Join the celebration with FREE festivals this summer

One of the best parts about summer are the festivals.  Of course, schedules fill up quickly this time of year and it’s unrealistic to expect to enjoy every opportunity. So that you can plan ahead to enjoy some of the festivals going on this summer in Indy, we’re compiling a list of all the festivals we know of this season. If you know of any we have missed, let us know and we will look into adding it to this calendar.

Here’s the schedule:

JUNE

12 – Strawberry Festival: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Monument Circle

Your perk: If an estimated six tons of strawberries sounds like a great time to you, you won’t want to miss this delicious festival. Desserts range in price from $2 to $6, and the event benefits not-for-profit outreach groups. You won’t come up short(cake) on opportunities to enjoy one of our favorite fruits.

12 -14 – Parish Festival – 4:00 p.m. to midnight at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish

Your perk: This three-day festival includes good food, rides, live music, games and more.

13 and 14 – Italian Street Festival: 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. both nights on the corner of East and Stevens street

Your perk: If you’re looking for only 20 different pastas, you’ll be blown away enough to exclaim “Mamma Mia!” at the Italian Street Festival. You’ll find more than 25 different pastas in addition to other Italian foods including meat and desserts.

13 and 14 – Strawberry Festival and BBQ: From 11 am to 8 pm, the party is at the Lawrence United Methodist Church for its sixth annual festival. Of course there’s food, but also a quilt show and a The Gathering Men’s Trio (Friday, 6:30) and Hoosier Harmony Gospel Quartet  (Saturday, 6:00) are on tap to perform.

Your perk: It’s a nice substitute if you can’t get downtown for the Strawberry Festival the same week and are feeling blue.

14 – Circle City Pride Festival: Gates open at 10:00 a.m. from St. Clair to Michigan Street between Meridian and Pennsylvania

Your perk: The American Legion Mall will host the 25th anniversary of the Pride Festival with live performances and vendors. They suggest a donation of $5 in lieu of an admission price.

14-15 – Talbot Street Art Fair – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on Sunday) between 16th and 20th on Delaware and Pennsylvania

Your perk: You won’t hurt for options on this north side of downtown fair, as more than 270 artists are attending. This event is highly ranked among art fairs and is FREE to attend.

19 – Marsh Cookout on the Circle – Lunchtime on Monument Circle

Your perk: There’s plenty to love in this lunch. The Cookout on the Circle proceeds will benefit central Indiana Boy Scouts, and you can enjoy Midwest cookout classics grilled by “celebrity cooks.” In the event of rain, this event will be rescheduled to the day after.

21 – PBS Kids in the Park – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the lawn at White River State Park

Your perk: Speaking of celebrities, rumors are that some will show up for this FREE event in which kids can enjoy meeting Clifford, Curious George, May and Miguel, and others. You’ll find plenty of games and vendor booths at this family-friendly festival.

21-22 – Indian Market and Festival – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Military Park

Your perk: If you purchase general admission to the Eiteljorg during this festival, you’ll be admitted to one of the Midwest’s largest Indian markets for FREE. You’ll find more than 130 Native artists amongst the food, performances, and more.

JULY

(check out all of the Indianapolis fireworks displays and subsequent festivals, too)

4 – Fountain Square Music Festival – Noon at Fountain Square

Your perk: Music fans may want to take a break from the swimming pool and the fireworks to enjoy nine local, regional, and national bands at Fountain Square. Tickets are only $7 for this Independence Day festival.

5 – Taste of Indy – 10:00 a.m. on the Canal

Your perk: Even the picky eaters among our Cheapsters can find something they’ll enjoy among the Asian, Soul, Greek, Mediterranean, Cajun, Hispanic, and American food on display at the third annual Taste of Indy. You’ll also find live local music.

12 – Indy Criterium – 10:00 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. in University Park (325 N. Meridian Street)

Your perk: Cyclists probably already know about this opportunity to race the city streets while taking in BMX stunt shows, a Sun King beer garden, and more.

AUGUST

2 – Mass Ave Criterium – Times still to be announced, but it takes place on Mass Ave.

Your perk: Remember everything we mentioned about the Indy Criterium? Well, relocate to Mass Ave weeks later and you’ve got a pretty good idea. You’ll find more than 400 cyclists and 5,000 cycling fans on hand for this version.

8 – Motorcycles on Meridian – Downtown (Monument Circle and South Meridian Street)

Your perk: Bicycles aren’t the only bikes feeling the love from festivals this summer. All ages are welcome to see the unique sights and sounds of thousands of motorcycles congregating downtown.

14-24 – IndyFringe Festival – Mass Ave

Your perk: The longest-lasting of the festivals on our list, the IndyFringe Festival will take over Mass Ave for 11 days with nearly 300 performance art acts. Show tickets are only $10 each to see dance, drama, comedy, magic, and other performances.

17 – India Day – 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monument Circle

Your perk: Monument Circle is apparently a popular place for festivals, as you can taste Indian cuisine and enjoy cultural performances at India Day. This event is FREE, and also includes a fashion show and a cricket game.

SEPTEMBER

6 – Penrod Arts Fair – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the grounds at the Indianapolis Museum of Art

Your perk: Nicknamed Indiana’s Nicest Day, 300 artists will be performing on six stages of entertainment on the beautiful IMA grounds. Adults can enjoy the Indiana Craft Beer Garden, while kids can check out the extensive children’s area.

6 – Sister Cities International Festival – Noon to 5:00 p.m. on Georgia Street

Your perk: Admission is FREE at this cultural festival. It’s a celebration of world sports, international cuisine, and live music. Keep your eyes peeled for a poster contest open to students of all grades.

 

If you like these events, also check out our FREE summer concerts listing!