Lafayette
Around Lafayette
Photo: Quinn Thomson · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Indiana · 229k people
Lafayette
Locals say Greater Lafayette · “Star City”, “Boilermaker Country”
Lafayette · West Lafayette
Where the Wabash meets the Boilermakers
Purdue GoldBlack
Welcome to Greater Lafayette! Whether you're here for Purdue, the river, or the friendly small-town vibe, you'll find plenty to love. Grab a Boilermaker and enjoy the community.
Clubs for Lafayette
No clubs for Lafayette yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Lafayette. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Lafayette. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Purdue University Big Ten campus with iconic engineering and agricultural heritage.
- Ross-Ade Stadium Home of Purdue Boilermakers football.
- Mackey Arena Basketball arena, host to Purdue's passionate fan base.
- Columbian Park City park with zoo, playgrounds, and a lake.
- Prophetstown State Park State park with prairie, river access, and a working farm.
- Tippecanoe County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Lafayette.
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Wabash Heritage Trail
- Outdoors Kayak or canoe on the Wabash River
- With kids Columbian Park Zoo
- With kids Purdue Memorial Mall
- Evenings Catch a show at the Lafayette Theater
- Evenings Bar-hop in Chauncey Hill
- Locals love Farmers markets
- Locals love Campus coffee shops
Through the year
- Purdue Grand Prix April Student-run go-kart race around campus, a spring tradition.
- Tippecanoe County Fair July County fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering June Folk and fiddle music festival in Battle Ground.
- Purdue Spring Fest April Campus open house with bug zoo, petting farm, and food.
- Feast of the Hunters' Moon October Historical reenactment of 18th-century French and Native American life.
Four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Spring and fall are the most comfortable for outdoor activities. Best: Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
Talk like a local
- “Boiler”
- A Purdue student or alum.
- “the Wabash”
- The Wabash River.
- “Greater Lafayette”
- The Lafayette–West Lafayette metro area.
- “campus”
- Purdue University.
Getaways
- Turkey Run State Park Scenic canyons and hiking trails, about 30 miles away.
- Indiana Beach Amusement park and lake resort in Monticello.
- Wabash College Historic liberal arts campus in Crawfordsville.
- Frankfort Small-town charm and the Frankfort Hot Dogs (minor league baseball).
Local flavour
Teams
- Purdue Boilermakers NCAA Division I
- Lafayette Aviators Prospect League
Eat and drink
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A Hoosier staple, commonly served in local diners and taverns.
- Triple XXX root beer Iconic root beer from the historic Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette.
- Boilermaker (shot and beer) A drink named after Purdue's mascot, often enjoyed in campus bars.
Where people go
- Purdue University campus Includes the iconic Bell Tower and engineering mall.
- Wabash River Flows between Lafayette and West Lafayette, a key natural landmark.
- Tippecanoe County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Lafayette, known for the star on its dome.
- Triple XXX Family Restaurant A beloved local diner famous for its root beer and burgers.
Heritage and traditions
Greater Lafayette is proud of its blend of a world-class university and a historic river town, with a strong engineering and aerospace heritage and a friendly Hoosier spirit.
This time of year in Lafayette
- Purdue football tailgating Fall Fall Saturdays filled with grills, tents, and Boilermaker pride.
- Feast of the Hunters' Moon Fall Autumn reenactment of 18th-century French fur trade.
- Feast of the Hunters' Moon Fall Historic reenactment of 18th-century French fur trade.
- West Lafayette Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with local produce and crafts.
Say it like a local: “Crick” — A small stream or creek.
Festivals
- Mosey Down Main Street June Summer street festival with live bands and food vendors.
- Taste of Tippecanoe August Sampling from local restaurants in downtown Lafayette.
- Feast of the Hunters' Moon Fall Historic reenactment of 18th-century French fur trade.
- Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering July Fiddle and folk music on the Wabash Riverfront.
- Purdue Grand Prix April Student-built go-kart race around campus.
- Tippecanoe County Fair July 4-H exhibits, carnival rides, and livestock shows.
Landmarks with a story
- Tippecanoe Battlefield Site of 1811 battle between U.S. forces and Tecumseh's confederacy.
- Wabash and Erie Canal Canal remnants and interpretive center in Delphi.
- Tippecanoe County Courthouse 1882 courthouse with a distinctive clock tower.
- Prophetstown State Park Recreated Native American village and farmstead.
- Fowler House Victorian mansion now housing the county historical museum.
- St. Boniface Catholic Church Historic German parish in downtown Lafayette.
Food traditions
- Pork tenderloin sandwich Breaded, fried, and served on a bun—a Hoosier staple.
- Triple XXX root beer Locally made root beer served at a historic drive-in.
- Boilermaker A shot of whiskey with a beer chaser, named after Purdue.
- Sugar cream pie Indiana's state pie, made with cream, sugar, and nutmeg.
- Persimmon pudding Fall dessert from wild persimmons, a regional treat.
Music and arts
- Lafayette Symphony Orchestra Professional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
- Purdue All-American Marching Band Renowned for its halftime shows and 'World's Largest Drum'.
- Indie music scene at Lafayette Theater Historic venue hosting local and touring acts.
- Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering Annual folk and fiddle music festival on the riverfront.
A little history
- 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe
- 1869 Purdue University founded as land-grant college
- 1830s Wabash and Erie Canal opened
- 1825 City named after Marquis de Lafayette
- 1826 Tippecanoe County established
Rivalries
- Purdue vs Indiana University Big Ten rivalry in basketball and football.
- Purdue vs Notre Dame Football rivalry, though not annual.
- Lafayette vs West Lafayette Friendly city rivalry across the river.
- Game day Tailgating at Ross-Ade Stadium
- Game day Mackey Magic
- Outdoors Walk or bike the Wabash Heritage Trail
- Outdoors Kayak or canoe on the Wabash River
- With kids Purdue's Boilermaker Special
- With kids Imagination Station
A Midwestern Hoosier accent with flat vowels and a friendly drawl; locals say 'pop' for soda, 'crick' for creek, and use 'you guys' for plural you. Words like 'Hoosier' and 'Boilermaker' carry local pride.
Only here
- The Boilermaker Special, a train that drives on campus streets.
- Purdue's 'World's Largest Drum' used at football games.
- Triple XXX root beer, a local drive-in since 1929.
- The name 'Tippecanoe' from the 1811 battle.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce it 'Luh-FAY-et' (not like Louisiana's Lafayette).
- Game days at Purdue mean heavy traffic; plan around Ross-Ade Stadium.
- Try a pork tenderloin sandwich and a Triple XXX root beer right away.
- Winters are cold and snowy; spring and fall are mild and pleasant.
- Learn the nickname 'Boilermaker' for Purdue students and fans.
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Part of Lafayette area
Nearby
Every areaFrankfortIndianaWhere the cornfields meet the skyRockvilleIndianaWhere the bridges are covered and the welcome is open.MonticelloIndianaHome of Indiana Beach and quiet watersCrawfordsvilleIndianaWhere covered bridges meet the cornfields.LogansportIndianaWhere the rivers meet and the bridges tell storiesKokomoIndianaWhere the spirit of invention meets the heartland.DanvilleIllinoisWhere the corn meets the skyPeruIndianaWhere the big top meets the heartland
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.