22 Things To Do In Indianapolis This Spring Break

The kids are off school for an entire week (or two) for spring break!

If you are staying local for spring break, Indy has tons of kid-friendly activities to keep the whole family busy! Explore some new places or things you’ve never done this spring break!

More Indianapolis Guides to Explore:

• 75 Free or Cheap (under $5) Things to do in Indianapolis
• Free Family-Friendly Events this Month
• Indianapolis Easter Egg Hunt Guide
• 19 Indiana Day Trips Perfect for Spring
• Where to Watch the Total Solar Eclipse in Indianapolis

Here are 22 things to do in this spring break in Indianapolis:

1. Visit the Children’s Museum.

• Visit the museum’s newest exhibit – Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Secrets of the Sewer – Experience the first-ever museum exhibit featuring the four heroic ninjas-in-training—Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Opens March 9, 2024.
• Don’t miss your chance to check out Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out. This temporary exhibit will be at the museum until May 19. 
• Plus, head to the museum on Thursday, April 4, 2024, to take advantage of First Thursday Nights from 4:00 – 8:00 pm! Visit the museum for just $6, the Sports Legends Experience for just $6, or both for just $7! Get your tickets early.
• The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience combines rich sports history, physical fitness, and health education in a variety of family-fun, indoor and outdoor experiences. Run, drive, jump, putt, and play while learning how to stay happy, healthy, and safe. The Sports Legend Experience reopens March 16 for the 2024 season. 

2. Celebrate spring with xZOOberance at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Coming just in time for spring break, xZooberance runs every Thursday – Sunday, March 21 – April 14. The Zoo will be open 9 am-5 pm with event activities running noon-4 pm.

3. Cheer on the Indianapolis Indians.

Go to Victory Field on April 2 for the Indianapolis Indians season opener for baseball and fireworks! If the temperature is below 60 degrees at first pitch, all fans in attendance receive a ticket to another April home game of their choice.

4. Stay busy at the Indiana State Museum.

• The Pinewood Derby – March 27-April 8
  Indiana’s second greatest spectacle in racing! The Pinewood Derby track will be rigged and ready for action as cars zip down the 125 feet of track headed for the finish line. Launch your car from the second story start line and experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in the quest to find car perfection. 

6. Enjoy spring break at the Prairie.

• The outdoor grounds at Conner Prairie.
• Treetop Outpost
  Conner Prairie has so many outdoor locations to explore, but the Treetop Outpost is one you don’t want to miss. The Treetop Outpost also includes this 30-foot suspension bridge and a connecting Nature Walk that leads visitors through the woods and along the White River to a prairie lookout.
• Discover Habitat at Conner Prairie: The newest outdoor experience
  Habitat is a new way to explore the world around you by highlighting the unique habitats throughout the gardens and landscapes of Conner Prairie. Habitats provide homes for all living things, from the tiniest ant to the tallest tree.

7. Watch the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024

By now, nearly all schools in Indianapolis have decided to either make their spring break longer or close for the day on April 8, 2024. This is so everyone can participate in this once-in-a-lifetime event as Indianapolis experiences totality. There will be viewing parties, festivals, and lots of fun events across the city to celebrate. Here are a few spots to consider:

• Conner Prairie – The Total Solar Eclipse Festival
  The festival grounds will be filled with entertaining live performances. With music, dance, and science, this festival will be exciting and engaging for everyone.
  
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has an exhilarating day of programming and festivities planned in collaboration with NASA. As one of a select few broadcast locations across the country
• Cool Creek Park – Park Side of the Moon 
  Attendees can park on-site, tailgate, and explore the park’s grounds. The event features live entertainment on the pavilion stage. Engaging crafts and educational displays will be set up both outdoors and inside the nature center.
• Dull’s Tree Farm – Get Mooned
  Set in the unique environment of Dull’s Tree Farm, this event offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe this astronomical event in an open scenic setting. This all day event is packed with kids activities such as zip lines, tunnel slides, barrel train rides, corn hole and more. 
• Grand Park Sports Campus
  The Solar Eclipse festivities will unfold at Grand Park Sports Campus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attractions include food trucks, a performance by the 1985 Band, inflatables, and the eclipse’s momentary darkness. Grand Universe will provide telescopes for educational purposes.

Click here to find a full list of Total Solar Eclipse events taking place around Indy. 

8. Go downtown!

We bet you still need to check off some things on your downtown Indy bucket list. With so many events and activities happening downtown during spring break, you can experience so much and make great memories right in your city.

9. Explore a nature playground

It’s no secret that Indianapolis is home to many beautiful playgrounds, but these natural ones stand out for their unique design – bringing you closer to nature. 

• Nature Adventure Playground at Jill Perelman Pavilion – This playground is truly a hidden gem and is the only public park in the area with a zip line!
• River Road Park – Little archeologists, history buffs and dinosaur lovers: We have the perfect park for you! River Road Park in Carmel is a one-of-a-kind park that includes features you’ll see nowhere else around Indy.
• The Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens – This beautiful park, located on the west side of Carmel, is a magical hidden gem, and it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a more analog park experience for kids.
• River Heritage Park – From the parking lot, you might miss the second playground that takes place within the wooded trail.

  

10. When in doubt, go to the library.

The greater Indianapolis area has some incredible libraries for finding new books and creating new adventures. Here are a few of our favorite libraries that offer great kids zones:

• Central Library – 40 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis
• Hancock County Library – 900 W McKenzie Rd, Greenfield
  
• Fort Ben – 9330 East 56th Street, Indianapolis
• Michigan Road Branch Library – 6201 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
• Carmel Clay Public Library – 425 E. Main Street in Carmel

11. Visit a nature center.

Nature centers have the best of everything. Enjoy some time outside before heading indoors for educational activities and exhibits. You could spend your entire week visiting all the different nature centers in Central Indiana!

12. Take a stroll on the Monon Trail

Enjoying a walk or a family bike ride on the Monon Trail is a sure way to know spring is here. The Monon Trail is 18.1 miles long and stretches from Downtown Indy, all the way up to Westfield. You will find some of Indy’s best local shops and restaurants along the trail. Here are a few of our favorite family-friendly spots to get a quick treat:

• Bub’s Burgers& Ice Cream – 210 W Main St, Carmel
• Nicey Treat – 916 E Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis
• Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station: BRICS – 901 E 64th St, Indianapolis
• Just “Pop” In! – 6406 Cornell Ave, Indianapolis
• Wyliepalooza Ice Cream & Boba Tea – 1049 East 54th St. Indianapolis

13. Enjoy a whole day at White River State Park!

White River State Park offers 9 different attractions across 250 beautiful acres in downtown Indianapolis. All are a must-do!

14. Try out a new restaurant

Do you have a little foodie? Try out one of these top 11 fun Indianapolis restaurants for kids. 

15. Duck, duck … Bowling

Indianapolis is home to many bowling alleys. But Action & Atomic Duckpin Bowling, located in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Fountain Square, is probably the most unusual — and perhaps the oldest — bowling alley you’ll find in the Midwest. Family-friendly and fun for all ages, duckpin bowling uses smaller, lighter balls, so it’s perfect for the smallest bowlers in your bunch.

16. Enjoy a mix of art and nature

Take a stroll through Newfield’s Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. The 100-acre park is free to access and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Families can enjoy nature while playing on the unique playground features or while jumping on the one-of-a-kind Funky Bones by Dutch artist Atelier Van Leishout.

17. Play, run, jump!

Enjoy some spring weather at one of Indianapolis’s top playgrounds! Indy’s Child has a long list of playgrounds and reviews. Here are a few of our favorites we can’t wait to hit this spring break:

• Colts Canal PlaySpace – Indy’s newest playground is located in Downtown Indy on the north end of the Downtown Canal Walk.

• Hummel Park – Hummel Park is considered by many to be a park where natural beauty and recreation come together. This park has multiple playgrounds, expansive green space, an amphitheater and creeks that flow throughout the property.

• Lawrence W. Inlow Park –  Lawrence W. Inlow Park is something out of a child’s wild imagination. This park is sectioned into three separate playgrounds, each with fun and different things to enjoy. 

• Holliday Park – Holiday Park will always be a family favorite located right in the middle of Indianapolis. This classic park spans over 94-acres and has everything a family needs for a perfect spring day at the park.

• Old City Park – Old City Park is located in the heart of downtown Greenwood. The centerpiece of the playground is the 20-foot cube tower. The play tower is the first of its kind in Indiana and one of only three in the country.

18. Take a Day Trip

Just because you aren’t planning a big spring break vacation, doesn’t mean you can’t plan a few quick day trips. Check out this Indy’s Child for our top 19 kid-friendly day trips from Indianapolis. Have a little bit longer than a day? Check out these ideas for a perfect road trip, all under a 3-hour drive.

19. Have a treetop adventure

Add a little excitement to your spring break plans, by spending the day among the treetops. For younger kids, climbing a local treehouse could be just the adventure your family needs. You can find treehouses at Conner Prairie and Flat Fork Creek. Older kids might enjoy an adrenaline rush from a ride on a zip line.

20. Explore a new museum

Indianapolis is home to some of the best museums in the country. Explore, discover, have fun, and be inspired at these great spring break destinations! 

21. Be a little unique

Want to do something a little different? We have some ideas for our favorite unique activities around Indianapolis: 

• SoChatti Kids Chocolate Class
  At Indianapolis’ own SoChatti, you can take your family’s love of chocolate up to the next level with kids’ chocolate classes geared toward little chocolate enthusiasts.
• Play Giant Chess
  Want to take your chess game to the next level? Then try playing on one of these giant chess boards that are located around Indianapolis! It’s all the fun of regular chess but with larger chess pieces (think 2 feet in size). You’ll have a HUGE amount of fun!
• Race RC Cars in Indianapolis
  Radio control (RC) cars are a fast and fun hobby, and you might have seen people play with these scale model cars in a park or on the street. But did you know that there are race tracks, especially for RC cars, where you can take your racing to the next level?
• Ignite Art Studio and Makerspace in Fishers
  Ignite Art Studio and Makerspace in Fishers is like a giant art classroom. It has many tools and materials you might need to create multiple projects, housed in a light and airy space with media specialists to help. It’s a place to create and explore almost anything that you can put your mind to! And it’s Free! 
• DIY Bath Bombs at Bath Junkie
  The charm of Bath Junkie is in its unique “make your own” feature. Customers have the freedom to walk in and create their custom products, with no appointment needed! Among the variety, crafting bath bombs is a popular—and fun—choice.

22. Budget-friendly spring break ideas

Looking to save a little money while the kids are home this spring break? Check out our Free things to do in the Indianapolis guide, or these 60 fun activities for $5 or less in Indianapolis.

 

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If you are still stuck on what to do this spring break, head over to the Indy’s Child calendar for all of the family-friendly events going on around Indy!