The sun was out, the grass was green, and the vibes? Pretty much immaculate.

SolFest 2025 lit up Metea County Park this weekend as families, musicians, artists, and curious wanderers flocked to Allen County’s beloved nature reserve for a day of good food, great tunes, and community connection. Billed as a “Celebration of the Sun,” the event ran from noon until long after sunset, and it lived up to the hype.

No one left empty-handed. Whether it was a painted face, a handmade bracelet, a belly full of tacos—or just a sore face from smiling too much—SolFest gave the Fort Wayne area a day that felt like summer should.

$20 to Celebrate the Sun? Worth Every Penny

Admission was $20 per adult, kids under 12 walked in free. Cash only, which did catch a few folks by surprise, but hey—it’s 2025, and we’re all still forgetting ATMs exist.

But for that Jackson, you got access to:

• Ten hours of music and local performances

• Dozens of local food and artisan vendors

• Guided hikes and nature crafts

• Astronomy talks, solar telescope demos, and a bonfire finale

• Kids’ zones with nature games and water play

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, honestly,” said Jenna Wright, who drove in from Auburn with her two sons. “But we got here around 1 p.m. and haven’t stopped moving since. My boys have painted rocks, eaten three hot dogs, and now they’re watching a guy play a didgeridoo. It’s wild—in a good way.”

Nature, But Make It a Party

What set SolFest apart from your usual park fair? Location, for one.

Metea County Park isn’t just some open field with tents. It’s 250 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and wildflowers. So when you have local bands playing acoustic sets in the shade of sycamores, and kids chasing dragonflies between booths, the whole thing feels more like a forest rave than a typical summer fest.

One moment you’re sipping lavender lemonade under a tent, and the next you’re stumbling onto a trail where an impromptu drum circle has broken out. It’s that kind of festival.

And the park staff made sure it stayed that way.

A Community Comes Together for Its Parks

Here’s the twist—SolFest isn’t just about fun. It’s about funding.

Proceeds from the event are going straight into improvements at Metea County Park and its sister park, Fox Island, which was ravaged by storm damage in recent years and is still recovering.

“We wanted this to be a celebration, but also a moment of support,” said Claire Martin, one of the park staff helping run the event. “These parks matter. They’re not just green space—they’re places where kids fall in love with nature.”

She wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Dozens of volunteers staffed booths, directed traffic, handed out maps, and picked up litter—all for the parks they love.

Music in the Trees, Feet in the Grass

If the sunshine didn’t draw you in, the sound probably did.

From noon until dusk, a rotating lineup of local acts filled the park with music. Acoustic folk, jazz trios, bluegrass duos, and a five-piece reggae band—each one got the crowd swaying, clapping, and sometimes outright dancing.

One of the most talked-about moments? A surprise collaboration between singer-songwriter Dani Steele and a local high school marimba band that turned a quiet picnic zone into a full-on jam session.

Some folks even brought their own instruments. By late afternoon, little musical pop-ups were happening in every corner of the park.

Vendors and Vibes: A Quick Look

Here’s a peek at what people were buying, eating, or gawking at during the fest:

Of course, not everything cost money. Volunteers handed out free sunscreen. Kids got stickers and nature journals at the education tent. And the community vibe? Totally priceless.

Long Shadows and a Bonfire Goodbye

As the sun dropped low, golden light poured through the trees. Families grabbed one last bite. Musicians played quieter now. People sat cross-legged on blankets, sharing snacks and stories.

At 9:30, a bonfire was lit near the main field.

Dozens circled it. Some danced. Some just watched the flames lick the sky. A local poet read a few lines about summer and time and how the sun always comes back, even when it hides for a while.

It was a perfect ending.