I love finding family activities that feel a little unexpected. We do the playgrounds, splash pads, festivals, and baseball games, but every once in a while, I want to take my kids somewhere that makes them say, “Wait, what are we doing tonight?”
A polo match at Hickory Hall Polo Club is exactly that kind of Indianapolis summer family adventure.
Located in Whitestown, Hickory Hall Polo Club hosts Polo at Sunset matches on Friday evenings throughout the summer and into early fall. Families can pack a picnic, bring lawn chairs, settle in beside the polo field, and watch the horses and riders compete as the sun begins to set.
It feels special, but it is also completely approachable for families. You do not need to know anything about polo before you arrive. You do not need fancy clothes. You do not need children who can sit perfectly still for an entire evening. You simply show up, set up your spot, and enjoy one of the most unique summer nights in Central Indiana.
Polo Is Much More Family-Friendly Than You Might Think
Before you picture fancy hats, quiet spectators, and children being expected to behave like tiny royalty, let me reassure you: Polo at Sunset is casual, relaxed, and made for gathering outdoors.
Families bring lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, picnic dinners, and pop-up tents. You can keep dinner simple with sandwiches, fruit, chips, and juice boxes, or pick up takeout on the way and turn it into a Friday night picnic.
That is one of the things I love most about this outing. It feels like an event, but it does not require a complicated plan. The kids get to be outside. Parents can visit with friends. Everyone can eat when they are hungry. And then, right in front of you, horses are racing across the field while players compete in a sport your kids may have never seen before.
What Is It Like to Watch a Polo Match?
There is something really beautiful about sitting outside on a summer evening while horses run across a wide-open field. Even if your family has never watched polo before, it does not take long to get caught up in the action.
The players ride at impressive speeds while using long mallets to move the ball toward the goal. Kids do not need to understand every rule to enjoy watching. They can follow the horses, watch for the ball, and cheer along with the crowd when the action gets exciting.
And because you are outdoors with your own chairs, blankets, and snacks, it feels much easier with kids than an event where everyone is expected to stay seated in assigned spots.
Then comes one of the best parts for families: halftime.
During halftime, spectators are invited onto the field for the traditional Divot Stomp. As the horses run, they naturally pull up little pieces of turf, and during the break, everyone helps press the grass back into place.
For kids, this is pure fun. They get to walk onto the polo field, stomp around, burn off a little energy, and feel like they are part of the event. It is also a great chance to snap a few photos and make a memory they will probably talk about long after the match is over.
Why Families Should Try Polo at Sunset
A polo match is a wonderful addition to a family summer bucket list because it is so different from the usual routine.
Your kids may have been to outdoor movies, water parks, summer camp, and even hiking. Those are all wonderful, but polo gives them something entirely new to experience. There are horses, sports, a sunset picnic, and an activity at halftime that invites them right into the fun.
It is also a great outing for multiple generations. Grandparents, parents, kids, and family friends can all enjoy the same evening together. Younger children can enjoy the horses and open-air setting, while older kids may become interested in the sport itself.
For families who love gathering with friends, this is an easy group outing. Meet another family there, park near each other, set up chairs and blankets, share snacks, and enjoy a summer evening together.
Many Hickory Hall Polo events also support local nonprofit organizations, which makes the experience even better. Your family gets a beautiful evening out while helping give back to the community.
How to Plan Your Family Polo Night
Planning a night at Hickory Hall is simple. Matches take place on Friday evenings, with gates opening before the match begins. Arriving early gives your family time to find a spot, set up chairs, unpack dinner, and let the kids get comfortable before the horses take the field.
Pack like you are heading to an outdoor concert or a relaxed evening picnic. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket, a cooler filled with dinner and drinks, plenty of snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray. Comfortable shoes are a good idea, especially since you will want to join the Divot Stomp at halftime.
A pop-up tent or shade option can also be helpful on sunny evenings. Since refreshments are not provided, be sure to pack enough food and drinks for everyone in your group. Grills and open flames are not permitted, so choose easy picnic foods or grab dinner on your way.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome, too, as long as they remain on a leash. So, for some families, even the dog can come along for summer polo night.
Dress comfortably. This is absolutely an outing where sundresses, shorts, sandals, sneakers, and kid-friendly clothes are perfectly appropriate. Your children can look adorable for photos while still being comfortable enough to eat a picnic dinner and stomp divots on the field.
A Summer Evening Your Kids Will Remember
Some family outings are fun because they are familiar. Others are fun because they feel like discovering something new together.
A sunset polo match at Hickory Hall Polo Club is that second kind of outing.
It is horses racing across a beautiful field. It is a picnic dinner pulled from a cooler. It is kids heading onto the field at halftime to stomp divots. It is parents looking around and realizing they may have just found a new favorite summer tradition.
So pack the cooler, load up the kids, and head to Whitestown for an evening of polo this summer. You do not need to know the rules. You do not need a fancy hat. You just need a Friday night, a few lawn chairs, and a family ready to try something unexpectedly fun.
Hickory Hall Polo Club Information
Location: Hickory Hall Polo Club, 7551 East 100 North, Whitestown, Indiana
2026 Polo at Sunset Season: Friday evenings, June 5 through September 25
Gates Open: 5 p.m.
Match Begins: 6 p.m.
Admission: $40 per car for general admission
Bring: Lawn chairs or blankets, a picnic dinner, drinks, sunscreen and bug spray
Good to Know: Grills and open flames are not permitted. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome. Check the schedule before attending in case the weather affects a match.
