Peru
Around Peru
Photo: Tysto · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Indiana · 35k people
Peru
“Circus City”
Where the big top meets the heartland
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Welcome to Peru, Indiana—where the circus legacy lives on and the Wabash runs through it. Whether you're here for the festival or just passing through, you'll find friendly folks and a slower pace of life. Come sit a spell and enjoy the small-town charm.
Clubs for Peru
No clubs for Peru yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Peru. 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 Peru. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- International Circus Hall of Fame Dedicated to circus history and memorabilia.
- Peru Circus Festival Grounds Site of the annual Peru Circus Festival.
- Wabash River Flows through town with parks and trails.
- Miami County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Peru.
- Grissom Air Museum Aviation museum at the former air force base.
- Lake Manitou Popular lake in Rochester with beach and park.
- Outdoors Fishing on the Wabash River
- Outdoors Boating and swimming at Lake Manitou
- With kids Attending the Peru Circus Festival
- With kids Visiting the Grissom Air Museum
- Evenings local taverns and pubs
- Evenings live music at summer festivals
- Locals love circus heritage museums
- Locals love county fairgrounds
Through the year
- Peru Circus Festival July Annual celebration of the town's circus heritage.
- Miami County Fair August County fair with livestock, rides, and exhibits.
- Fulton County Fair August County fair in Rochester with agricultural showcases.
Humid continental with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Best: Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to be outside.
Getaways
- Wabash Historic town with the world's first electrically lit streets.
- Logansport City at the confluence of the Wabash and Eel rivers.
- Kokomo Larger city with shopping and dining options.
- Marion Home to Indiana Wesleyan University and the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra.
Local flavour
Rooting for Indiana Hoosiers, Purdue Boilermakers, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers
Eat and drink
- Pork tenderloin sandwich Indiana staple, often served breaded and fried
- Sugar cream pie Hoosier classic, also known as 'desperation pie'
- persimmon pudding A fall dessert made from native persimmons.
- Indiana popcorn Local popcorn, often sold at fairs and stores.
- beef and noodles A hearty Midwestern dish served over mashed potatoes.
Where people go
- Circus museums and festival grounds Home to the International Circus Hall of Fame and the Circus City Festival
- Small-town courthouse squares Classic Indiana downtowns with historic buildings and local shops
- Wabash River parks Riverside green spaces for fishing, picnics, and quiet walks
Heritage and traditions
Peru, Indiana, is proud of its circus heritage—the town was once the winter home of the Wallace Circus—and of being the birthplace of composer Cole Porter. It's a place where small-town Hoosier values meet a quirky, creative spirit.
This time of year in Peru
- Persimmon pudding season Autumn Fall harvest of wild persimmons leads to local baking traditions
Say it like a local: “crick” — Creek (small stream)
Landmarks with a story
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church Historic parish in Peru with a striking Gothic Revival style
- Fulton County Museum In Rochester, showcasing local history from pioneer days to the present
- Cole Porter Birthplace Marked home where the composer was born, a point of local pride
- Wabash and Erie Canal remnants Remains of the 19th-century canal that once connected the Great Lakes to the Ohio River
- Miami County Historical Society Preserves local artifacts and stories, including Native American and circus history
Food traditions
- Pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day A German-influenced custom believed to bring good luck for the year
- Lenten fish fries Local churches host weekly fish fries during Lent, a community staple
- Wabash River catfish dinners Fresh-caught catfish from the Wabash, often fried and served with hush puppies
Music and arts
- Cole Porter's musicals The town celebrates its native son with performances and tributes
- Circus performing arts Clowning, acrobatics, and calliope music remain a living tradition
A little history
- 1834 Miami County named after the Miami Native American tribe
- 1942 Grissom Air Force Base established as Bunker Hill Naval Air Station
- 1840s Wabash and Erie Canal brought trade and growth to the area
- early 1900s Peru became known as 'Circus City' as the Wallace Circus wintered here
- 1958 International Circus Hall of Fame founded in Peru
- Game day Hoosier Hysteria
- Game day Friday night lights
- Outdoors Canoeing or kayaking on the Wabash River
- Outdoors Ice fishing on Lake Manitou
- With kids Visiting the International Circus Hall of Fame
- With kids Exploring the Grissom Air Museum
A classic Hoosier accent with a slight drawl, featuring words like 'pop' for soda, 'crick' for creek, and 'warsh' for wash. Locals often say 'you guys' and use 'Hoosier' as a point of pride.
Only here
- The International Circus Hall of Fame—the only one of its kind in the world.
- The birthplace of Cole Porter, where his music is celebrated.
- The town of Mexico, Indiana—a small community with a name that always gets a smile.
- Grissom Air Museum, housed on a former Air Force base with a unique Cold War collection.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Peru' like the country: PEE-roo.
- Try a pork tenderloin sandwich—it's a local obsession.
- Be ready for cold, snowy winters; invest in a good coat.
- Take a drive to Lake Manitou for swimming and boating in summer.
- Don't miss the Circus City Festival in July—it's the town's biggest event.
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Part of Indianapolis area
Nearby
Every areaWabashIndianaA bright spot in the heartland.LogansportIndianaWhere the rivers meet and the bridges tell storiesKokomoIndianaWhere the spirit of invention meets the heartland.RochesterIndianaWhere river towns and lake breezes meet.MarionIndianaWhere roses meet the heartlandHuntingtonIndianaWhere the Wabash runs through the heartland.WarsawIndianaWhere lake life and healing hands come together.MonticelloIndianaHome of Indiana Beach and quiet waters
Peru, 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.