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Jes Farris co-owns Studio 13 Tattoo, alongside his brother Jake.Big Fort Fest Co-founder
Jake Farris describes the inaugural event as a "love letter to Fort Wayne." The three-day experience is planned for July 10-12 in Headwaters Park. As the high-energy event draws closer, it’s clear Farris and his team members are pouring their hearts into creating something uniquely special for the community at a critical time.
Earlier this year, the Three Rivers Festival board announced its plans to file for bankruptcy and cancel the 2025 festival. On
social media, the announcement was met with reactions ranging from sadness to anger due to perceived mismanagement of finances. A longtime fixture in the community, the Three Rivers Festival has been held nearly every year since 1969.
According to 21Alive, board leaders suggested a possible comeback in 2026, though its future is still unclear.
Some community members, like Jake Farris, who grew up in Fort Wayne, found this uncertainty to be unacceptable, so he used it as an opportunity to introduce fresh concepts. Jake says the idea behind the Big Fort Fest is to fill the void left by the Three Rivers Festival, but with some novel elements.
“We’re not here to replace what came before us, but to build something new that respects the past while creating a fresh tradition for future generations,” he explains.
There’s no shortage of passion and experience with Farris. He and his brother, Jes Farris, have a shared background in producing tattoo festivals. The duo, who own
Studio 13 Tattoo, have spent over two decades building deep roots in Fort Wayne and cementing their creative reputations by hosting tattoo festivals across the country.
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Jake Farris takes the stage at TEDx Fort Wayne in 2019.
“Running tattoo festivals for years taught us the importance of logistics and inclusivity,” Jake says. “We like to think of ourselves as the ‘big table’ kind of people — we thrive on community and making sure everyone feels seen and included.”
That community-first mentality inspired Big Fort Fest’s tone. Jake says the festival isn’t just about throwing an event. He sees it as a means to create opportunities for local businesses while catering to the masses with forward-thinking and nostalgic programming. Not unlike the Three Rivers Festival, the lineup includes live music, kids' entertainment, and artisan markets.
Jake is also adamant about making the event accessible and inclusive. That’s why his team has worked hard to keep prices reasonable. Food trucks have promised to offer their usual prices, and local partners have stepped up to sponsor free events.
Another standout element of Big Fort Fest is the collaboration with other local events happening the same weekend, such as the
Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s Chalk Walk. By sharing resources and pooling efforts, Jake anticipates that the combined events are expected to draw thousands of visitors.
All these components are connected. He says he’d love to see people of all ages walking through the streets, feeling part of something bigger.
Jake hopes to start the festival on a high note Thursday night with
Minneapolis rapper POS and
Saxsquatch. The latter is an artist known for playing cover versions of songs on the saxophone while wearing a Bigfoot costume. The headlining act is the
legendary hip-hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Friday night offers an evening of nostalgia with performances by
Bubba Sparxxx and local talent. There’s no cover charge for Friday night’s performances. On the agenda for Saturday night is Canadian band
Theory of a Deadman.
All of these acts will grace the stage of Headwaters Park Pavilion. Jake says his team aims to attract 4,000 attendees per night. As he notes, festival pricing is kept below industry standards, ensuring music is accessible to most.
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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is an American hip hop group.Big Fort Fest will cater to more than music lovers. Big Fun Fest, an entirely free children’s event, is on the schedule for Saturday. Jake says to think of whiffle ball stations, inflatables, and dance parties. Every children’s activity is free, thanks to partnerships with community organizations like the
World Baseball Academy and
Science Central.
Speaking of partnerships, Jake says it’s important to his team to prioritize working with local food vendors. Many Three Rivers festival goers have fond memories of “Junk Food Alley.” Yet, as he points out, a lot of the vendors weren’t local and didn’t have strong ties to the community. In contrast, all of Big Fort Fest’s vendors are local favorites, ensuring the money gets reinvested here.
Jake says Big Fort Fest patrons can look forward to delicious offerings from established names like Bravas, Mercado and Trubble Brewing. Many of the food trucks have plans to showcase limited-time menu items at the festival.
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Similar to Eco Fest Fort Wayne, Big Fort Fest invites local food vendors into the fold."The excitement of seeing someone walk by with a unique dish you’ve never seen — that’s a big part of the fun," Jake says.
Patrons might come for the food and stay for the Big Fort Forum marketplace, held Friday and Saturday. Jake says to expect local creators and artisans, like jewelry designers and comic book publishers. It’s a chance for small businesses to shine and for festival-goers to connect with local makers and business owners.
As for impact, Jake is upfront in sharing that the for-profit festival likely won’t turn a profit in the first year. The initial investment is about testing ideas and learning what works for the future.
"We’d love for this to become a week-long tradition eventually," Jake says. "But in the meantime, we’re focused on starting strong, doing right by our community, and evolving as we go."
Just as his team is willing to accept a less-than-perfect inaugural run, Jake is asking for some grace from the public.
“We want people to come with an open mind, give us a try, and maybe even find something new to make part of their tradition,” he says. “This is just the beginning.”