The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Center is the garden and nature area of the Newfields…read morecomplex. This property used to be owned by the Lily family, of the Eli Lily Corporation. The grounds are beautiful and large. This includes the Lily House, greenhouse, multiple gardens, and an over one mile walking trail. I recommend touring the mansion, it's historic and beautiful with a large number of artifacts including an antique car. The greenhouse gave my husband and I a chance to see flowers in the winter. I highly recommend the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park!

What a little slice of heaven located just 15 minutes from downtown. This space is located on the…read morebackside of the art, museum and free to access for the community. Parking is easy and you cross the street to visit the rotating exhibits, walk the trails and see the lake. It's a fun way to have art and nature all under one umbrella. I recently Took my son here for 30 minutes of running around and it was great to see all of the new exhibits. Highly recommend checking this out. It's welcoming for all ages.

We drove 2.5 hours for Newfield's Winterlights and it did not disappoint! Parking was easy and…read moreclose to the entrance. When we first arrived right at opening, it was really crowded and people were packed in so we went to Lilly House for a drink and by the time we got back out, people had spread out more. I really enjoyed the variety of light installations and there were plenty of great photo op areas. The shop had some very nice choices and was not packed like I expected. There was one person in front of us at the checkout but two employees, one doing the check out and the other wrapping up items and bagging them, made it a quick and efficient process. We enjoyed our trip so much that we're now looking into what other events are available throughout the year.

My husband and I had a great time at Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts. Newfields is a…read morecombination of the Lily House and gardens as well and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is in one facility and is all included for one admission price. We started in the gardens. There is a large area to walk and enjoy nature. Make sure that you visit the Lily House and the surrounding grounds. The Indianapolis Museum of Art takes up the second and third floors of the building. There is lots to see here. Each area could take an entire day to properly experience. There is also a gift shop and cafe to check out. I highly recommend Newfields: A Place for Nature and the Arts!

My husband and I went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and had a wonderful experience. Taking up…read morethe second and third floors of the Newfields building, there is so much to see here. You could easily spend the entire day here and still have more to see. The museum features art from around the world as well as special temporary exhibits. While we were there, the museum featured an exhibit on furniture and design as art. I highly recommend the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

I've been to the museum probably approximately four times since '99…read more I was able to enjoy free entry at one time years ago unless there was a special exhibit in which there was a fee. Regardless, this is an exceptional museum, and it is worth the price to get in even to see the features and exhibits. I saw the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit years ago. It was stunning. Recently I went to see the Salvador Dali exhibit. Wow wow and wow. Did I mention wow?! I am a HUGE fan and have been for many years. I was fortunate to go the main museum in St. Pete Florida years ago. That was mind blowing and stunning, and the IMAs exhibit also did not disappoint. The movie feature that is illuminated on many walls in two connecting and flowing rooms in the first main area you walk into is magical and outstanding. It showcases and touches on Dali's life from childhood until his death. It discusses his art as it morphed and progressed into a deeper and more profound surrealism. I would go again just to try to watch the cinematic feature to absorb it more because it was immense and intense. I would also recommend the room on the second floor that is a meditative experience. There are abstract images that slowly move and change projected on the ceiling. They also play soothing dreamy music. You can sit and recline on chairs in the room to get a better and more relaxed view. I don't recall that exhibit being there since the last time I visited the museum. I am looking forward to seeing the winter/holiday lights at Newfields soon.

Every film festival has unique features for which it's well known. Our beloved Indy Film Fest has…read moresome awesome options outside its annual film festival. These features include Cereal Cinema, a monthly special screening held at Newfields on a Saturday morning at 10am that offers a cereal buffet (coffee is available for purchase for the tired adults). Cereal Cinema targets the family market. For example, this year's films include Night at the Museum (April), Madagascar (May), The Neverending Story (July), Homeward Bound (August) and the list goes on. This is always a reasonably priced good time for the entire family. While accessibility at Newfields isn't quite 100%, it's surprisingly good and wheelchair users like myself can easily attend Cereal Cinema. The cereals are usually a variety - including gluten-free options. Indy Film Fest is still an entirely volunteer-run film festival. It's amazing what they accomplish, and it's a guaranteed good time for the entire family. I definitely recommend Cereal Cinema for families. It's one of Indy's true gems and a best kept secret. You'll have fun and the kids will be happy. Win/Win.

Cereal Cinema is hosted at the IMA Toby Theatre in the cooler months and the Athenaeum in the…read moresummer on the first Saturday of the month at 10am. For $5, you get to enjoy a family-friendly movie, the cereal bar, and relive the glory days of Saturday morning cartoons. I appreciate the throwback kids' movies like the Land Before Time, Mary Poppins, and Newsies - introducing the little ones to some cult classics that they're wayyyy too young to remember. I wish they had more healthy cereal options available (as most are Lucky Charms type sugar coma concoctions), but one cup of sugar overdose once a month won't hurt ya.

My best friend has a four year old and 1.5 year old and she had received a suggestion to take them…read moreto play at Fitness Farm. This is a unique little space that has a lot of green space to play in. There is a little track, frisbee golf course, playhouse, octoball, and it looks like the garden will be going in soon. Couple of pointers- 1. There are 4 gates. Gate 2 is a where you will park to explore 2. Bring your own balls/frisbee/whatever you want. There is limited provided entertainment, but the open space is perfect to play around with. 3. They do events and could be pretty cool for retreat spaces, reunions, etc. 4. No public bathrooms- prepare wisely Enjoy!!

This is the definition of a hidden gem in Indy. Fitness Farm is a place that is open to the…read morecommunity to visit and be well, but not many people know about it. Their mission statement from their website describes the farm as a place "that promotes and enhances children's and adult's health and wellness by providing a self-sufficient, multi-faceted community resource that offers event space; education and exercise programs on nutrition, fitness, and agriculture; a fully sustainable market garden for farm-to-table sales; and seasonal on-site produce stand." Yes! This place is awesome, and you need to check it out. Basically, you can come and visit when you want. You can run on the track, play tennis, play frolf (frisbee golf), walk around the grounds, play in the playhouse (if you have kids) or just come and enjoy the 20+ acres of land. All of this is for free, mind you: Fitness Farm is open to the public. This place is so great that it literally makes me want to cry. They also have yoga classes, as well as other classes pertaining to living a better life, such as cooking classes that teach you how to cook seasonally, mindfulness classes, classes that teach you about nutrition, photography and flower arranging, and lots of others. Check out their website to find out when they are offering classes. Fitness Farm is an urban farm (it's a real working farm!), and they have a CSA in the warmer months. They also have animals that you can visit year-round. We saw two huge pigs and lots of chickens and a rooster. I am in love with this place! It's so great that Fitness Farm exists, and I can't wait to come back and explore it some more.

On the fifth day of Christmas... I experienced the presentation of Winterlights at Newfields. WOW!…read more The setting and display were amazing. I believe the luck of attending during a light snow fall made it special like we were in a snow globe. We were greeted by friendly staff and started in an area of the Museum that featured a themed gift shop and a concession area that served hot chocolate, cider and adult beverages to make the event more festive. The self-guided walking tour provided a magical series of holiday themed light shows and beautiful displays highlighted by synchronized holiday music. The t"of Oldfields-Lilly House provided a warm respite and a special look back in time to holiday home decorating. The program is at your own pace and provides photo opportunities throughout the tour. It is suggested to purchase tickets online for the date and time to attend. It is no wonder that this event is at the top of the list for Holiday activities to attend in central Indiana.

We have been to winter lights several times spanning over the last 7 years. To me, it's something…read moreyou don't do every year if you're an Indy local. It doesn't change enough from year to year. The lights are beautiful and I admire the creativity/effort that goes into the displays. However, some of the logistics and policies could be improved on. The parking lot was full upon arrival so we had to park several blocks away. Not a huge deal, but for such an expensive evening it's disappointing that it's even extra to park close by. The real kicker for me is that this year we had plans to attend on a very cold Sunday night. I read the policy that ticket exchanges can only happen 48 hours in advance. The forecast projected a frigid night and with two littles I didn't want to take them out in -8 wind chill. I called on Thursday to reschedule. There was a $5 per ticket exchange fee ($25 our group) and an additional $40 in extra fees to choose a new date that was more "popular." I reluctantly agreed. Then, Newfields ended up closing for the night we originally were going to attend because of the weather - so I would have had to reschedule regardless. I called and they did refund me the exchange fee, but did not refund the $40 to go on a different evening. I understand it would be chaos for everyone to be able to exchange tickets for any date, but if the facility is closed due to weather, there is no reason to then up charge customers who had tickets for that night when they have to choose a new date. It all feels very nickel and dimed. I ended up spending $225 for 5 adults and 2 (free) kids to attend. Insane!! I would recommend the fairground lights for a family with kids any day over this experience, particularly for the price.

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.

Really cool one-day art fair. The art museum grounds is a great location. Well spread out with…read morevendors broken into multiple areas with food and toilets between.

First time attending this year and some things I think are worth noting to the planners for future…read moreevents: - where was the diversity in the artists? I feel like a saw a total of 3 or 4 artists of color. Really disappointed in that. With Butter just a week ago, I think we can all agree there are plenty out there. - where were the free water stations? You're putting people in an outdoor venue on hot summer day and no free refillable water stations? Cmon, it's 2022 lol - more shaded seating would have been nice too! Now that the tips are outta the way, this was a super fun event and I will def be back in the future. The art was mostly too pricy for me but then again, I'm not an art dealer that can afford $$$$ on art. I loved the variety of jewelry, glassware, paintings, photography, and more.

Beautifully designed campus. Amazing academics. Absolutely worth the price tag…read more I've gone to ISI for 13 years and I have loved every single moment of it. From pre-K to 12th grade, it's been fantastic.

The International School of Indiana promises many things. However many other schools provide the…read moresame education at a more valuable level for the student. For example here, they have chairs that do not form to their backs, they are fed frozen food in small portions. While University has fresh sushi and pizza ordered for lunch, or Cathedral has freshly fried food and swivel chairs. Out of 62 students, 51 said their backs hurt at the end of the day, and 56 said they were still hungry. For a school that prides itself on how hard it works its students. Maybe they should be more concerned about making the learning environment more comfortable, to encourage learning. If your student NEEDS an IB diploma please send them somewhere where they care. It hurts to hear your daughter say she feels like a ghost. I feel like my kids are not being taken care of. Oh and don't get me started on their "diversity" SEE BELOW "A meme that I got sent (showed) a picture of someone holding a cotton plant and under it was (the words) 'When you ask a black girl to prom,'" said Gabby Portis, 15, a freshman at International School of Indiana. https://www.wishtv.com/news/i-team-8/mom-to-pull-child-from-international-school-of-indiana-amid-racists-attacks/