and historical features of West 8th Street to enjoy those events at a more relaxed pace while giving visitors the opportunity to experience the festival’s full entertainment lineup on Saturday.
Outdoor walking tours will run along Historic W. 8th St. during the festival on Aug 22, identifying architecture, special features and history of properties on Anderson’s signature street.
The Gaslight Festival has deep roots in Anderson history. The original festival began in 1973 to celebrate and raise funds to maintain the distinctive Newport-style gaslights along West 8th Street and continued through 2004. After its return in 2023, the festival quickly re-established itself as one of Anderson’s most loved community events, drawing thousands of visitors to the historic neighborhood.
With the return of the Bed Races, more than 150 vendors, live entertainment, family activities, historic home tours and Afternoon Tea, the 2026 Anderson Gaslight Festival is poised to become the community’s biggest weekend celebration of the summer.
For more information about the festival schedule and activities, visit the Anderson Gaslight Festival’s official website.