Annual Events & Festivals
Indy loves a reason to get together and celebrate. Luckily there are plenty of annual events and festivals that offer the opportunity to get out and about and have some fun with friends and neighbors. For a complete listing, visit our events calendar.
For nearly three weeks each summer, we turn our minds toward celebrating Indiana’s agricultural roots, meeting a variety of farm animals from the world’s largest hogs to baby chicks, hopping on daredevil rides, playing games to take home stuffed animals larger than we are, catching free concerts, and indulging in fair delicacies like pickle pizza, everything at the Dairy Bar, and deep fried ANYTHING.
May in Indy is always epic. It begins with the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon which features a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and ends with that famous race at the same site, the Indianapolis 500. Throughout the month you’ll see programming for all ages including Indiana’s largest outdoor festival for kids (JP Morgan Chase 500 Festival Kids Day), a beautiful ceremony honoring fallen veterans on the steps of the majestic Indiana War Memorial (American Legion 500 Festival Memorial Service), and one of the country’s largest parades through the downtown streets (AES 500 Festival Parade).
The temps are cooler, you’re wearing cozy sweaters again, and the time is right to explore apple orchards and pumpkin patches, see some leaves changing color, and hit some of Indy’s fall festivals.
Summer’s here and we’re all ready to get out and enjoy some fun in the sun. Indy’s roundup of summer festivals has something for everyone and everything from racing and running to food and beer, from music and theater to diverse culture and our legendary Indiana State Fair.
Fourth of July
Independence Day in Indy is serious business. We have the largest collection of monuments and memorials outside of Washington, DC, an extended home stand with the Indianapolis Indians baseball team which includes fireworks at Victory Field after each game, the Star-Spangled Symphony featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Glorious Fourth historical celebration at Conner Prairie, an ice cream social and naturalization ceremony at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, and a massive fireworks display launched right from the heart of downtown.
