Every August around my birthday if I don’t have something planned I know I can count on going to Feast of Lanterns. Color fills the streets, endless bathroom lines and amateur music takes over Brookside park. The last time I went was on my 21st birthday before I had a little too much fun.
How do you plan to spend your August?
Kick off First Friday, Aug. 1, at Indiana Landmarks to view an attorney’s collection of artwork that represents all 92 of Indiana’s county courthouses.
On Aug. 4, bring your weird and wild collectibles to trade at Trinket Club’s “Swamp Swap.” Catch the Indy Drag Theatre play, “CLUE: A Drag Parody” which follows six strangers who find themselves in a game of whodunnit after a dinner party at a mansion.
Don’t miss the month’s big ones like Chreece, Indy’s independent Hip-hop festival, BUTTER Fine Art Fair and the Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival. Or spend 10 days celebrating 20 years of the Indy Fringe Festival from Aug. 14-24.
Use Mirror Indy’s list to keep yourself busy all month long.
Aug. 1-10 🔝
The Pink Paddle Club
🗓️ 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1
📍 Frank’s Paddlesports Livery, 3001 N. White River Parkway Drive
🎟️ Free
Looking to make new friends or try a new activity? The Pink Paddle Club takes folks on a 2-3 hour float down the White River. Bring your own board or rent a kayak, canoe or standup paddleboard. To prepare, pack a waterproof bag or case for your valuables and bring a dinner or snacks. All experience levels, including first-timers, are welcome.
First Fridays: Summer’s Imprint
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1
📍 Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
🎟️ Free
Walk around to view art by the 67th Street Printmakers, a group show hosted by PetCon that features portraits of people and their pets and artwork created with dry erase markers.
Icons of Community: Indiana’s Historic County Courthouses
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1
📍 Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Ave.
🎟️ Free
At this First Friday art opening, learn about how attorney Douglas Church set out on a mission to collect artwork representing all 92 of Indiana’s county courthouses. Spoiler alert: He completed the mission this year.
Movie Night at White River State Park
🗓️ 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1
📍 White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
🎟️ $7.18-23.18
Grab your friends and race your way over to White River State Park for the next outdoor movie night featuring “Cars.” Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Snacks will be available for purchase.
Indiana State Fair
🗓️ Aug. 1-17
📍 Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.
🎟️ $17, free for children under 5
After riding rollercoasters and eating funnel cake, stop by Vinyl Revival at the Harvest Pavilion, be part of a project that records the sounds of humans at the fair by artist Clockwork Janz or find 100 free things to do at the Indiana State Fair.
“Clue: A Drag Parody”
🗓️ 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1-3 & 7-10
📍 The District Theatre, 627 Mass Ave.
🎟️ $35-45
This Indy Drag Theatre play follows six strangers who are invited to a mansion for a dinner party. Soon after the host blackmails the guests, who find themselves in a wild game of whodunnit. It’s inspired by a beloved board game and cult classic film.
AfroFest
🗓️ 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2
📍 Morris Bicentennial Plaza, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.
🎟️ $5-10
Celebrate African culture with local DJs, food, outdoor games and vendors in the heart of downtown Indy.
Big Gay Summer’s End
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2-3
📍 1 Monument Circle
🎟️ Free
Indy Gay Market wrote on their Instagram post, “Pride doesn’t end just because June does.” In that spirit, the event will feature over 60 queer artists and special-guest DJs. Attendees can also learn how to navigate Indy on the bus from an IndyGo transit ambassador.
Irvington Historical Society Ice Cream Social
🗓️ 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3
📍 Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 E. University Ave.
🎟️ Free
End your weekend with ice cream, local music, food from The Bus Stop Bistro and Indy 500 memorabilia. The Irvington Witches will also provide children’s activities.
Books & Rooks Chess Club
🗓️ 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4
📍 Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free
Play chess every first Monday in the Atrium of the Central Library. Chess sets and clocks will be provided. All ages and skill levels are welcome.
Swamp Swap!
🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4
📍 Re:Public, 2301 E. 10th St.
🎟️ $5, comes with a free T-shirt
This is Trinket Club’s biggest swap yet. Exchange or show off your favorite swamp-related trinket treasures with other collectors.
Indianapolis Job Resource Fair
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5
📍 Ivy Tech Conference Center & Culinary Institute, 2820 N. Meridian St.
🎟️ Free
Looking for a job or employees for your business? U.S. Rep. Andre Carson’s annual job fair will feature companies including Eli Lilly, the Omni Severin Hotel, Regions Bank and the Transportation Security Administration. Plus, there will be resources from community organizations such as Child Care Answers.
Intro to Oil Painting
🗓️ 5-7 p.m. Aug. 7-Sep. 25
📍 Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive
🎟️ $150, 16+
Delve into the creative fumes and learn the fundamentals of oil painting for eight weeks. Participants will leave with a completed work of art.
Poetry Floor Live
🗓️ 8:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 8
📍 Proper Variety & Events, 614 Mass Ave.
🎟️ $10-20
House of Groove’s new, monthly open mic series will bring raw expression, music and community to one space for one night.
Naptown DJ Fest
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9
📍 Watkins Park, 2360 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.
🎟️ Free
The family-friendly outdoor festival will feature over 50 DJs spinning live sets, including DJs who have disabilities. There will also be educational workshops, food trucks and community vendors. It’s all about the 1’s & 2’s culture.
Purr Prom
🗓️ 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9
📍 La Flaca at the Square, 3733 Commercial Drive
🎟️ $35-75, must be 21+
Cat lovers can dress up, dance and raise money to benefit Indy Neighborhood Cats. There will be cocktails, music and a silent auction including over 30 designer purses.
Royal Brush Takeover
🗓️ 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9
📍 Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ Free
Twelve local fashion designers created tiny outfits for paint brushes that will be displayed in shadow boxes. The new exhibit was curated by Anthony Radford, the founder of the annual Meet the Artists showcase at Central Library.
Irvington Farmer’s Market
🗓️ Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10
📍 Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free
Since 2000, the market has provided neighbors with fresh veggies, flowers, bakery goods and herbs. You’ll also be able to shop from local nonprofits.
Aug. 11-17 🔝
Universal Drip Art Exhibit V
🗓️ 5-7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12
📍 Simon Reading Room at Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free
Drip means style. It’s all about personal expression. This exhibit invites artists to be themselves, and the result is a show that embodies cosmic energy with an assortment of color and form curated by artist Omar Rashan.
ProPublica’s and Mirror Indy “Before A Breath” Screening and Q&A
🗓️ 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13
📍 Kan-Kan Cinema & Restaurant, 1258 Windsor St.
🎟️ $6
Watch ProPublica’s film “Before A Breath,” which tells the stories of three women determined to make pregnancy safer after losing their children to stillbirth. The event will be followed by a Q&A hosted by Mirror Indy.
Where Do We Go From Here?
🗓️ 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14
📍 Martin University, 2186 N. Sherman Drive
🎟️ Free
Get connected to employers and health organizations and find friends at this resource fair.
Indy Fringe Festival
🗓️ Aug. 14-24
📍 Multiple venues
🎟️ $12-99 and pay-what-you-can
Indy Fringe Festival celebrates 20 years with puppetry, ballet, stand-up comedy and Bollywood dance. On Aug. 17, stop by its anniversary celebration “Fringe-a-palooza,” for local merchants, tarot readings and live music along Mass Ave.
Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival
🗓️ Aug. 15-17
📍 Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.; and Kan-Kan Cinema & Restaurant, 1258 Windsor St.
🎟️ $10-30
Watch 19 documentary films that showcase a wide range of Black stories from the U.S. to Nigeria.
Aug. 18-24 🔝
“Aspen Ideas”
🗓️ 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, Aug. 19-31
📍 Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ $22-42
Some cocktail party banter morphs into something much bigger at the Aspen Ideas Festival, where people go to change the world.
Crochet Circles
🗓️ 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17
📍 Indy Reads, 1066 Virginia Ave.
🎟️ Free, but must register
Learn how to crochet, while finding new craft buddies. All ages and welcomes English-learners. Crochet hooks and yarn will be provided.
Indy Library Store Book Sale
🗓️ Noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19
📍 Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian St.
🎟️ Free
Fill a provided bag with used and like-new books for $10. Proceeds support the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.
Thursday Night Photobook Throwdown
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21
📍 Aurora PhotoCenter, 1125 E. Brookside Ave., suite C9
🎟️ Free
Bring your newest photobook, or the one you’ve recently fallen in love with again, for an evening of conversation and appreciation for this format of photography.
‘New and Nostalgic’ Back-to-School Story Slam
🗓️ 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21
📍 The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Boulevard
🎟️ Free, but must register
The start of the school year means fresh starts and new memories, whether you’re a teacher, a nervous student or a parent waving goodbye. Students, parents, educators and community members are invited to tell their stories at this story slam co-hosted by Chalkbeat, Mirror Indy and Indy Kids Winning. Food and drinks will be provided.
Feast of Lanterns
🗓️ 4-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23
📍 Spades Park, 1800 Nowland Ave.
🎟️ Free
August on the near east side isn’t complete without this annual neighborhood festival. Bask in the colorful lanterns and live music with your family and friends. Plus, there will be food trucks and community vendors.
Chreece
🗓️ Saturday, Aug. 23
📍 Various locations
🎟️ $55-90
For its 10th year, Indy’s only hip-hop festival returns with headliners Smino, MAVI and Audrey Nuna. Over 70 local hip-hop artists, DJs and producers will take the stage across eight venues in the Fountain Square neighborhood.
More about Chreece
Smino, MAVI, Audrey Nuna to headline this year’s Chreece festival
The Aug. 23 event in Fountain Square will feature over 70 local artists and new ticket options
Aug. 25-31 🔝
Panel: Going to College Later in Life
🗓️ 5-7 p.m. Aug. 25
📍 Martindale-Brightwood library branch, 2434 Sherman Drive
🎟️ Free
Considering going to college later in life? Learn about the admissions process and student success at Martin University, Indiana’s only historically Black college and university. Adult learners and high school students are encouraged to attend.
Biennial Faculty and Staff Exhibition
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Aug. 27
📍 Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hall, 735 W. New York St.
🎟️ Free
Get a glimpse into the creative minds teaching Indy’s young artists. See paintings, sculptures and other works by Herron staff and faculty at the opening reception.
BUTTER Fine Art Fair
🗓️ Aug. 28-31
📍 The Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave.
🎟️ $55.20-428.67, free for 18 and under
GANGGANG is celebrating five years of its fine art festival featuring artworks by more than 50 Black painters and sculptors from Indianapolis to London. BUTTER will see its largest curatorial team since the fair started in 2020, adding three new curators from Malibu, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Houston, Texas.
Pints for Palestine
🗓️ 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30
📍 Patina Gallery, 2201 E. Michigan St.
🎟️ $20-45
Paint a pint glass, jam out to music and eat food at the community fundraiser night. All funds will go toward supporting families in Gaza through UN Crisis Relief.
Social Media Is Your Friend
🗓️ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
📍 10 East Arts Hub, 3137 E. 10th St.
🎟️ $20; free for those ages 17 and under
At this workshop, learn how to master social media from some of the city’s influencers and content creators, including Brother Jamaal Nelson and Tamisha Dew.
From Trash to Treasure
🗓️ Aug. 1- Sept. 21
📍 Fonseca Theatre Company, 2508 W. Michigan St.
🎟️ Free
Stop by to see the work of three artists, including a Lawrence North High School student who took everyday objects such as seashells to make some environmentally-friendly masterpieces. The exhibit is paired with the play “Micah Meets a Mami Wata,” that discusses the environment, recycling and how to define art.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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