TradeUp Fest to bring skilled trades, workforce development & live music together in Noblesville

Indiana business and industry leaders are backing a new workforce development initiative that will use live music and hands-on experiences to introduce the next generation to careers in the skilled trades.

TradeUp Fest, presented by Gaylor Electric and Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky, will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile, 14157 CJ Way, Noblesville.

The inaugural event will bring together employers, educators, apprenticeship programs, manufacturers, tradespeople, students, and families for a free daytime music festival centered on career exploration, followed by a ticketed evening concert.

“The skilled trades built this country, and they’ll build its future,” Gaylor Electric CEO Chuck Goodrich said. “TradeUp Fest is more than a festival; it’s an opportunity for families to come together, have fun, explore incredible career opportunities, and celebrate the men and women whose skills and craftsmanship keep our communities moving forward.”

At the center of the daytime festival will be an interactive Trades Village designed to give attendees firsthand exposure to skilled trades careers. Employers and apprenticeship programs will offer hands-on “Try a Trade” experiences, skilled trades demonstrations, and opportunities for students and families to learn about pathways into the workforce.

Organizers say the event is intended to help address the need for skilled workers while also changing perceptions about careers in construction, manufacturing, and other skilled occupations.

“TradeUp Fest is more than a concert,” said Jake Gibson, executive director of Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky. “It’s a celebration of the people who build our communities and a bold step toward reducing the skilled-trades workforce gap. By bringing together tradespeople, employers, businesses, and music fans, we’re shining a spotlight on the pride, purpose and opportunity found in the trades, showing that these careers are a path to a thriving future.”

The free outdoor portion of TradeUp Fest will run from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will include live music throughout the day, the Trades Village, employers, apprenticeship programs, heavy equipment, and skilled trades demonstrations. DIY Network’s Kayleen McCabe will serve as master of ceremonies.

The event will move inside Riverview Health Arena that evening for a ticketed concert featuring country artist Larry Fleet, Texas-based Americana up-and-comers The Wilder Blue, and singer-songwriter Nora Reese. Arena doors open at 5 p.m., with the concert beginning at 6 p.m.

TradeUp Fest was created by Josh Cecil, founder of HamCo Live, as a way to combine live entertainment with career exploration and a broader celebration of the people working in the skilled trades.

“With TradeUp Fest, I wanted to create something like Farm Aid for the skilled trades,” Cecil said. “Music has an incredible ability to bring people together. We’re using that energy to celebrate the people who build our communities while helping families discover career paths that are meaningful, financially rewarding, and essential to America’s future.”

TradeUp Fest will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville. The outdoor festival is free, with a free festival pass available in advance. Tickets are required for the evening arena concert.

More information, free outdoor festival passes, and arena concert tickets are available at tradeupfest.com.