Last year the wait was over and hour and I didn't end up getting any strawberry shortcake because I…read morehad to get back to work. So, this year we did the pick up order for 10. Two of us walked over around 9 am to pick them up. Mind you a line had already formed outside and people were already enjoying their strawberry shortcake. So, we go inside and down to the basement of Christ Church Cathedral. So, we're thinking they had 10 shortcakes in a bag, a tub of strawberries in a container, same for the ice cream and whipped cream. So, when we got back we could make our own when we got a chance. NO!!! We get there and we don't even know how long the shortcakes had been sitting on the tables already made!!!! They had so much juice in them that transporting them was a mess in those flip containers they were in. By the time we got back it was mushy. Some of us didn't even eat them they just weren't fresh like you would get if you had them in line. Next year we won't be doing that. I wish they had them separated. My other coworkers were like why were they already made if you weren't even there yet? We were the only customers down there. No one was in the basement picking up orders. :-/ Hopefully next year will be better by going and getting in line. So, if your company or group of 10 want to order ahead know that they might be sitting for who knows how long....

I've gone every year and the festival only gets better! The lines move quicker, more people are…read morethere to enjoy, and the shortcake is always amazing. Definitely recommend getting there early OR ordering ahead for 10+ orders if you don't want to miss out

I love this two-day festival. I go once or maybe both days. Free parking in the neighboring…read moregarage which informs the number of available spots on each of the 4 levels. Usual: I visit the City of Carmel booth to get a thermo lunch bag; I learned about their new logo. I stop by the Carmel Fire Dept. booth to learn about their upcoming Safety Day. The movie theaters have interesting games. This year: I tried a couple of free samples, which I did not like. One vendor was selling macarons on both areas of the festival. Lots of political booths. I seldom find food to purchase, but this year I noticed and tried el Patron food truck because they offered short rib taco, which I have never heard of. I bought 2 short ribs tacos and 1 steak taco with side of mild salsa, which was super hot to me. The tacos needed each lime wedge to moisten the delicious, hearty meats. I would recommend the $16 tacos (with tax). I wanted to listen to the concert tribute to Fleetwood Mac which was OK from where I sat to eat dinner. This year fireworks will be on the 4th. Parade will be on the 4th in the morning with people already placing something to hold their spot.

Went to Carmelfest for the first time and my family and I really enjoyed it! It felt like we were…read moreat a smaller version of a carnival with a Carmel feel to it. We started off grabbing a funnel cake and then walked around all the pop up shops! We headed over to the kid zone which was a ton of fun they had bounce houses and a few rides along with a petting zoo with goats, bunnies and horses. We did a pony ride and got to pet and feed the animals! Then to end our day we watched the concerts going on and had a blast listening and dancing to the music. Overall it was a fun experience and we look forward to coming back next year!

What better way to spend an Independence Day than with friends, family and great music? I was…read moresurprised by several friends congratulation notifications that I won 2 tickets to this event that I'd already planned on attending. With family in town, we were seeking something that would provide entertainment for all ages. FSMF seemed to have us covered. After checking in with a friend who was already there, we were told there was no food or drinks for the kids, so we packed a cooler and picnic basket and headed out. Parking was easy, the same free lot that I always scope out. We made it over in time to see Kansas Bible Company representing local with each donned in a United States of Indiana shirt. The sound guy made it very uncomfortable to be under the tent to watch the show and pushed many away from the stage with the ear piercing volume that could have been easily managed. No I'm NOT too old - but it was too loud. A friend loaned the grandparents some chairs and we made our way through the crowds to say hello to all. There was a nice selection of local brews from New Day Meadery, Upland and Fountain Square Brewing Company. I saw some little ones running around with face paint, but they had packed up before we got there. The photo booth was a nice all ages addition to the event. Despite the overcast weather, the temps were perfect and the band line up kept the crowd happy. The kids had a blast splashing in the water out front and my teen found an amazing vintage swimsuit at Lux & Ivy who were set up next to United States of Indiana, who sold out of most of their merchandise. I'm sure the FSMF tees would have also sold out if they had been sold. I finally got to see Modoc, a band Elvis Mires has been raving about for ages, and was blown away. Needless to say, they have several new fans in my home. We left before the last band, thanking all responsible for a wonderful day. With this being their inaugural event, I hope the upcoming years may bring some of Ft. Square's best bites such as La Rev (tacos please) or B's Po Boys, or a little Red Lion fish & chips basket, if nothing else some local food trucks. Great job - thank you for a fun Fourth! Yet another reason to be proud to live in Indianapolis.

If I'm being honest, FSMF isn't really my scene. Despite that, I can recognize that it's a solid…read morelocal music festival for those that it caters to (20 somethings, hipster/artsy/eclectic). A real diverse mix of folks attend. Expect skateboarders, breakdancers, wacky costumes, graffiti artists - that kind of vibe. FMSF used to be on 4th of July weekend but moved up earlier in the calendar to target a music-centric population instead of patriotic partygoers. I think it worked in their favor that it was a beautiful spring weekend. A day pass is $37 ($50 for VIP), but I don't think you have to pay if you just want to stroll around Fountain Square while it's happening - only if you want to see a show (which there are lots of). Pros: -Free parking is easy to find in Fountain Square -So many great local places to eat and drink in Fountain Square! Check 'em out! -50% of all net proceeds benefit Musical Family Tree and Girls Rock Inc. - yay for supporting nonprofits! Note that you must be 21 to buy a pass and attend any shows.

As someone who has a background in visual arts, I'm always excited to visit Newfields! Art in…read moreBloom, The Lume immersive experiences , Winterlights and of course Harvest Nights are some of the annual events I look forward to. Last night was the third time I attended Harvest Nights. This was the first time I arrived before it was dark so it was less spooky and a bit more wholesome in the daylight. We arrived at 7 and stayed until about 9 pm to experience everything lit up after dark. When you arrive, you're surrounded by stacks of pumpkins in every size, shape, color and type imaginable. Beautiful Fall arrangements are everywhere you look. The Fungi Forest was something new I haven't seen before. Very cool! I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland encompassed by giant mushrooms towering above illuminated by strategically placed neon lights. One of the highlights of the event was the Cutwater Lounge--a 21+ space upstairs in the Lily House transformed into "Mischief Manor" only for Harvest Nights. The bartender told me this was the first year having this feature. We had a flight of the Cutwater alcoholic beverages that included a snack mix of tasty treats. The Mule and Espresso Martini were our favs with the margarita coming in 3rd. Cutwater's take on the Lemon Drop (which is a drink I typically enjoy) was strong yet tasted a bit watered down. The adult only experience wasn't very well marked (it's upstairs) and signage in general--starting at the parking lot entrance--needs improvement. I'm not sure we would have known about the adult area had it not been for the nice lady who sold us some yummy sweet potato fries with sage and bourbon maple dip. The Spider Stomp, Ghost Train and light show projected onto the Lily House all add to the overall experience. The seasonal food and drink options are great albeit a bit pricey. Passed on the $12 Bavarian pretzel but had to try Elysian Pumpkin Ale and wanted to try the cider but $14 was a little steep. It's not necessary to spend $20 for premium parking that they pressure you to purchase when you first pull into the lot. I recommend getting there early and wearing some of your best walking shoes. It's a cashless campus so good to keep that in mind. Love Newfields and can't wait for Winterlights in a couple months!

We went at 7:30 which was the perfect time since it was just starting to get dark. The line was…read morelong but move pretty quickly. We loved all the lights and decorations. There were tons of decorated pumpkins throughout Newfields. There is a food/drink garden area in the middle with benches to take a break if you want. We ordered the Marsh & Mallow Spooky Campfire Cocoa (spiked hot cocoa) and we all liked it and was comforting on this chilly night. The Lily house had a long line but we enjoyed going in and seeing all the spooky details inside.

The French Market hosted by ST. Joan of Arc is always a fun place to go. They have lots of vendors…read moreranging from food, art, jewelry and so much more.

Ooo la la! What a great festival! St. Joan of Arc puts this festival on every year. It has so many…read moregreat foods that you can't normally get locally. Tarte Flambé, beef bourgeon, fresh Cafe Du Mont beignets, ratatouille, and so much more! They have live music and lots of local venders as well as a bake sale. They have lots of volunteers from the church and school that do a great job of putting this event on. They offer tours of the gorgeous Roman Catholic Church during the event. They offer mass in French also. This is a great festival that if you haven't been you should put on a beret and head over to it.

I this was so fun!! The other reviews are accurate- the lines are very long and there are a lot of…read morethem. But honestly I was having so much fun I didn't mind! There are 2 stages so there is always live music while you are waiting in lines which helps. The food was SO GOOD from the vendor they brought it, and the beer choices were very good! Even as someone who pretty much only likes sours and ciders, I was able to find 2 beers I liked enough to drink 32 oz of it. The events were really what made this so much fun! My favorite was the daschund races obviously. We got to the "arena" area about 20 minutes early with our beer and got front row seats - so worth it!! They are so cute and it is so fun. The stein holding contest was also very impressive and fun to watch. We danced at the Rathskeller, cheered along to live music, and saw lots of people we knew. Looking forward to this next year!

Went to Germanfest today. I had a couple tickets waiting for me that I won from @YelpIndy. There…read morewas confusion by everyone around the ticketing and also they could not find my tickets. People waited in line for wrist bands only to find out they needed to go to the podium first to get a ticket. This is the 13th year for this event I would think things like this would be worked out. I found a parking spot about a half a block away so that worked out well. I had a nice time. I talked to a lot of nice folks. I ate some good food. I really enjoyed my potato pancakes with sour cream. I do not drink beer but they also had wine and regular cocktails. They had German music and everyone really enjoyed it. They had weiner dog races but it was very crowded around the track and I did not get to see them but I did see plenty walking around the event. They had several vendors and I purchased a hat for my grandchild. I had fun and also enjoyed a meal at The Rathskeller.

We went for the first time this year and were so glad we did! I've heard that it's many people's…read morefavorites, and so we were eager to visit. Here's what we loved: + Free entry (and $5 parking to park close but totally worth it) + Food area = they allow you to pick up all the food you want and then pay for it all together as you exit. Same with the dessert room. Super efficient! + Huge Greek salads and Greek fries = favorite savory foods + Dessert room in the church = favorite thrill of the event (yummmm) + Baklava cheesecake = favorite dessert we tried + Fun dancing = performances and they involve everyone later in the night + Seating = many shaded tents with chairs and tables + Kids area = puppet shows, coloring, and beading crafts + Church = beautiful building and they let you peek in too + Photo opps = fun and creative + Marketing = Lenie does the best job and is so on top of things! + Social media = so much great info posted clearly on their IG Things to note: + Dessert line = it's long but it moves quicker than you'd expect. I saw that they have a dessert pre-order option and a pick-up area that makes it much quicker but it was fun to see everything in person to choose! No regrets. + Dessert menus in line = there was a dessert menu listed outside of the church but as we were waiting in the line, it would've been helpful to have some menus posted along the line so people could think up their order while waiting. (Or we should've taken a photo of the outdoor sign!) + Entrance from parking lot = mostly everyone parks in the big field next to the church but then you walk up a little hill, between trees, through the parking lot, and past the emergency vehicles. It felt like maybe that wasn't the right entrance, so some signage or some type of entrance would be fun there. It's such a wonderful event and we'll definitely be back! Great work!

This was a good event. The food was amazing. The music was great. It was in a very pretty Orthodox…read moreChurch. There was a lot of parking, which is necessary since it's in Carmel. The line was extremely long. However it was worth it. Once you get to the food there's tons of options and you get out quick. Very good event. Check this out next year.

Attended Irish Fest for it's 25th anniversary yesterday. I'd never been before so can't compare it…read moreto it's pre-covid days at Military Park. This year it was at Garfield Park which is very pretty location and seemed a good fit for the festival. There were 3 stages with a variety of bands throughout the day. I enjoyed the tents dedicated to Irish history and there was a nice small exhibit dedicated to the 1916 Proclamation and Rebellion. There were enough drink tents with both Irish beers and other options. Needs to be some type of whiskey tent added. Food choices were limited and lines long. Not sure if this was due to the downsizing of the event or not. The Irish dancers were fun to watch and there could have been more of it. I would go again to compare against a non-covid year. Let's hope!!

I've always found Irish history interesting and have a few friends who are very passionate about…read moretheir Irish heritage which I support! I've heard about this via social media and people that I know, I'm glad I finally had the chance to check it out. Located in military park in downtown Indy, you'll find the Irish fest. You can purchase advance tickets or pay at the gate. After you walk inside further there are so many different tents and options I'm not sure how someone would make it through the whole thing! Visually it's awesome to take it all the different tents and booths, there's political, firefighters, art, jewelry, clothes and so much more! The beer options are impressive for a festival, Irish beers as well as some local, yay sinking! As well as some wine! Food options are "traditional" Irish fare, and they don't forget the kids so there's something for everyone. I had a corned beef sandwich on rye! I really enjoyed the music! From what I could see there were 2-3 different stages and we spent most of our time listening to the fighting Jameson's! Good time had by all

Add this event to your fall festival bucket list! One of the best in the central Indiana area. I…read morewent both days to wander around for 2+ hours and explore, as admission is free. The festival features more than 130 juried artists who are each exceptional at their work. This is not a craft fair or flea market; rather, these are high end pieces ranging from paintings to photographs to jewelry and ceramics and beyond. Some of the price tags are high (meaning you could drop $3,000 if you wanted to) but many offer affordable prints of their paintings at a lower cost, for example. I was mesmerized to see the diversity and quality of artwork. Even though there are thousands of attendees, the festival is set up well and flows easily. There are food vendors on-site (would love to see more international cuisine), dance demonstrations and more. My only suggestion is to give it more "international" flair as I'm not really sure why it's called the international arts festival. Perhaps a number of the artists travel from abroad? I'm not entirely sure.

This was our first visit to the Carmel Arts District and we enjoyed ourselves when we visited the…read moreInternational Art Fair. It was a nice time for the family. The children really enjoyed seeing all different types of art displayed there. They even got to participate in one of the art exhibits. Carmel High school had a display where the children could choose a number and color that number on a giant Mona Lisa painting. After all the colors were finished, the painting would be displayed at the high school. Do they really enjoy being a part of that. We'll have to get back up there to see how the finished work turned out. There were food vendors out, live music, dance lessons taking place. So a few things to see. It was nice. I enjoyed the fried veggie truck. I can't remember the name but it was good. I will say it would have been nice to see other representation of other cultures here, as it called itself the "International" fair. But definitely a nice event to go do to get some fresh air and see some local art talent.

Great show good environment. Me and my wife had a blast. We will definitely be coming back next…read moreyear.

I got there early and the streets were filling up fast with lots of children & adults. We met many…read morenew residents and even saw some familiar faces. The 1st people we ran into were the owners of our childhood home. They were very hospitable and even let us tour the home. Special thanks to Becky. The food vendors were plentiful with several cuisines to choose from. I saw pizza, nachos, tacos, brats, etc. I chose rib tips w/baked beans & coleslaw. I had my eye on the beignets, but the line, quickly, got too long. There was plenty to drink for the over 21 crowd. There were, also, plenty of vendors jewelry, soaps and crafts. The live bands sang familiar songs in 2 stages and even kept the children entertained. The dance floor filled up fast with children and adults dancing the night away. They had face painting and crafts for kids. This had been an annual tradition for my family years ago and we had not attended since moving out of the neighborhood 20+ years ago. We are so glad that we returned for this event, because the hospitality that was shown to us and the history that we learned from the residents was definitely worth it. We will be back, again, next year!!!