Indianapolis, IN

Need budget-friendly ways to enjoy Eras Tour weekend? Here are 5 free Taylor Swift-themed events

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1 year ago

October 30, 2024

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Need budget-friendly ways to enjoy Eras Tour weekend? Here are 5 free Taylor Swift-themed events

It’s (almost) Eras Tour time!

Taylor Swift is getting ready to take over downtown Indianapolis for three shows at Lucas Oil Stadium, bringing a few hundred thousand people and significant economic impact.

Tickets, if you can get them, have in some cases cost a pretty penny. If you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to get in on the fun this weekend, though, various Indianapolis organizations have pulled together some free entertainment and experiences.

Here are a few free Swift-themed events happening around downtown this weekend.

Hear It In The Silence: A Taylor Swift Silent Disco

5-9 p.m. Oct. 31 at The Garage Food Hall, 906 Carrollton Ave. More information: bit.ly/4cYztf2

It’s a party, but only in your headphones. A silent disco DJ will be spinning all-Taylor all-night with headphones available for fans on a first come, first-serve basis. While you’re waiting for your turn, check out Taylor-themed drink specials throughout the food hall, make friendship bracelets or take photos in front of a custom backdrop. And since it’s Halloween, you’ll also have the chance to participate in the Show Us Your Era costume contest. Show up dressed as your favorite Taylor era for a chance to win prizes.

Swift City Sessions: Indy Arts Council-sponsored pop-up performances

2-6 p.m. Nov. 1 and noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 2-3 in various locations downtown. More information: bit.ly/4hjWQmN

More than 100 musicians and spoken word artists will host free pop-up performances at 13 locations across downtown Indianapolis.

Bicentennial Unity Plaza, 117 S. Pennsylvania St., near Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Capitol Avenue underpass, near Capitol and Louisiana Street
East and west blocks of Georgia Street
Hudnut Commons, 50 S. Capitol Ave.
Indiana Convention Center east and west (the convention center is located at 100 S. Capitol Ave.)
Indiana Repertory Theatre (140 W. Washington St.)
Indianapolis Artsgarden, 110 W. Washington St., over the intersection of Washington and Illinois Streets
Lugar Plaza, 200 E. Washington St., outside the City-County Building
Monument Circle
Starbucks patio (30 S. Meridian St.)
The intersection of Washington and West Streets

Swift City Sessions: Make & Take Art Stations

2-6 p.m. Nov. 1 and 1-6 p.m. Nov. 2-3 in the Indianapolis Artsgarden. More information: bit.ly/4hjWQmN

Also presented by Indy Arts Council, these art activities, led by ArtMix, will give fans the chance to create their own Eras-themed sunglasses, flower crowns, guitar picks, friendship bracelets and other crafts.

Spark on the Circle friendship bracelet workshop

Various times. Nov. 1-2 on Monument Circle. More information: circlespark.org

Stop by Spark, a downtown park and leisure space, to make your own friendship bracelets to wear or trade with fellow fans. Custom Taylor-themed postcards will also be available for attendees to color and send for free.

In Our STEM Era with Purdue University and e.l.f. Cosmetics

Nov. 2-3 at Circle Centre Mall, 49 W. Maryland St. Learn more: bit.ly/3A0qQDf

A partnership between Purdue University and e.l.f. Cosmetics brings together music, beauty products and the scientific fields behind their creation. Visitors can create friendship bracelets including hidden messages in binary code, design a personal digital photo background for social media, sample products at the e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Oil Change and learn about women in motorsports, print a keepsake tote bag and more. They’ll also get the chance to make keychains and participate in STEM-oriented activities with representatives from the university’s Women in Engineering Program. Admission is free. To find this pop-up makerspace, enter the mall near Maryland and Illinois Streets and go up the escalators.

Contact IndyStar pop culture reporter Holly Hays at holly.hays@indystar.com. Follow her on X/Twitter: @hollyvhays.

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Indianapolis, IN

Colts free agent running back signs with Atlanta Falcons

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10 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Colts free agent running back signs with Atlanta Falcons

ATLANTA (WISH) — Tyler Goodson, who played for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons, is joining a new team.

The Atlanta Falcons announced on Thursday that they have signed the free agent running back.

Goodson appeared in 33 games during his time in Indy, rushing for a total of 234 yards. He had one rushing touchdown back in 2024.

The rushing touchdown came during the Colts’ win over the Miami Dolphins that season. The rushing touchdown in that matchup was Goodson’s first career NFL touchdown during the regular season.

“For me it was a lot more exciting,” Goodson said following that game. “A moment I’ve been waiting for and it’s just surreal for me to be in this position. And I just thank God for it.”

Goodson also had 103 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown with the Colts. The receiving touchdown also came during the 2024 season, in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The move to the Falcons will be a homecoming of sorts for Goodson, who is a native of Suwanee, Georgia. He also attended North Gwinnett High School.

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Indianapolis, IN

Butler PD seeks help identifying suspects in Hinkle Fieldhouse break-in

Published

22 hours ago

March 26, 2026

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Butler PD seeks help identifying suspects in Hinkle Fieldhouse break-in

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Butler University Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a group of people who broke into and vandalized Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The incident happened sometime Saturday, according to a post from Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana.

Security camera video of the group – four males and one female – shows them entering the fieldhouse through a side door, entering one at a time before turning and disappearing out of view.

Crime Stoppers says the group vandalized a concession stand, stole alcoholic drinks, and then stole a $12,000 headset. Butler PD estimates the stolen communication equipment is valued at around $15,000.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Officials say a reward of up to $1,000 will be offered for details leading to any arrests.

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Indianapolis, IN

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, opens season in Indy with Indians

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1 day ago

March 25, 2026

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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, opens season in Indy with Indians

INDIANAPOLIS — For the second time in three years, the biggest draw in minor league baseball has landed at Victory Field.

Konnor Griffin, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, nearly made Pittsburgh’s Opening-Day roster at the tender age of 19 years old, sparking the imagination of Pirates fans when he launched two home runs in the same Grapefruit League game in late February.

By all accounts, Pittsburgh considered bypassing the Triple-A level with Griffin altogether, keeping the young shortstop in major league camp until the final weekend of spring training.

But the Pirates ultimately decided Griffin needed to open the season with the Indians when they take on St. Paul at 6:35 p.m. Friday at Victory Field, turning Pittsburgh’s loss into a big gain for Indianapolis for the second time in three seasons.

Two years ago, the Pirates decided to ramp up superstar pitching prospect Paul Skenes slowly, a decision that gave fans in Indianapolis seven starts to see a pitcher who would almost immediately turn into one of the best pitchers in the game.

For longtime Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman, the chance to see Skenes and Griffin in Indianapolis uniforms in a span of three short years brought to mind the 1989 season, when future Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Larry Walker played on the same Indians roster.

Griffin and Skenes obviously won’t play in Indianapolis together.

Their presence leaves an impact.

“That means a great deal,” legendary Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman said. “You’re looking at the stars of tomorrow.”

Griffin’s path to Indianapolis wasn’t like the one Skenes took to Victory Field.

Skenes was already battle-tested, a star who’d made his name pitching LSU to a College World Series title and a pitcher everybody knew was ready for the big leagues. The Pirates sent Skenes to Triple-A as part of an effort to ramp him up slowly, limiting the young pitcher’s innings in his rookie year.

Griffin still has something to prove.

Drafted out of high school with the No. 9 pick in 2024, Griffin shot up the prospect rankings by batting .333 and slugging .527 while going from Low-A Bradenton to High-A Greensboro to 21 games with Double-A Altoona to end the 2025 season.

The raw tools are undeniable. The power that got the baseball world talking in February is accompanied with speed, good defense at shortstop and every other tool a team could want.

“Tremendous young man, very mature for his age, goes about his work the right way, goes about the game the right way, great with his teammates,” Indians manager Eric Patterson said.

But Griffin still has to improve his pitch recognition. Frustrated by the insane amounts of spin that big-league pitchers put on the baseball, Griffin hit .148 with 11 strikeouts in his final 10 games, 27 at-bats in total.

He wanted to make the big-league team, and he probably pressed a little.

“I’m at my best when I’m playing freely, playing fun, having a good time,” Griffin said. “I’m trying to get back to that, not worrying too much about the pressure outside.”

Griffin is also adjusting to life as baseball’s top prospect, a level of attention that essentially changed overnight. While he was obviously a top-10 pick in 2024, there were eight players taken ahead of him, including Oakland’s Nick Kurtz, who won the American League Rookie of the Year award.

A high school pick like Griffin is supposed to take a couple of years to develop into a top prospect, attention building along the way.

Griffin essentially went from a relative unknown to carrying the weight of Pittsburgh’s expectations in a span of about six months, although he’s adamant that the increased attention doesn’t affect him.

“It’s definitely internal,” Griffin said. “I don’t worry too much about the outside noise. I have high expectations for myself.”

Whatever the reason for Griffin’s slide in the final two weeks of spring training, he knows what he needs to change.

“Being thrown into the fire, facing those big-league arms, that was a good experience for me,” Griffin said.

Big-league pitchers are going to take advantage of a hitter who chases too many offerings outside the strike zone, and Griffin was swinging too much, uncharacteristic of a player whose on-base percentage was .415 across three levels last season.

“Take your walks, get on base, affect the game,” Griffin said. “Being patient, getting the right pitches to hit, not trying to do too much every time I go up to the plate.”

The paths Skenes and Griffin took to get to Indianapolis are different.

The goal, now that they’re here, is the same. Skenes was called up to the big leagues on May 8; Griffin wants to force the Pirates to bring him up to Pittsburgh as soon as possible.

“For all of these guys, you’re an injury away from the big leagues, you’re a sneeze off the field away from the big leagues,” Patterson said. “It’s about preparing these guys for when they get the call.”

The entire baseball world thought Griffin would get the call before his 20th birthday.

And there’s still time. Griffin doesn’t turn 20 until April 24th.

Better get out to Victory Field to catch a glimpse of baseball’s No. 1 prospect while he’s still here.

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