TradeUp Fest Launches a Workforce Development Movement Powered by Live Music

Presented by Gaylor Electric and Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky, TradeUp Fest brings together employers, educators, students, and families to celebrate the skilled trades and inspire the next generation of builders.

As employers across Indiana continue to face a growing demand for skilled workers, a new event is taking a different approach to workforce development.

TradeUp Fest, taking place Saturday, September 19 at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville, is more than a music festival. It is a workforce development movement powered by live music, designed to celebrate the skilled trades, connect employers with future workers and inspire students and families to explore careers that are essential to building America’s future.

Presented by Gaylor Electric and Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky, the inaugural event combines a FREE daytime community celebration, an interactive Trade Village featuring hands-on career experiences, and an evening concert headlined by Larry Fleet, with special guests The Wilder Blue and Nora Reese.

“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.”

Event Highlights

• FREE Outdoor Community Celebration (11:00 m.–5:30 p.m.)
• Interactive Trade Village with hands-on “Try a Trade” experiences
• Meet employers, apprenticeship programs, and manufacturers
• Explore careers in construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, welding and advanced manufacturing
• Live music throughout the day featuring regional artists
• DIY Network personality Kayleen McCabe serving as Master of Ceremonies
• Evening arena concert featuring platinum country music artist Larry Fleet, with special guests The Wilder Blue and Nora Reese
• Family-friendly activities, food vendors and VIP experiences

Registration for the FREE Outdoor Festival Pass and tickets for the evening arena concert are available now.

Learn More

• Event Information: tradeupfest.com
• Free Outdoor Festival Registration: Reserve Your Free Outdoor Festival Pass
• Arena Concert Tickets: Purchase Arena Concert Tickets

“The skilled trades built this country, and the‘ll build its future,” said Chuck Goodrich, CEO of Gaylor Electric. “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.”

TradeUp Fest was created to change the narrative surrounding the skilled trades by showing students, parents, and communities that careers in the trades are meaningful, financially rewarding and vital to America’s future. Rather than simply talking about workforce development, the event gives attendees the opportunity to experience it firsthand.

The Interactive Trade Village serves as the heart of the event, allowing visitors to climb into heavy equipment, watch live demonstrations, meet skilled professionals, connect with employers, explore apprenticeship opportunities and discover careers across construction, advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades.

“With TradeUp Fest, I wanted to create something like Farm Aid for the skilled trades,” said Josh Cecil, founder of HamCo Live and creator of TradeUp Fest. “For too long, the skilled trades have been overlooked despite being some of the most essential and rewarding careers in our economy. As a father, I want young people to see that these professions offer purpose, stability and tremendous opportunity. Music has an incredible ability to bring people together, and we’re using that power to introduce families to the people and professions that literally build our communities.”

The free daytime celebration features performances by Jai Baker, Distant Soundwaves, The Failers, Lost Anchor, Aiden Brown, and Foosie and the All American Ghetto Band before the evening arena concert featuring Larry Fleet, The Wilder Blue, and Nora Reese.

Organizers continue to invite employers, manufacturers, apprenticeship programs, trade associations and workforce organizations to join the growing Trade Village. Sponsorship opportunities remain available for organizations committed to investing in the next generation of skilled professionals while showcasing career opportunities to thousands of attendees.

Current partners include Gaylor Electric, Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky, Fredericks Construction, Palmer Roofing, GEMCO, NCW, Design & Build Electrical, VentureVets, Milwaukee Tool, the City of Noblesville, and additional organizations committed to strengthening Indiana’s workforce.