August, a month that doesn’t have any major or national holidays — except my 25th birthday — is here.
Kick off with First Friday, Aug. 7, at The Athenaeum for the “Art Saves Lives” community show exploring mental health, suicide prevention and survivorship.
Head over to three east side parks for Mike Epps’ Community Concert and Slum Baby Family’s Fam Fest at the beginning and end of the month.
Bring your weird and wild collectibles to trade at Trinket Fest. Don’t miss the month’s big ones like Chreece, Feast of Lanterns and AfroFest. And spend 10 days celebrating 21 years of the Indy Fringe Festival with great local theater.
Use Mirror Indy’s list to keep yourself busy all month long.
August 1-8 🔝
Bless the Block III
🗓️ 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1
📍 Belmont Beach, 1300 N. White River Parkway Drive
🎟️ Free, but must register.
Bring your family and friends out to the hip-hop concert series and enjoy free food, live music and storytelling.
Take Care Records’ One-Year Anniversary
🗓️ 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1
📍 Take Care Records, 6215 Allisonville Road
🎟️ Free
The local record store celebrates with performances from DJ Jannell Jannell Jannell, rapper Rusty Redenbacher, K.O.M. Band and Tile. There will also be special sales, free snacks and drinks.
Chicken and Beer Fest
🗓️ Noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1
📍 University Park, 307 N. Meridian St.
🎟️ $20.57-$47.07
Over 30 local restaurants and drink vendors will serve the popular bird in various ways, from fiery hot wings to plant-based creations. Sip on a craft beer, cocktails and wine. Expect live DJs and a hot wing-eating contest.
Afro Fest
🗓️ 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1
📍 Morris Bicentennial Plaza, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.
🎟️ $7.18-$23.18
This outdoor event centers African culture through music, global cuisine and local vendors.
Groovy Cat Market
🗓️ 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1
📍 Alley Cat Ceramics, 2209 E. Michigan St.
🎟️ Free
Support local businesses and artists on the near east side. Vendors will sell vintage home goods and clothing.
Poetry Writing Workshop
🗓️ Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1
📍 1000 Words Gallery, 3328 E. 10th St.
🎟️ $10 or pay-what-you-can
Art & Soul featured artist Auboni Essence hosts a quarterly poetry writing workshop. Each workshop has a new theme.
Fam Fest
🗓️ Aug. 1-2
📍 Douglass Park, 1616 E. 25th St., and Wes Montgomery Park, 3501 N. Hawthorne Lane
🎟️ Free
Local rap collective Slum Baby Family is bringing back its eastside festival under the motto, “For Us By Us.” The two-day event will include a community clean up and free food, haircuts and school supplies.
Indiana on the Literary Map
🗓️ 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2
📍 Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free, but must register.
Explore the life and legacy of Charles Major, an author, lawyer and legislator, with Ray Brown, a historian and former teacher. Major, who was born in Indianapolis, was part of the Golden Age of Indiana Literature (1880-1920.) Most of his novels were historical romances set in England and France, but he also wrote books set in Indiana.
‘Dear Evan Hansen’
🗓️ Aug. 5-9
📍 Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W. 46th St.
🎟️ Price varies
“Dear Evan Hansen” explores anxiety, grief and the struggle to belong. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high schooler with social anxiety who accidentally becomes entangled in a lie regarding a classmate’s death.
First Friday: Factory Arts District
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug, 7
📍 Factory Arts District, 1125 E. Brookside Ave.
🎟️ Free
One stop at the Factory Arts District means you can see works from artists at over 20 studios and galleries. The Stokel Gallery, on the first floor of the North Studios, will feature Tiffini Allen’s “Bark to School — A Canine Yearbook.”
The exhibit explores back-to-school nostalgia but from the perspective of dogs. She hopes viewers will see dogs not only as animals, but as characters like model students and class clowns.
First Friday: The Athenaeum
🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7
📍 The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.
🎟️ Free
“Art Saves Lives” is a community show highlighting themes of mental health, suicide prevention and survivorship. The annual exhibition is hosted with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The Alley Sessions
🗓️ 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7
📍 The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St.
🎟️ Free
The Cabaret’s free outdoor concert series will feature performances by poet Mariah Ivey and singer Troy Thomas with Trumusiq band. If you can’t make it in person, you can listen to a live broadcast on WICR 88.7.
Summer Artisans Showcase
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7
📍 The Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
🎟️ Free
Urban Artisans worked alongside professional teaching artists to create handcrafted artwork. See what they made and then walk around to the other Harrison Center art galleries opening new exhibitions that evening.
AIGA Indy’s Creatives in Color Summit
🗓️ Aug. 7-9
📍 Various locations
🎟️ Free; $11.79-$27.54
In 2021, Justin Muse, president of the Indianapolis chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, founded Creatives in Color, a speaker series for BIPOC creatives.
To celebrate five years, they’re throwing a weekend summit packed with an art show, vendor market, a panel discussion and an artist talk with Omari Souza, author of “Design Against Racism.”
Family Day
🗓️ 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8
📍 Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, 1850 W. 38th St.
🎟️ Free
Enjoy yoga, a sound bath, live performances, art making activities and an art market in collaboration with Arte Mexicano en Indiana. Drinks and bites will be available for purchase.
Dancing in the Park
🗓️ 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8
📍 Al E. Polin Park, 100 E. 29th St.
🎟️ Free
Bring your sneakers and dance with Kids Dance Outreach, on the WNBA All-Star Legacy Court with other guest artists and dancers. The event is designed for toddlers to teens. No dance experience is required.
Wicket World of Croquet
🗓️ 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8
📍 Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St.
🎟️ $10-$75
The annual summer lawn party and fundraiser will feature a 100-person croquet tournament, food, drinks and musical performances.
Royal Brush Takeover II
🗓️ Aug. 8
📍 Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ Free
Local fashion designers created tiny outfits for paint brushes that will be displayed in shadow boxes. The show was curated by Anthony Radford, the founder of the Meet the Artists showcase at Central Library.
Every (body) Wants to Be a Showgirl
🗓️ Aug. 7 (opening reception); Aug. 8-31 (show)
📍 Indianapolis Liberation Center, 1619 Prospect St.
🎟️ $20
“Every(BODY) Wants to Be a Showgirl,” a traveling exhibit curated by Aquarius Moon, contains a century’s worth of Black burlesque artifacts, including costumes and prints.
August 9-18 🔝
The Cypher: Movement & Movement on the Canal
🗓️ 4-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9
📍 Canal area outside the Indiana State Museum
🎟️ Free
Watch a drum battle and join the dance circle full of breakdancing, popping, voguing and hip-hop. Models will walk a fashion runway showcasing designs from 10 different countries. Shop for items from local businesses and visual artists. Donations will benefit the Indy Dance Council and The Damien Center.
Mirror Indy is a community partner on this event. Stop by Mirror Indy’s table to talk with our reporters and editors.
Family Game Night
🗓️ 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10
📍 Haughville library branch, 2121 W. Michigan St.
🎟️ Free
Families and children can drop in any time to play board games or solve puzzles.
Living Deliberately with Existential Despair
🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12
📍 Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, 615 W. 43rd St.
🎟️ Free
Justin McDaniel invites audiences to wrestle with questions about meaning, purpose and sadness, and what it means to live well.
McDaniel argues that boredom, uncertainty and despair aren’t problems to solve, but a way to deepen our attention to the world and our connection to one another.
Phoebe Bridgers’ Album Release Party
🗓️ 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13
📍 Square Cat Vinyl, 1054 Virginia Ave.
🎟️ Free
Get a chance to be one of the first people to listen to and buy Phoebe Bridgers’ new album, “Lost Weekend.” Fans can win giveaways and purchase an exclusive white label variant vinyl, which is only available for sale in person during the party.
Indy Fringe Festival
🗓️ Aug. 13-23
📍 Multiple venues
🎟️ $16-$175
This year’s annual celebration of the performing arts will feature nearly 300 performances by over 500 artists from across the world.
Some plays have otherworldly and hilarious themes, from a famous singer coming back from the dead to the sexy versions of fast food chain characters like “Taca Bella” and “Whendee.” Beyond the stage productions, there will be a kid zone and busking stage.
Summer Sunprint: Cyanotype Printing
🗓️ 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14
📍 In Process, 707 Main St. Beech Grove
🎟️ $25
Before digital photography, scientists used sunlight and chemistry to make images. Cyanotype is a 19th-century photographic printing process that uses UV light to create deep-blue prints.
In this workshop, you’ll arrange natural objects, cut paper shapes or simple drawings onto light-sensitive paper and expose them to sunlight. All skill levels are welcome.
Swap Sesh
🗓️ Noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15
📍 Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive
🎟️ Free
Swap summer clothes you no longer wear for something you will. There’s a 10-item limit. Do your best to remove pet hair and to clean your clothing before the event.
In the Name of Iran Concert
🗓️ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15
📍 The Cyrus Place, 237 N. East St.
🎟️ $35-$70
Bask in Iranian culture with a concert featuring performances by musicians Roxana Sarrafi, Mazdak Alipour and Nariman Asaadi. An optional Persian dinner will follow.
3rd Sunday Jazz Concerts
🗓️ 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16
📍 Arts for Lawrence, 8920 Otis Ave.
🎟️ Free
Experience live jazz at these concerts that are part of Unsung Giants, a project created by Brandon Meeks that honors the overlooked stories and influence of Indiana jazz legacy artists.
Creative Connections
🗓️ 1-2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17
📍 In Process, 707 Main St. Beech Grove
🎟️ Free, but must register
Adults ages 60 and older can explore different art materials and learn new creative techniques. No artistic experience is needed, just curiosity.
August 19-27 🔝
Storytime with Daniel Tiger
🗓️ 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19
📍 Martindale-Brightwood library branch, 2434 N. Sherman Drive.
🎟️ Free
Families can listen to stories read by librarians, then do hands-on activities with WFYI. Stick around for an opportunity to meet Daniel Tiger from “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”
Visual Vernacular Underground Festival
🗓️ Aug. 21-22
📍 Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St.
🎟️ Free
Visual Vernacular is a 3D physical storytelling technique created by Deaf artists in the 1960s. The art form blends sign language, mime and cinematic effects like slow-motion, zooms and panoramic sweeps. Performers must physically embody characters rather than relying on spoken or traditional signed words.
Feast of Lanterns
🗓️ 4-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22
📍 Spades Park, 1800 Nowland Ave.
🎟️ Free
August on the near east side isn’t complete without this annual neighborhood festival. Bask in the glow of colorful lanterns and live music with your family and friends. Plus, there will be food trucks and community vendors. Stop by the Mirror Indy table to talk to our reporters and editors.
Polkas Norteñas Fest or Northern Polka Festival
🗓️ 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22
📍 Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Celebrate polka-inspired Mexican music genres like corridos, Tejano, norteño and redova. The festival will feature musical and dance performances throughout the day along with an arts and crafts fair.
Trinket Fest
🗓️ Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23
📍 The Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave.
🎟️ Free
Lapis Lily Market is leaving its Startup317 retail space inside The Stutz to move to a new location in the courtyard near Amelia’s and Julieta’s.
The festival invites trinket lovers to bring their items and celebrate the official grand reopening of the store.
Life & Afterlife of Incarceration
🗓️ 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24
📍 Fort Ben library branch, 9330 E. 56th St.
🎟️ Free, but must register
Hear first-hand stories about what life is like inside prison and what it’s like adjusting to society.
Don Toliver: Nitrous Octane World Tour
🗓️ 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26
📍 Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.
🎟️ Price varies
The Houston rapper, who is signed to Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records, will stop in Naptown. Earlier this year, he released his first No. 1 album “Octane” with TikTok hits such as “E85.”
Summertime in Paris Cooking Class
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27
📍 A Cut Above, 433 N. Capitol Ave.
🎟️ $156.57
Grab your apron and learn to cook French Bistro classics like steak frites, beef bourguignon, and French onion soup and master delicate sauce techniques.
August 28-31 🔝
Mike Epps’ Community Concert
🗓️ Noon Saturday, Aug. 29
📍 Washington Park, 3130 E. 30th St.
🎟️ Free
Get there early with your blanket and chairs or you’ll have nowhere to sit. The Naptown native is bringing legendary R&B acts One Way, Eric Benét, Club Nouveau and EU featuring Sugar Bear. It’s a rain-or-shine event.
Chreece Hip-hop Festival
🗓️ Aug. 29
📍 Fountain Square
🎟️ Price varies
For its 11th year, Indy’s only hip-hop festival returns with headliners Rico Nasty, Jorjiana and Ovrkast. Over 70 local hip-hop artists, DJs and producers will take the stage across eight venues in the Fountain Square neighborhood.
This year, Epicurean Indy is hosting its annual international food festival at the event. Also families can grab free groceries and resources in Chreece’s The People’s Village, a new free public gathering space.
Wii Bowling
🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31
📍 West Indianapolis library branch, 1216 S. Kappes St.
🎟️ Free
Experience bowling without the weight of the ball with easy-to-use controllers. The classic video game is suitable for school-age children through senior citizens.
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Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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