Spotlight on Fairmount, Indiana: A Small Town with a Big Heart
Fairmount, Indiana may be small in size – home to just under 3,000 people – but it’s bursting with hometown pride and history. This close-knit community is famous for producing two American icons, actor James Dean and Garfield cartoonist Jim Davis. Yet Fairmount is more than its famous sons. From bustling Main Street shops to cherished local traditions, Fairmount offers a warm welcome and plenty to explore. In this community-focused spotlight, we highlight the local businesses and dining, historical landmarks, upcoming events, and community initiatives that celebrate the heart of Fairmount.
Local Business & Dining
Fairmount’s downtown may look like a classic small-town Main Street, but it’s full of life thanks to their strong entrepreneurial spirit. Neighbors gather daily at The Branch, a coffee shop that doubles as a community hub. An extension of Fairmount Wesleyan Church, The Branch was created to be “a place for the community of Fairmount to share coffee and life” – and it delivers on that promise with friendly faces and cozy corners. Whether you’re grabbing your morning latte or meeting up with friends, local spots like The Branch make everyone feel at home.
The James Dean Latte
The Branch menu features a special drink called the James Dean latte, which consists of cinnamon over the drink and decorated to look like Dean’s face.
When hunger strikes, Fairmount’s dining scene has you covered with hometown flavor. In the mood for something new? Grains & Grill, a farm-to-table gastropub, serves up modern American fare - we recommend the Hoosier Hot Plate - and it even houses Fairmount’s very own craft brewery, Bad Dad Brewing Co. This family-run brewery (started by a dad and his sons) has become a local hotspot for artisan beer and wood-fired pizzas, giving this small town a big taste of the craft beer scene. Craving pizza or comfort food? This brewery is also a local favorite for a hot, cheesy slice. From fresh coffee and homemade ice cream at Cool Beans café to authentic tacos at El Metate Mexican Grill, there’s a little bit of everything here in Fairmount. The best part? Many of these businesses are owned and staffed by your neighbors. Don’t be surprised if the folks at the hardware store or the waitress at Grains & Grill know your name – that’s just how this community rolls!
Historical Landmarks
Fairmount cherishes its history, and you can experience it firsthand through their local landmarks and museums. The Fairmount Historical Museum (also known as The James Dean Museum) is a must-visit for any fan of the hometown movie star or mischief-loving cat. This newly renovated space on Main Street holds the world’s largest collection of James Dean’s personal belongings, from high school yearbooks to movie memorabilia. Stroll through exhibits dedicated to Dean – who grew up here and graduated from Fairmount High School – and you’ll feel the 1950s come alive. In fact, Fairmount is so proud of James Dean that each September thousands of fans from around the world flock here for the annual Remembering James Dean Festival. (Yes, this town’s population truly multiplies nearly tenfold every fall!)
Photo Opportunity!
Don’t miss the larger-than-life Garfield statue dressed as James Dean himself now located on Main Street in front of the museum!
But Fairmount’s heritage isn’t only about Hollywood. In a delightful twist, one corner of the museum is also devoted to Garfield, the famous comic-strip cat, and his creator Jim Davis – another Fairmount native. You’ll find original Garfield artwork and quirky collectibles on display. It’s actually one stop on the Grant County Garfield Trail, a series of Garfield statues across our region (Fairmount’s statue is fittingly called “The Cool Cat”). From the James Dean Gallery on North Main (a gallery and gift shop full of 1950s nostalgia) to the quiet Memorial Point downtown honoring veterans, Fairmount’s landmarks tell the story of a town that remembers its past while still having fun with it.
James Dean Gift Shop at the James Dean Gallery, Fairmount, Indiana.
Upcoming Events
There’s always something happening in Fairmount to bring the community together. Summers nights here are filled with music and laughter thanks to “Concerts at the Stage”, a free outdoor summer concert series held every Wednesday evening at Playacres Park. Families pack picnic blankets and head to the park to enjoy live bands – everything from classic rock to country – on the James Dean Memorial Stage (yes, the very stage that once stood in James Dean’s high school auditorium now has a second life hosting local bands!). It’s a great way to spend a warm summer night under the stars with neighbors, tapping your toes and maybe dancing along.
Hoosier Shakes summer performance on the James Dean Memorial Stage in Playacres Park, Fairmount, Indiana.
As fall approaches, excitement builds for Fairmount’s biggest annual celebration: Museum Days & the Remembering James Dean Festival. Mark your calendars – this year’s festival is slated for September 26–28, 2025. During that weekend, this small town transforms into a bustling festival ground. Classic cars line up across Playacres Park for the James Dean Run car show, fans don retro ’50s outfits, James Dean fans prep for the look-alike contest, and vendors serve up plenty of Hoosier hospitality (tenderloin sandwich, anyone?). The whole town comes alive with music, carnival rides, and guided tours of James Dean’s old stomping grounds. It’s a time when former residents often come back to visit, and new folks fall in love with Fairmount’s charm. No matter the season, Fairmount’s community spirit shines in their events – from an old-fashioned Fourth of July parade to the cozy Hometown Holidays in December when we light up the town Christmas tree. Keep an eye on the town event calendar for family-friendly happenings year-round, because there’s always a friendly gathering just around the corner in Fairmount.
Crowds gather on Main Street during Fairmount’s annual James Dean Festival. Each September, thousands of visitors join our community to celebrate the legacy of our hometown movie star. Photo taken during a performance by Encore! Dance Academy, of Fairmount, Indiana.
Community Initiatives
What truly makes Fairmount special is the way the community comes together to shape its future. Everyone has a voice in Fairmount’s direction. In fact, “all businesses and residents of Fairmount have valuable input into the vision of our town and are encouraged to join Main Street Fairmount,” a member of the downtown revitalization organization said. This volunteer-driven group leads efforts to preserve our historic character while attracting new opportunities. They host community forums, publish a “Main Street Monthly” newsletter, and even launched a recent survey to gather ideas for improving life in Fairmount. The feedback from residents is helping guide projects big and small – truly, it’s neighbors working with neighbors to keep Fairmount growing in the right direction.
Local initiatives are making a tangible difference. Revitalizing downtown is a major focus – and it just got a boost from the state. Fairmount was recently awarded a $40,000 Downtown Revitalization Planning Grant to develop a roadmap for energizing the town center. This planning grant (through Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs) will help them map out improvements to storefronts, streetscapes, and public spaces to promote economic growth. It’s an exciting step that could pave the way for future grants and revitalization efforts, and it happened because local leaders and residents came together to pursue it.
They also believe in taking care of our own. Every quarter, the Town of Fairmount partners with Second Harvest Food Bank for a community food distribution at Playacres Park – ensuring that any local families in need can pick up fresh groceries, free of charge. These food drives, staffed by volunteers from around town, are a testament to our spirit of neighbors helping neighbors. And speaking of the park, community groups are actively working on upgrading Playacres Park – from adding new playground equipment to expanding accessible features – so that it remains a welcoming gathering spot for all ages. (One recent collaboration with a local non-profit, Hands of Hope, even invited residents to share input on what new features they’d love to see at the park – truly a community brainstorming effort!).
Whether it’s planting over 100 new trees in the park through the Playacres Park Tree Foundation (yes, they did that!) or cheering on their high school teams on Friday nights, Fairmount’s initiatives are rooted in community pride. They celebrate history, support local businesses, and look out for each other’s well-being. That’s the Fairmount way.
To sum it up, Fairmount, Indiana may be a small town, but it’s brimming with community spirit, rich history, and friendly charm. From sipping coffee with friends at The Branch, to touring James Dean’s memorabilia, to rocking out at a summer park concert or volunteering at a local charity event – life in Fairmount is all about coming together as a community. We invite you to stop by and experience it for yourself. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor, you’ll find a warm welcome here in Fairmount, where the past is honored, the present is vibrant, and the future is shaped together.