Looking for things to do with children in Indianapolis this summer? We have thousands of ideas on our Indiana summer bucket list, and we’re sharing them over the next 101 days of summer in Indy.
Indianapolis Summer Bucket List
Each day, we’ll share ideas for things to do with your kids. There are activities and events for all schedules. Some are free, some are cheap, and all are fun! For nearly two decades, we’ve published this list spanning from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and it’s still our favorite thing to do!
While enjoying all your Indiana summer activities, tag your photos #PLAYindy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Summer in Indianapolis is not just a season. It is a full-family invitation to splash, explore, snack, wander, cheer, create, and make the kind of memories your kids will talk about long after the towels are dry and the sunscreen is gone.
The Indy with Kids 101 Days of Summer checklist is packed with fun ideas for families in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Whether you are looking for free things to do with kids, outdoor adventures, creative outings, sweet treats, rainy day ideas, or only-in-Indy experiences, this list will help you plan your family’s best summer ever.
Download the list here for printing | Download the 3-month daily calendar
Big Summer Fun
These are the big memory-makers. Think summer traditions, special outings, festivals, fairs, fireworks, and the kinds of adventures that make a random weekday feel like a holiday.
Play at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Watch a movie under the stars
Catch a bargain big-screen flick
Dance to the summer soundtrack at an outdoor concert
Find a new 4th of July fireworks spot
Take a one-tank family road trip
See the Feast of Lanterns shine
Beat the heat with indoor thrills
Make it an amusement park day
Take on a waterpark adventure
Visit the Indiana State Fair like a pro
Get gloriously messy at Mud Day
Hunt for tiny fairy homes
Hop aboard a real train ride
Ride the rails, kid-sized
Marvel at Mr. Muffin’s trains
Bring a stuffed friend for a checkup
Make summer magic for others
Spend a day with dinosaurs
Creative Days
Summer is the perfect time to slow down and let kids make, imagine, read, build, and explore. These creative outings are great for hot days, rainy days, or any day when your family needs something a little more low-key.
Make it a museum day
Play in an art park
Explore First Friday art night
Take a mural walk
Make art for free
Create something cool
Find the musical swings
Watch live theater
Join a summer reading program
Find a favorite bookstore
Pick a favorite library
Take a story walk
Visit the Young Readers Center
Try a free kids workshop
Chalk up the sidewalks
Hit the pavement for a walking tour
Eats and Treats
Summer tastes better when there are donuts, ice cream, patio meals, and fun restaurants involved. Add a few food adventures to your family calendar and suddenly even dinner becomes an outing.
Go on a donut crawl
Chase a frozen treat
Make pizza memories
Try a techy restaurant
Eat at a retro diner
Find a sweet stop
Picnic with your peeps
Have a treat with cats
Eat at a themed restaurant
Go where kids eat free
Dine at a patio restaurant
Action-Packed Fun
Some summer days call for big energy. These ideas are perfect for sports fans, thrill seekers, competitive kids, and families who love to try something new together.
Chase IndyCar adventures
Cheer on the home team
Spend a day at Colts Camp
Tour the Colts’ home field
Picnic at a polo match
Watch school buses race
Try pickleball
Play a round of golf with a twist
See soapbox racers fly
Take aim with archery
Plan a family game day or night
Bowl for free all summer
Putt your way through summer
Play inside for free
Climb aboard big trucks
Visit the weirdest places
Play at Midtown Carmel
Laugh it up at ComedySportz
Paddle a peaceful waterway
Get your thrills at White Rock Park
Adventure Days
For the kids who need to move, splash, climb, dig, hike, and explore, Central Indiana is full of outdoor adventures. Pack snacks, extra clothes, and maybe a towel or two, because these are the days that usually end with happy, tired kids.
Splash-pad through the day
Make a pool day of it
Hit the beach
Enjoy lake life for a day
Float the river
Stomp through a creek
Chase a waterfall
Take a kid-friendly hike
Park hop
Play on Monument Circle
Explore a nature center
Earn State Park Pins & Patches
Wander through a garden
Spend a day on the farm
Attend the Water Lantern Festival
Zip through the trees
Try kid-friendly fishing
Let a kite take flight
Stay up for the stars
Go on a fossil hunt
Explore an Indiana cave
Roll into a bike adventure
Pick a field of flowers
Go strawberry picking
Make it a blueberry day
Buzz over to a honey farm
Stroll a farmers’ market
Join the strawberry festival fun
Watch airplanes take flight
Wander through a historic cemetery
Break a world record
Go on a family scavenger hunt
Take a rail bike adventure
Explore a local college campus
Climb the Monument
How to Use the 101 Days of Summer Checklist
You do not have to do all 101 things to have an amazing summer. Choose a few favorites, circle the ideas your kids are most excited about, and keep the list handy for those “what should we do today?” moments.
Pick one big adventure each week
Add a few free activities to balance the budget
Let each child choose one must-do summer idea
Save indoor activities for rainy days or extreme heat
Keep a swimsuit, towel, and snacks in the car
Try something new, even if it is close to home
Take photos, but do not forget to jump into the memory too
Make This Your Family’s Best Summer Ever
The magic of summer in Indianapolis is that there is always something waiting around the corner. A splash pad you have not tried yet. A train ride your kids will never forget. A new ice cream shop. A baseball game. A creek. A museum. A tiny adventure that turns into a favorite family tradition.
Use this 101 Days of Summer checklist as your guide, your backup plan, and your reminder that you do not have to travel far or spend a fortune to give your kids a summer full of wonder. Central Indiana is packed with family fun, and this is your sign to get out there and enjoy it.
Download our Printable for something to do every day from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day.
