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Dine at more than 300 of the city's most talked-about restaurants and savor special menus featuring delicious three-course meals for discounted prices.
See - and taste - what the buzz is about at the 10th annual event at which guests can sample beers from nearly 100 Indiana breweries. It's hosted at the Indiana State Fairgrounds by the Brewers of Indiana Guild.
Raise your glass in honor of Indy’s native son, author Kurt Vonnegut. To build excitement around the upcoming opening of a new location for the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, local mixologists have crafted 11 unique cocktails available for a limited time. Don’t miss your opportunity to sip Not Kilgore’s Drano, Galápagos, or Breakfast of Champions.
Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty on the expansive grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art with Spring Blooms – Celebration of Color. A record 250,000 bulbs have been planted alongside new gardens to frame striking views of the historic Oldfields estate. Also, enjoy the new Beer Garden featuring an exclusive beer from Sun King Brewing Co., wine, and root beer from Triton Brewing Co.
With over 50 events and programs, the 500 Festival makes May in Indy epic. Start with the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon, which includes a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Monument Circle turns into a playground for JP Morgan Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day, Indiana’s largest outdoor festival for kids. The city pays homage to our fallen heroes with the 500 Festival Memorial Service on the steps of the Indiana War Memorial. Finally, one of the country’s largest parades brings color to the streets of downtown with the IPL 500 Festival Parade.
May in Indy is all about speed, and things rev into high gear on May 13 as the IndyCar Grand Prix pits the world’s best drivers against the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With $25 general admission tickets (plus, kids get in free!) and unique sight lines from elevated viewing mounds, the Grand Prix is an ideal way to kickstart racing season.
Over 225 national-level artists and craftsmen fill the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple Village for a weekend of visual art, music, food, and fun. Whether you’re a serious collector or are looking for a signature piece to set off a room, this annual celebration is for you. Enjoy hands-on workshops and demonstrations in the Art Center’s studios to round out the experience.
Last year, the Indy 500 threw a 100-year celebration that resulted in a complete sellout and a race party that will go down in history. This year, the momentum swings into a new era as IndyCar welcomes back a new generation of drivers, and fans, for an encore performance. Beyond the race, enjoy a Carb Day performance from the Steve Miller Band, a Legends Day show featuring Keith Urban, and the best DJs in the world revving up the Snake Pit.
The success of last year’s artist-designed Mini Golf course has inspired a new field of artists to design a visually inspiring and playable experience at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. In addition, the IMA is proud to present Audubon: Drawn to Nature. This special exhibit showcases the lifelike drawings John James Audubon documenting birds of North America. Interactive galleries provide opportunities to learn how you can play a role conservation efforts.
A new, permanent exhibit takes flight at the Indianapolis Zoo with the arrival of Magnificent Macaws. These colorful, and endangered, birds will dazzle with multiple daily flights to the new Bicentennial Pavilion where visitors can see and interact with these beautiful birds up close. The birds will then take flight back to other areas of the zoo. Catch the grand opening of the exhibit on May 27.
A full week of events culminates on with the Cadillac Barbie IN Pride Parade and Circle City IN Pride Festival. The festival has been voted ‘Best Local Outdoor Festival’ five years running by readers of NUVO (Indy’s alternative newspaper) and, due to exponential growth, the Festival is moving from American Legion Mall to a larger space at Historic Military Park at White River State Park.
A visit to Monument Circle has never been sweeter. This annual afternoon of indulgence celebrates that most American of desserts, strawberry shortcake. “The Works” costs you only $7 and includes shortcake, strawberries, ice cream, and whipped topping. Grab a seat on the steps of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, savor the flavors, enjoy some people watching, and know that the funds raised support a historic fixture of faith in the city.
Ever wanted to kick a field goal in Lucas Oil Stadium, shoot a layup in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, kick a goal at Carroll Stadium, or run the bases at Victory Field? Do it all in this competitive (and fun) event that lets participants take advantage of the close proximity of Indy’s sports venues, monuments, cultural institutions, and iconic spaces for a one-of-a-kind athletic experience.
Make the most of Independence Day with a four-day patriotic weekend in Indy. Tour the largest collection of monuments and memorials outside of Washington, DC. Take in a ball game during an extended home stand by the Indianapolis Indians at beautiful Victory Field. Enjoy an evening with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under the stars at Conner Prairie as they perform a Star Spangled Symphony. Top it off by spreading out a blanket on the Indiana War Memorial grounds to enjoy the Donatos Downtown Freedom Blast. Make this a Fourth of July to remember!
The Indy Film Fest is best known for the 10-day celebration of cinema each July that brings filmmakers from around the world to challenge and expand perceptions. The Film Fest features year-round programming to keep cinephiles stimulated, including Roaving Cinema (films in unique settings), Film to Fork (dinner and movie), Rock+Reel (cutting edge music series), and The Bigger Picture Show (celebrating graphic design by reimagining movie posters).
Providing a positive influence is at the heart of Indiana Black Expo, and Summer Celebration is their largest and most impactful annual event. This year’s Celebration, running July 6-16, will continue the longstanding tradition with popular events like the Music Heritage Festival, Gospel Explosion, Education Conferences, Employment Fairs, and celebrity appearances ranging from Dionne Warwick and Jim Brown to Chuck Pagano and Reggie Wayne.
Prepare yourself for a full weekend of action, July 21-23, as the stars of NASCAR descend upon the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The action starts with open practice on Friday, continues on Saturday with the Lilly Diabetes 250 race and NASCAR qualifying, and it culminates with the running of the Brickyard 400 on Sunday.
The fair has been an annual summer rite of passage for 160 years. From August 4-20, you’re invited to partake in the annual tradition that brings visitors from across the state and beyond. Indulge in fair delicacies (fried Oreos?), interact with animals large and small, take in FREE performances, enjoy games and thrills at the Midway, and soak up more than two weeks of events and programming.
The original, longest-running, best attended gaming convention in the world takes over the city August 17-20. This year the celebration is sure to be bigger and more adventurous than ever as gamers raise a toast (perhaps of their custom Sun King beer) to 50 years of Gen Con. Discover the latest trends and breakthroughs in the gaming industry, gawk at the imaginative costumes, and partake in over 16,500 events.
At its core, IndyFringe is about supporting risk and experimentation through the arts. For 11 days, August 17-27, guests are invited to the Indy Eleven Theatre at the IndyFringe building off of Mass Ave to experience every imaginable genre of live theatre: comedy, drama, dance, cabaret, musicals, and more. It is a celebration of (irreverent) theatre like none other.
Zagat named Indy one of the “Hottest Food Cities of 2016” for good reason. Discover the city’s food scene while stretching your dollar as far as possible with Indy. For two weeks, August 21-September 3, foodies can sample three-course, value-priced menus at over 300 restaurants across Devour Indy.
Sun King Beer Co. pioneered the explosive beer scene in Indy. Following their founding in 2009, the city has added new breweries at an unimaginable rate. To help further foster beer culture in the city, Sun King launched the CANvitational in 2012. The festival brings over 65 craft breweries from all over America and beyond, who CAN, to downtown’s Georgia Street to sample and share their passion for beer.
They call it ‘Indiana’s Nicest Day,’’ and if you take advantage of this picturesque weekend on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art you’ll discover why. Soak up work from more than 300 artists, enjoy six stages of entertainment, more than 75 arts-related non-profit organizations, and an extensive children’s area. Also, don’t forget to visit the Indiana Craft Beer Garden.
If you thought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway only played host to race cars, think again. The LPGA visits Brickyard Crossing, a Pete Dye-designed masterpiece that includes four holes inside the speedway, for the Indy Women in Tech Championship. Cheer on stars like Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie as they navigate their way around the famed Brickyard.
The 34th annual Circle City Classic weekend celebrates cultural excellence and educational achievement while showcasing the spirit, energy and tradition of America's historically black colleges and universities. The electrifying spectacle includes a parade, pep rally, and two football teams colliding head-to-head in Lucas Oil Stadium.
FSMF began as a passion project of collected Fountain Square residents who were hungry to celebrate local music and art. Now, FSMF has become an integral part of the neighborhood’s continued evolution and development as a live entertainment destination. What started as a one-day music festival with equal focus placed on promoting and contributing to the surrounding Fountain Square community, the festival has now grown exponentially each year.
The transformative power of film is at the heart of Indiana’s largest and longest-running film festival. With over 25 years of experience, this 11-day celebration features more than 130 independent films, 120 visiting filmmakers, and 250 film screenings. What sets this festival apart is a focus on films that make a positive impact on audiences.
Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway takes flight as the world’s most elite master class pilots take on an aerial racetrack for the Red Bull Air Race on October 14-15. You will be wowed as these daredevils weave between giant, air-filled pylons in an attempt to clock the fastest time while incurring as few penalties as possible.
Starting and finishing at the Indiana State Capitol, the course highlights landmarks and historical neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis. Nationally recognized as flat and fast, this event has hosted Olympians, PR seekers, and thousands of Boston Marathon qualifiers.
There is no better way to kick off the holiday season than Indy’s ultimate tradition, Circle of Lights. On the Friday following Thanksgiving, November 24, more than 100,000 people will gather to enjoy holiday performances in the lead up to the lighting of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The glow of 4,784 lights make spirits bright and signal that the season has begun.
College football in the Midwest centers around the Big Ten Conference, and Indy is proud to play annual host to the biggest game of the season. Fans will flock to Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2 to see who claims Big Ten supremacy and a chance to qualify for the College Football Championship.
We look forward to hosting you.
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