Noblesville is about to host something Indiana hasn't seen before: a full-scale music festival built around the skilled trades. TradeUp Fest, the inaugural event presented by Gaylor Electric and Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky, lands on Saturday, September 19, at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile, and it's shaping up to be one of the clearest signals yet of what this district is becoming.
What's Happening
TradeUp Fest kicks off with a free outdoor festival running from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., featuring live music, food, family activities, and an interactive Trades Village where attendees can meet regional employers, explore apprenticeship programs, and try hands-on "try-a-trade" demonstrations. When the sun goes down, the celebration moves indoors for a ticketed evening concert at the arena, headlined by country artist Larry Fleet with support from The Wilder Blue and local act Nora Reese.
The festival is the brainchild of Josh Cecil, a former Noblesville High School teacher turned business owner and musician who set out to give the trades the same visibility and "street cred" typically reserved for four-year degree paths. The daytime festival pass is free with advance registration; arena concert tickets are on sale now at TradeUpFest.com.
Why Innovation Mile
That TradeUp Fest chose Innovation Mile as its home isn't incidental. The district was purpose-built as Noblesville's hub for sports, wellness, and advanced industry, and Riverview Health Arena, now also home to the Noblesville Boom, the Indiana Pacers' NBA G League affiliate, has quickly become the centerpiece of that vision. A festival built around workforce development and hands-on career exploration fits naturally into a district designed to connect employers, talent, and opportunity in one place.
A Bigger Story About Growth
TradeUp Fest also reflects something larger happening around Deer Creek District and across Noblesville: a community actively investing in the pipeline of skilled workers who will build, wire, and maintain the region's next wave of development. As employers across manufacturing, construction, and advanced industry compete for talent, events like this one do double duty, drawing families and music fans to Innovation Mile for a great day out, while planting the seed for the next generation of tradespeople right here in Hamilton County.
Mark your calendar for September 19, and get ready to see Innovation Mile in a whole new light.
