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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 Float in one of Indiana's natural lazy rivers. Visit your favorite splash pad. The Splash Pad at Westermeier Commons at Central Park Explore a lake or river by canoe or kayak. Try renting a motorboat at a nearby lake. Plan a day of swimming or splashing fun at one of these great destinations. Road trip to one of Indiana's best water parks. Take a Swan Pedal Boat out on the canal. 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 Freedom Springs Aquatic Park in Greenwood Soak up the sun at a local beach. Go fishing. Enjoy swimming and a movie during Flix and Floats at Forest Park Aquatic Center. Enjoy a day on the water at Geist, Morse or Eagle Creek Reservoir. Spend the day at SKYLAKE Adventures, a new lake park in Sheridan with floating obstacle courses, water slides and sandy beaches. Make a splash with swim lessons at Carmel Swim Academy. SKYLAKE Adventures Explore the Outdoors * indicates a free activity Soar through the treetops on a zip-lining adventure. Visit your favorite Indy-area farmers market. Enjoy a picnic and adult beverages at the family-friendly Daniel's Vineyard. Family-Friendly atmosphere at Daniel's Vineyard Take a tour of Traders Point Creamery. Then, indulge in ice cream afterward. Go strawberry picking at one of these local farms. Eat your weight in shortcake at one of these Central Indiana strawberry festivals. Take in the fresh air on one of Indianapolis' hiking trails. * Take a ride on the Nickel Plate Express railbikes. Nickel Plate Express railbikes in Noblesville Try out a new sport at the Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience at The Children's Museum. Take a stroll around Downtown Indianapolis and find something new to do. Spend the day exploring animals and outdoor exhibits at The Indianapolis Zoo. Play a family game of ping pong, shuffleboard, cornhole or bocce ball at Midtown Plaza Carmel. * Enjoy Creek Stomps, kids activities, movies, concerts and more during Summer IN Westfield. Learn something new on a tour of Strawtown Enclosure, a Native American village that was inhabited more than 700 years ago. * Pack a picnic and spend the day at The Children's Garden at Coxhall Gardens. * The Children's Garden at Coxhall Gardens Walk around the ArtsPark at the Indianapolis Art Center. * Learn about agriculture at Fishers AgriPark. * Explore the Treetop Outpost at Conner Prairie. Play in the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers. * Flat Fork Creek Park Meet alpacas at Heritage Farm. Discover nature and art at The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. * Have an archaeology adventure at River Road Park. * Explore Butler University's Holcomb Gardens. * Go for a horseback ride. Explore Marian University's EcoLab. * Go for a hot air balloon ride at Conner Prairie. Go fishing with the family. * Shoot a bow and arrow at Strawtown Koteewi Park. Buckle up those helmets and explore one of these Indianapolis bike trails. * Tackle Strawtown Koteewi Park on horseback with K-Trails Equestrian Adventures. Hop on the saddle for a guided trail ride through Fort Harrison State Park. Hang out around the campfire during the Cool Creek Campfires series. Cool Creek Campfires series Experience a Summer Concert * indicates a free summer concert series Cool Creek Concert Series Concerts on the Canal at the Indiana Historical Society Symphony on the Prairie Mallow Run Winery Picnic Concert Series * Bargersville Summer Concert Series * Rock the Ruins at Holliday Park Rock the Ruins at Holliday Park Fishers Parks Community Concert Series * Animals and All That Jazz Noblesville Summer Concert Series * Summer Concert Series at Clay Terrace * Summer Concert Series at Clay Terrace Free Summer Concert Series at Murphy Aquatic Park * Free Family Concerts at Lions Park * Whitestown Summer Concert Series * Greenwood Summer Concert Series * Summer Concerts at The Gazebo in Carmel * Visit a Local Playground Visit one of the coolest playgrounds in the Indianapolis area. West Commons Playground Plan a day trip to a road trip-worthy playground. Stay cleaner at one of Indy's mud-free playgrounds. Ride the zip line at the Nature Adventure Playground. Spend a rainy day at an indoor playground. The Commons indoor playground in Columbus Catch an Outdoor Movie * indicates a free movie series Newfields Summer Nights Film Series Newfields Summer Nights Film Series Movies at Midtown * Brownsburg Parks and Recreation Movies in the Park * 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. Head to the drive-in theater for a classic summer night. Have Summer Fun Without the Sun Sign up for a summer reading program at your local Indianapolis Public Library branch. Earn free Personal Pan Pizzas for reading 20 minutes a day with Pizza Hut's BOOK IT! summer reading program. Discover nature inside at a Central Indiana nature center. Holliday Park Nature Center Take your movie theater trip to the next level by renting out a theater for a private screening. Dust off your bowling shoes. Kids Bowl Free returns in Indianapolis all summer long. Eat, drink, bowl and play at Pinheads. Sign up for summer dance camps, classes or tumbling sessions at Stage I Dance Academy. Catch a cheap summer movie: $1 summer movies at Regal Cinemas $3 summer movies at AMC Theatres $5 summer movies at Flix Brewhouse Carmel Plan a trip to one of these unique Indianapolis museums. Check out the Indiana State Police Museum, a secret east-side favorite. Spend the day taking selfies at the Selfie WRLD Selfie Museum. Take the family for a round of duckpin bowling in Fountain Square. Duckpin Bowling at Action & Atomic Duckpin Bowling Discover a new artist at Harrison Center's Reimagined Community Art Space. Join the Franklin Skate Club's Kids Skate Free program. Travel Around Indiana and the Midwest The best water parks in the Midwest The best places to go camping near Indianapolis for families Spend some quality time in the great outdoors at S & H Campgrounds in Greenfield. Unique animal encounters in Central Indiana Nine Lives Cat Café Indiana day trips perfect for spring and summer Plan a one-tank summer trip to French Lick Resort. Explore riverfront fun, art and the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo with Visit Fort Wayne. Plan a Southern Indiana road trip with SoIN Tourism. Spend a family day in Lafayette and West Lafayette with Visit Lafayette - West Lafayette. Unplug with caverns, trails, waterways and historic downtown fun through Harrison County CVB. Spend the summer at Bulldog Park and explore events in Crown Point. Explore fossils, life-size skeletons and hands-on exhibits at the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. Plan a lake-country getaway with Enjoy White County. Best national parks in the Midwest for families Cool caves in the Midwest Cave exploration at Squire Boone Caverns in Indiana The best roller coasters in the Midwest Find more Midwest travel destinations Find more Indiana getaways Explore all Indiana day trips Watch the sky glow at an Indiana hot air balloon festival 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. Take an excursion with Whitewater Valley Rail Road, voted Indiana's most scenic railroad. Eat, Drink and Be Merry This Summer Spots for outdoor summer dining with kids near Indianapolis Outdoor Playground at Baby's Restaurant Best ice cream in Indianapolis Cool off with award-winning homemade ice cream at Handel's Homemade Ice Cream. Fun Indianapolis restaurants for kids Enjoy a family meal and summer savings at MCL Restaurant & Bakery. 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. Mud Day in Greenwood, May 29 Mud Day in Greenwood EarthFest by Earth Day Indiana, May 30 Broad Ripple Duck Race + 5K, June 6 Pendleton Lions Club June Jamboree, June 2-6 Tuttle Orchard Strawberry Festival, June 5-6 Indy Strawberry Festival, June 11 Indy Strawberry Festival Italian Street Festival, June 12-13 Touch-A-Truck at Grand Park, June 17 Talbot Street Art Fair, June 20-21 Free Day: Juneteenth at the Indiana State Museum, June 20 Free Day: Juneteenth at the Indiana State Museum Spark!Fishers, June 24-28 Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival, June 27-28 Greenwood Freedom Festival, June 27 Hendricks County Rib Fest & BBQ, June 27 HENDRICKS COUNTY RIB-FEST & BBQ Marion County Fair, June 26-July 5 Celebrate Independence Day at CarmelFest, July 3-4 Head downtown for Gen Con, July 30-August 2 Hamilton County 4-H Fair, July 16-20 Monsoon Madness at Holland Park, July 18 Johnson County Fair, July 19-25 Indiana State Fair, August 7-23 Indiana State Fair Kiwanis Balloon Festival - Presented by Daviess County Indiana Visitors Bureau, August 28-29

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