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 the past decade, we’ve published this list spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It’s still our favorite thing to do!
While enjoying all your Indiana summer activities, tag your photos #PLAYindy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Download our Printable for something to do every day from Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day.
Indianapolis Area Favorites
These summer fun staples are favorites for families living near Indy or visiting Indianapolis on summer vacation.
- Spend some time exploring The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, especially the outdoor Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience.
- Go to the 500 Festival Parade (May 24) and the Indianapolis 500 (May 25).
- Plan your next adventure at Conner Prairie and explore their acres of history and fun. Also, make plans to attend a Symphony on the Prairie!
- Do all of the things at the Canal in downtown Indianapolis.
- Visit the Indianapolis Zoo for a day of wild adventures.
- Explore all of the family fun in Carmel.
- Take me out to the ballpark! Go see the Indianapolis Indians Baseball team play at Victory Field. | Get Tickets Here |
- Watch a summer movie at Newfields.
- Cheer on the boys in blue at an Indy Eleven match.
- Take your tot to a free Teddy Bear Concert with the ISO.
- Enjoy the delicious Strawberry Festival on the Circle (June 12).
- Go to the Indiana State Fair (August 1-17).
Summer Fun Ideas in Indy
Some activities were just made for summer!
- Go on an Indianapolis scavenger hunt, guided by this book by Indy with Kids’ founder Katy Mann.
- Enjoy food, rides, and more festivities at a summer festival.
- Take a ride on a miniature railroad.
- Go flower picking at these u-pick flower farms.
- Strike a pose in a sunflower field.
- Take the kids to The Wooley Yak, Daniel’s Vineyard, Urban Vines, or another family-friendly winery.
- Find fresh fruit when you go strawberry picking.
- Creek stomping is tons of fun.
- Make and fly a kite.
- Build a fort or fairy house in the woods.
- Eat donuts to celebrate Donut Day Indy (June 6).
- Have ice cream at one of our favorite ice cream shops in Indy.
- Watch the Broad Ripple Canal Rubber Duck Race (June 7).
- Enroll in a local Vacation Bible School.
- Run in a family-friendly 5k, like the Heroes for the House Annual 5k (June 14).
- Register for a Parents’ Night Out program and plan that date night.
- Try one of Indy’s best burgers.
- Shop at a Farmers’ Market for fresh food.
- See how many of these local candy stores you can visit.
- Ride a real train.
- Marvel at a hot air balloon festival.
- Plan a Back-to-School breakfast when it’s time for summer to wrap up!
Places to Play Inside in Indy
Indoor activities are plenty this summer. Save these ideas for a bad weather day.
- Jump the day away at Urban Air.
- Try these extreme slides at the new Slick City Action Park in Brownsburg.
- Visit the theater for summer movies at bargain rates.
- Summer Reading Programs at the libraries are in full swing.
- Take a cooking class for kids or as a family.
- Indulge in one of these best Indy milkshakes.
- Have a tea party.
- Visit a children’s bookstore.
- Try a restaurant where kids eat free.
- Visit your local library.
- Go play at an indoor play place. Some are even FREE!
- Blow glass or paint pottery or a canvas at a local shop.
- Visit this DIY tie-dye lab.
- Sip coffee while your kids play.
- Drop in for a free kids’ workshop.
- Learn and explore at one of these museums with free admission.
- Challenge a friend to a board game or attend GenCon for the ultimate board game fan experience (July 31-August 3).
Where to Play Outside in Indy
Get out and enjoy those beautiful Indiana summer days!
- Watch an outdoor movie in Indy.
- Touch trucks, and see giant equipment at these Indy Touch-A-Truck events.
- Take advantage of DNR’s Free Fishing Day (June 7-8).
- Play at Spark on the Circle in Downtown Indy.
- Drive in to these movie theaters.
- Enjoy a summer concert in Indianapolis.
- Splash the day away at a local splash pad or spray park.
- Go swimming at these pools.
- Slip and slide at these water slides.
- Spend the day at the beach.
- Go blueberry picking.
- Go blackberry picking.
- Visit an amazing garden.
- Go on a nighttime adventure.
- Go chase fireflies.
- Visit a farm near Indy.
- Watch the stars.
- Go inner-tubing.
- See baby animals.
- Try a new park.
- Fly to new heights—go ziplining.
- Horse around with horses.
- Rent a rowboat at a State Park.
- Have a picnic.
- Visit a nature center/park.
- Mini golf with kids.
- Cruise the Cultural Trail.
- Watch fireworks.
- Play in a sandbox at a park.
- Play outdoor games with your family.
- Visit one of Indiana’s State Parks.
- Go geocaching with kids.
- Climb the kids’ mountain at Urban Apples.
- Take a hike with your family.
- Art parks & sculpture gardens.
- Eat on the roof/up high.
- Go apple picking when those first crops ripen in July.
- Ride a bike. You can even borrow from a Bike Share!
- Visit a StoryWalk.
- Try a restaurant where Kids Eat Free.
- See airplanes soar.
- Get messy at the Fisher’s Agripark.
Sports Events and Recreation in Indy
Indy is a city full of sports teams, events, and history. Summer is one of the best seasons to catch all the excitement.
- Colts Training Camp (July 24-August 31).
- Archery with kids.
- Free bowling for kids.
- Indoor swimming.
- Try duckpin bowling.
- Check out the AlleyCats Ultimate Disc Team.
- Go roller skating.
- Learn a new sport: Try disc golf or pickleball.
- Rent the Swan Boats on the canal.
- Visit a kids’ gym.
- Go ice skating!
- Let them climb someone else’s walls.
- Take your kids camping.
- Go sailing in Indy.
Take an Indiana Summer Day Trip or Road Trip
Something awesome about living in Central Indiana is that it’s just that: central. New adventures abound just a few hours’ drive away.
- Discover hidden gems and unique attractions while exploring Indiana.
- Swim in the quarry and camp at Natural Springs Resort.
- Spend the weekend in Santa Claus, Indiana, and play at Holiday World.
- Visit Kings Island or another amusement park close to Indy.
- Go waterfall chasing at these waterfalls in Indiana.
- Play all day or all weekend at these family-friendly places in Richmond.
- Spend a day at the beach at Indiana Dunes.
- Check out the zoo and Science Central in Fort Wayne.
- Explore and adventure in French Lick.
- Ride the rapids in downtown South Bend.
- Road trip to Chicago for family fun and the American Girl store.
- Join the pack at Wolf Park.
- Go caving in southern Indiana.
- Take a ranch tour and wagon ride at a bison farm.
- Rent a cabin and play at the Abe Martin Lodge Aquatic Center.
- Take a safari at the Wilds wild animal park.
- Plan a weekend getaway to the Petoskey area.
- Learn and play at one of these Indiana children’s museums.
