College of Agriculture
2026 Spring Fest: Bugs, barnyards and Boilermaker fun
Experience a community celebration of agriculture and beyond
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s College of Agriculture will host its annual Spring Fest from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18.
This free, family-friendly festival is open to everyone, featuring interactive activities for all ages. Whether you’re a family member, student, alum or future Boilermaker, Spring Fest offers opportunities to explore campus through hands-on exhibits and experiences hosted by agricultural departments, other colleges and campus organizations.
“The College of Agriculture is excited to host the 2026 Spring Fest,” said Amy Winger, event coordinator. “With an impressive lineup of engaging activities and exciting new exhibits, the event brings the community together while highlighting Purdue’s far-reaching impact.”
Spring Fest will feature 42 activity sites, spanning the College of Agriculture’s buildings and grounds, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Memorial Mall. Guests can look forward to the return of Bug Bowl, presented by the Thomas Say Entomological Society, complete with the fan-favorite Cockroach Colosseum. The event will also welcome back the beloved plant sale, hosted by the Purdue Horticulture Society and Purdue Student Farm.
Here are just a few of the exhibits highlighting science, technology, engineering and the arts:
The information tent (Site 1), located at the corner of Mitch Daniels Boulevard and Marsteller Street, will offer pocket guides featuring a map, a complete list of activities, the event schedule and food options. A visible flag will be placed outside the tent so it’s easy to find, and volunteers will be available to direct attendees to the exhibits they’re looking for.
Spring Fest also provides an opportunity for community engagement. Scouting Purdue, comprised of Eagle Scouts and scouting alumni, will host the Purdue Pinewood Derby.
Free event parking will be available in the Marsteller Street parking lot, Discovery Park Lot and the Wood Street Parking Garage. Paid parking will also be available in the Harrison Street Parking Garage.
To preview family-friendly science demonstrations, please visit the official Spring Fest website.
This free, family-friendly festival is open to everyone, featuring interactive activities for all ages. Whether you’re a family member, student, alum or future Boilermaker, Spring Fest offers opportunities to explore campus through hands-on exhibits and experiences hosted by agricultural departments, other colleges and campus organizations.
“The College of Agriculture is excited to host the 2026 Spring Fest,” said Amy Winger, event coordinator. “With an impressive lineup of engaging activities and exciting new exhibits, the event brings the community together while highlighting Purdue’s far-reaching impact.”
Spring Fest will feature 42 activity sites, spanning the College of Agriculture’s buildings and grounds, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Memorial Mall. Guests can look forward to the return of Bug Bowl, presented by the Thomas Say Entomological Society, complete with the fan-favorite Cockroach Colosseum. The event will also welcome back the beloved plant sale, hosted by the Purdue Horticulture Society and Purdue Student Farm.
Here are just a few of the exhibits highlighting science, technology, engineering and the arts:
- Boiler Barnyard, a live petting zoo hosted by the Department of Animal Sciences.
- Boilermaker Butcher Block, where the Boilermaker Black Edition and Gold Edition hot sauces and other Boilermaker products can be purchased.
- The Purdue University Herbaria, which contains over 235,000 specimens of plants, fungi and more.
- The Purdue Veterinary Medicine Open House, offering an inside look at the different aspects of veterinary medicine and its role in advancing global animal and human health.
- Woods on Wheels, a traveling interactive exhibit that provides information on Indiana’s forests.
- The College of Liberal Arts will feature art education, metals and jewelry, music, visual communication design, and more.
The information tent (Site 1), located at the corner of Mitch Daniels Boulevard and Marsteller Street, will offer pocket guides featuring a map, a complete list of activities, the event schedule and food options. A visible flag will be placed outside the tent so it’s easy to find, and volunteers will be available to direct attendees to the exhibits they’re looking for.
Spring Fest also provides an opportunity for community engagement. Scouting Purdue, comprised of Eagle Scouts and scouting alumni, will host the Purdue Pinewood Derby.
Free event parking will be available in the Marsteller Street parking lot, Discovery Park Lot and the Wood Street Parking Garage. Paid parking will also be available in the Harrison Street Parking Garage.
To preview family-friendly science demonstrations, please visit the official Spring Fest website.
About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Media contact: Devyn Ashlea Raver, draver@purdue.edu
Sources: Amy Winger, afararre@purdue.edu
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415
