Indianapolis, IN
Enjoy your artsy side with these 8 free things to do in Indianapolis
Tickets that cost zero dollars are always popular, and Indianapolis artists are generous enough to share their talent for free at several events throughout the fall.
Museums will welcome crowds to see their collections and engage in hands-on activities. Monument Circle will continue to invite everyone to a pop-up mini-park to check out a mobile art museum, play ping-pong and other games, and eat snacks. And world-class musicians will regale listeners at concerts full of music they’ve spent years perfecting.
Here are eight free events you won’t want to miss. Make sure to register in advance for those that request it and donate if you can to keep the art coming.
PlayFest Indy
Sept. 9 to 15 at multiple venues. Tickets and more information at newharmonyproject.org/pfi
In this initiative by the New Harmony Project, eight playwrights will develop plays with Indianapolis theater companies. The public concert-style readings will take place from Sept. 13 to 15, and audiences can stay for a post-performance talk with the writer at each one.
Levitt Vibe Indianapolis Music Series
Several Sundays from Sept. 1-Oct. 20 on the lawn behind Garfield Park Art Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive. Schedule at bigcar.org/project/vibe
A group of creative folks — including Arte Mexicano en Indiana and Big Car Collaborative — are bringing in musicians, vendors, artists and poets for afternoon concerts that will fend off any Sunday scaries. The events aim to be family friendly and neighborly as they use a part of the park you might not have explored before.
Free museum days
Explore exhibits, gardens and activities as these Indianapolis museums offer free admission:
- The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15. 3000 N. Meridian St. Fiesta de la Familia is a celebration of Latin American cultures, with special programming throughout the museum. Reservation is required at childrensmuseum.org.
- Newfields: 4000 N. Michigan Road. Admission is free during regular operating hours on the first Thursday of every month, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. Reservation is required at discovernewfields.org/visit. Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust cardholders receive one free general admission ticket during the first weekend of every month. Learn more at discovernewfields.org/about/community.
- Eiteljorg Museum: 500 W. Washington St. On Oct. 14, the museum will mark Indigenous Peoples Day by featuring Native American performers and presentations. On Oct. 26, the museum will feature music, dancing, activities and a marketplace as part of its Día de Muertos Community Celebration. Admission is free both days. Learn more at eiteljorg.org.
Spark on the Circle
11 a.m. through dusk through Nov. 3 on Monument Circle. circlespark.org
Back in an expanded role for its second year, Spark temporarily transforms one quadrant of Monument Circle into an urban park — complete with turf, yard games and plenty of space to lounge and enjoy the city’s vibes. See a full schedule of artist workshops and special events at circlespark.org. (Swifties should keep an eye out for announcements regarding celebrations planned during Taylor Swift’s Nov. 1-3 stop in Indy!)
Jazz afterparty on First Fridays
9 p.m. on First Fridays at McGowan Hall, 1305 N. Delaware St. mcgowanhall.org
These jam sessions, led by pianist Christopher Pitts, have a vibe that mixes talented musicians, inventive experimentation and a speakeasy feel. They’re the perfect way to wrap your First Friday visual art explorations.
Can’t-miss exhibit: Mandela exhibit at Children’s Museum takes care to connect kids with his childhood
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Garfield Park. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at Riverside Park. 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Holliday Park. Registration requested for the events at icomusic.org.
Enjoy classic programs from a stunning group of musicians who are trading the indoor concert hall for three verdant parks. Bring a picnic and blanket and let the music waft over you.
Opera in the Park
Sept. 7 at MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park. Register at indyopera.org.
Renowned soprano Angela Brown, Maestro Alfred Savia, and more Indianapolis Opera stars and guests will perform in the annual event that will kick off the institution’s 50th anniversary season.
Indy Parks Free Concert Series
Through October at parks around the city. parks.indy.gov/free-concert-series
Cathy Morris, the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra, PsyWrn Simone and Premium Blend are among the performers who will lend soundtracks to breezy summer and fall evenings. Check the schedule often as Indy Parks adds more dates.
Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at holly.hays@indystar.com.
Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.
Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.
The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.
The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.
The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.
Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.
See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.
Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.
All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.
(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.
Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.
Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.
An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis is getting ready to welcome spring with its annual St. Benno Festival this Saturday.
Organizers say it’s one of the longest-running cultural festivals in Indianapolis.
St. Benno Festival is based on the German tradition of “Frühlingsfest,” the springtime version of Oktoberfest, Athenaeum Foundation President Craig Mince says.
“It would always be the festival that would open up the beer garden,” Mince said. “So that was kind of their kickoff of the spring and that warmer season. “
The Athenaeum’s celebration focuses on St. Benno, the patron saint of anglers and the city of Munich, Germany.
There’s a lot of folklore surrounding St. Benno. He’s said to have created Bach beer. He also had a sidekick, “Einbeck,” which means “billy goat” in German.
Legend has it that when the invaders were coming to Munich, he threw the key to a church into a body of water. Years later, he caught a fish that had eaten the key and retrieved it.
“When the German immigrants came here to central Indiana, Indianapolis in particular, they started to organize,” Mince said. “They celebrated Benno. They celebrated Bach beer. So that was kind of the beginning of this institution.”
St. Benno Fest will include lots of beer, pretzels, and Gomez BBQ’s doner kebab.
Francene Thomas, the Athenaeum’s event and festivals manager, says there’s a lot of thought that goes into the menu.
“We want to definitely bring the tradition of this festival and continue that, but also, just bring some fresh flavor to it, too.”
The celebration serves as a fundraiser for the Athenaeum. Money raised will go back into maintenance and other events that promote German culture.
Tickets are $25 and can be bought in advance on the Athenaeum website. St. Benno Fest is a 21+ event and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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