Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis gears up for Big Ten football championship, Fan Fest
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Saturday’s Big Ten Championship football game be in Indianapolis as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
But before the kickoff on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, fans from across the country will get ready for the big game with the Big Ten Fan Fest in the adjacent Indiana Convention Center.
The event will start at 3 p.m. Friday, but organizers on Wednesday gave News 8 a sneak peek of their preparations. In the middle of 200,000 square feet of convention space was a 40-yard football field. Organizers say the field will be used for entertainment including prep rallies and flag football games.
Adam McCaffery, communications coordinator of the Big Ten Conference, said Wednesday, “Everyone involved is really excited. It should be a great match. Two great teams and two programs.”
The Fan Fest will be 3-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday.
Dan Gliot, senior director of marketing communications for the Indiana Sports Corp, said Wednesday, “There are so many cool activations to do around here: If you want to run the 40-yard dash; if you want to catch a ball; if you want to kick a field goal; if you want to do a flag football field clinic. It’s very family-friendly. It’s an awesome way to get excited and get the family together, really get together to experience what college football is about.”
Vendors, games, performances, giveaways, virtual reality games, IndyCar cars and food will be part of the fun.
Plus, for the first time, the Fan Fest will have a wing-eating competition with competitive eater Joey Chestnut.
Fans with a game ticket can attend the Fan Fest for free. Fans without game tickets can pay for the Fan Fest separately at the entrance. Children wearing a jersey will get free admission on Friday.
Paul Kennedy, vice president of sports communications for the Big Ten Conference, said, “There’s so many people that want to feel the energy of game day and be around other fans that may not be lucky enough to be one of the 6,000+ fans in Lucas Oil on Saturday night. This is the absolute best place to do that.”
Indiana University football fans and basketball fans will be taking over downtown Indy, as IU also faces Louisville at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. IU, Ohio State and Louisville all sport red school colors.
Gliot said, “This city is literary going to be painted red. I know it’s a metaphor between IU and Ohio State and the Louisville game. We’re expecting a huge crowd to come out, and we’re expecting tons of college football fans to be downtown to be excited and to experience everything that Indianapolis has to offer.”
ICYMI: Top 5 IndyStar business stories in May 2026
A busy month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reignited debates about hotels and the downtown heliport. Plus, Eli Lilly celebrated 150 years.
May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.
There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.
Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.
Openings
Monkee’s
8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March
Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.
The Nest Play Cafe
515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May
The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.
Forget Me Not Piercing Studio
5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27
A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.
Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square
1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May
Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.
Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closures
Vitality IV Bar
6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com
An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.
Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.
See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.
Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr
Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy
(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.
Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.
The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.
🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child
Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.
🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person
Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.
🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free
Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.
🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person
Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.
🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child
The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
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