115 Things to Do This Summer in Indianapolis

Warm weather, longer days and a whole lot of reasons to get out of the house. Never hear your kids say, “I’m bored,” ever again. To get your family’s summer started on the right foot, here’s our list of things to do this summer in and around Indianapolis.

Related Article: Fun Activities for $5 or Less in Indianapolis

Cool Off in the Water

1. Float in one of Indiana’s natural lazy rivers.
2. Visit your favorite splash pad.

   

3. Explore a lake or river by canoe or kayak.
4. Try renting a motorboat at a nearby lake.
5. Plan a day of swimming or splashing fun at one of these great destinations.
6. Road trip to one of Indiana’s best water parks.
7. Take a Swan Pedal Boat out on the canal.
8. Visit a local aquatic park:
   • Freedom Springs Aquatic Park in Greenwood
   • Murphy Aquatic Park in Avon
   • Splash Island Aquatic Park
   • The Waterpark at the Monon Community Center

     

9. Soak up the sun at a local beach.
10. Go fishing.
11. Enjoy swimming and a movie during Flix and Floats at Forest Park Aquatic Center.
12. Enjoy a day on the water at Geist, Morse or Eagle Creek Reservoir.
13. Spend the day at SKYLAKE Adventures, a new lake park in Sheridan with floating obstacle courses, water slides and sandy beaches.

Explore the Outdoors

* indicates a free activity

14. Soar through the treetops on a zip-lining adventure.
15. Visit your favorite Indy-area farmers market.
16. Enjoy a picnic and adult beverages at the family-friendly Daniel’s Vineyard.

    

17. Take a tour of Traders Point Creamery. Then, indulge in ice cream afterward.
18. Go strawberry picking at one of these local farms.
19. Eat your weight in shortcake at one of these Central Indiana strawberry festivals.
20. Take in the fresh air on one of Indianapolis’ hiking trails. *
21. Take a ride on the Nickel Plate Express railbikes.

    

22. Try out a new sport at the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience at The Children’s Museum.
23. Take a stroll around Downtown Indianapolis and find something new to do.
24. Play a family game of ping pong, shuffleboard, cornhole or bocce ball at Midtown Plaza Carmel. *
25. Learn something new on a tour of Strawtown Enclosure, a Native American village that was inhabited more than 700 years ago. *
26. Pack a picnic and spend the day at The Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens. *

    

27. Walk around the ArtsPark at the Indianapolis Art Center. *
28. Learn about agriculture at Fishers AgriPark. *
29. Explore the Treetop Outpost at Conner Prairie.
30. Play in the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers. *

    

31. Meet alpacas at Heritage Farm.
32. Discover nature and art at The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. *
33. Have an archaeology adventure at River Road Park. *
34. Explore Butler University’s Holcomb Gardens. *
35. Go for a horseback ride.
36. Explore Marian University’s EcoLab. *
37. Go for a hot air balloon ride at Conner Prairie.
38. Go fishing with the family. *
39. Shoot a bow and arrow at Strawtown Koteewi Park.
40. Buckle up those helmets and explore one of these Indianapolis bike trails. *
41. Tackle Strawtown Koteewi Park on horseback with K-Trails Equestrian Adventures.
42. Hop on the saddle for a guided trail ride through Fort Harrison State Park.
43. Hang out around the campfire during the Cool Creek Campfires series.

    

Experience a Summer Concert

* indicates a free summer concert series

45. Cool Creek Concert Series
46. Concerts on the Canal at the Indiana Historical Society
47. Symphony on the Prairie
48. Mallow Run Winery Picnic Concert Series *
49. Bargersville Summer Concert Series *
50. Rock the Ruins at Holliday Park

    

51. Fishers Parks Community Concert Series *
52. Animals and All That Jazz
53. Noblesville Summer Concert Series *
54. Summer Concert Series at Clay Terrace *

    

55. Free Summer Concert Series at Murphy Aquatic Park *
56. Free Family Concerts at Lions Park *
57. Whitestown Summer Concert Series *
58. Greenwood Summer Concert Series *
59. Summer Concerts at The Gazebo in Carmel *

Visit a Local Playground

60. Visit one of the coolest playgrounds in the Indianapolis area.

    

61. Plan a day trip to a road trip-worthy playground.
62. Stay cleaner at one of Indy’s mud-free playgrounds.
63. Ride the zip line at the Nature Adventure Playground.
64. Spend a rainy day at an indoor playground.

    

Catch an Outdoor Movie

* indicates a free movie series

65. Newfields Summer Nights Film Series

    

66. Movies at Midtown *
67. Brownsburg Parks and Recreation Movies in the Park *
68. Watch a movie with the downtown skyline behind the screen at outdoor movie nights at White River State Park. Tickets are $5, or $20 for a family pass.
69. Head to the drive-in theater for a classic summer night.

Have Summer Fun Without the Sun

70. Sign up for a summer reading program at your local Indianapolis Public Library branch.
71. Earn free Personal Pan Pizzas for reading 20 minutes a day with Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! summer reading program.
72. Discover nature inside at a Central Indiana nature center.

    

73. Take your movie theater trip to the next level by renting out a theater for a private screening.
74. Dust off your bowling shoes. Kids Bowl Free returns in Indianapolis all summer long.
75. Catch a cheap summer movie:
    • $1 summer movies at Regal Cinemas
    • $3 summer movies at AMC Theatres
    • $5 summer movies at Flix Brewhouse Carmel
76. Plan a trip to one of these unique Indianapolis museums.
77. Check out the Indiana State Police Museum, a secret east-side favorite.
78. Spend the day taking selfies at the Selfie WRLD Selfie Museum.
79. Take the family for a round of duckpin bowling in Fountain Square.

    

80. Discover a new artist at Harrison Center’s Reimagined Community Art Space.
81. Join the Franklin Skate Club’s Kids Skate Free program.

Travel Around Indiana and the Midwest

82. The best water parks in the Midwest
83. The best places to go camping near Indianapolis for families
84. Unique animal encounters in Central Indiana

    

85. Indiana day trips perfect for spring and summer
86. Best national parks in the Midwest for families
87. Cool caves in the Midwest

    

88. The best roller coasters in the Midwest
89. Find more Midwest travel destinations
90. Find more Indiana getaways
91. Explore all Indiana day trips
92. Watch the sky glow at an Indiana hot air balloon festival
93. Ride the rails on one of the best summer train rides in Indiana, from a short caboose ride near Indianapolis to a steam-powered ice cream train.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry This Summer

94. Spots for outdoor summer dining with kids near Indianapolis

    

95. Best ice cream in Indianapolis
96. Fun Indianapolis restaurants for kids
97. Where to have brunch with kids in Indianapolis

Attend a Fun Summer Event

And once the Fourth of July rolls around, see our guide to the best fireworks shows near Indianapolis for where to watch across the metro and suburbs.

98. Mud Day in Greenwood, May 29

    

99. EarthFest by Earth Day Indiana, May 30
100. Broad Ripple Duck Race + 5K, June 6
101. Pendleton Lions Club June Jamboree, June 2-6
102. Tuttle Orchard Strawberry Festival, June 5-6
103. Indy Strawberry Festival, June 11

     

104. Italian Street Festival, June 12-13
105. Touch-A-Truck at Grand Park, June 17
106. Talbot Street Art Fair, June 20-21
107. Free Day: Juneteenth at the Indiana State Museum, June 20

     

108. Spark!Fishers, June 24-28
109. Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival, June 27-28
110. Greenwood Freedom Festival, June 27
111. Hendricks County Rib Fest & BBQ, June 27

     

112. Marion County Fair, June 26-July 5
113. Monsoon Madness at Holland Park, July 18
114. Johnson County Fair, July 19-25
115. Indiana State Fair, August 7-23