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    Museum by Moonlight

    4.7 (54 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Bre'Onna P.

    I've known about this event due to a previous employer but never took time to go or volunteer. I tried to win tickets with YES and in between that when my CM Niki B emailed i decided to sign up to volunteer as i really am trying to stay consistent in my community. You get to chose your own job and shift based on availability. I initially chose 2 but was only needed as the primary check in assistant. We had orientation & training that told us of the event & how it'd go. The night of was beautiful. There were so many people and things to do. The silent disco was in dinosphere allowing people to use headphones & switch between two live dj's. There were plenty of drink & food stations on each floor. Most of the exhibits were open! Another popular gallery was the face painting. I think it's wonderful that the museum continues to host this ADULT only event :) Parking was in the free garage for guests

    YUM! Thanks Yolk!
    Meg E.

    This was my husband and my first year at the event and we were SO excited to win tickets from Yelp (thanks again!!). We arrived about 30 minutes early to score free parking at the museum and were pleasantly surprised to be able to enter early. Everyone got a red ticket for a free drink, which we passed off to others (non-drinkers over here) once we realized water and soda were free. The delicious free samples were ready and each table had their own line. We started with delicious dessert (I can't remember the company but the staff was so nice!), moved on to brisket from City BBQ, then Nutella chocolate crepe from Yolk (swoon). There ended up being food on every level, such as Maggiano's, Melting Pot (those strawberries though!), Ocean Prime, Donatoes, etc. There were also alcohol tables but they were always crowded, which cramped the halls a bit. It was REALLY great to explore the museum kid-free and spend time looking at/reading what we wanted to see. Neither of us had been the museum in years and it was truly a blast. The sports exhibit was especially cool and we can't wait to come back when it's warm to check out the outdoor part. We also want to return for the Greece Exhibit opening June 15th. The music was the right level without being overbearing and the silent Dino disco was a cool touch with available music only on headphones. Pacemates walked around advertising the silent auction, local Indy ghostbusters were present, as was Rowdy from the Indians and folks dressed up in Star Trek gear. We ended up winning Eli Young Band tickets from Hank FM and sweet Pacers shirts and hats in the sports area. Free stuff? Woot woot, thanks vendors! The best part: riding the carousel! Suggestions to make it that much better next year: more trash cans so there's less trash laying around. I hated seeing this for volunteers/employees to clean up later and was worried the cups would leave rings on the nice equipment. Incorporate a LOT more recycling bins: I saw SO much plastic being thrown into trash cans, oh my green heart! Turning the air on/heat down: it was SO hot (and I'm never warm), people were sweating just standing around. Require less of the same food: there was SO much pasta/mac n cheese: vendors should see the menu ahead of time and switch it up. Make sure vendors also don't out of food (some ran out 90 minutes into the 4 hour event). Overall an amazing charity event that we look forward to attending again next year!

    Gyamfua G.

    OMG....Museum by Moonlight is such a fun even put on by the Children's Museum several times a year that combines three things we love as adults, Booze, Food and a chance to be a kid....This event is amazingly well put together of the trifecta. Food is provided as samples from various restaurants from around the city. Never had creamy chicken velvet soup from Soupremecy...well no fear...they were at Museum by Moonlight and blew samplers away with their rich creamy goodness. Wondered what else is amazing at Arni's outside of their pizza....hey now is the time to try their innovative pineapple meatballs and creamy mac and cheese. Wanted to try that new chicken spot in Broad Ripple Joelle's...hey here is that chance with scrumptious pieces of chicken and a taste of their Mac and Cheese. Need a cake for a upcoming wedding or birthday party of family reunion, Cretia's cakes and bakery will suck you in with their melt in your mouth caramel cake... To wash all the delectable samples is a nice selection of Sun King beer, various wines and cocktails. Finally end the night partying in the silent party downstairs in the dinosaur atrium....nobody will ever know you can't dance because hey we are all dancing to our own tunes! The void left by the lack of need to be embarrassed has been filled with lots of fun smiles and crazy dance moves. If you've never been to Museum at Moonlight...I suggest you jump on some advanced tickets and join the fun.

    Balls are fun!
    David M.

    We had a great time tonight! I'm so glad they brought back the silent disco - definitely my favorite part of the evening. I love occasionally "leaving the party" by simply taking my headphones off for a few moments just to listen to everyone singing in their own little world... and the joining right back in the party. Lines for food were not too bad, all less than a few minutes. I never bothered to get a cocktail or beer because all the lines were swamped for drinks though. This year people seemed to be dressed down compared to years past. Not a bad thing, but it's something I'll note for next year when I'm belaboring my choice of which bow tie to wear...

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    Matthew S.

    I'm sorry MBM, but I have to take one star with you. And that's regarding alcohol. And this is coming from someone who is totally cool with sipping a Woodford Reserve (neat), and did so last night. But this whole cocktail/liquor + mixer + ice thing has got to stop. The cause of all the lines at the alcohol tables were because people were taking their sweet time choosing their liquor and their mixer, or the table runs out of ice or other such nonsense. I'd be all in favor of just taking away hard alcohol entirely. Beer/wine only. Hey, it pairs better with the food that is being served. Or have beer/wine at most tables and have hard liquor at certain, designated tables. I just think it is ridiculous to stand in a line that doesn't move while someone goes back and forth between vodka and tequila, or because the bartenders run out of ice. Handing out bottles of beer or pouring a cup of wine would just be a lot quicker. And then the people who insist on hard liquor can go wait in their own, designated line. OKAY, now that that's out of the way. The "Silent Disco" has kind of become "Disco Karaoke" but it is still pretty good. Food vendors were top notch, but you really should do a food-run right when you get there. If you just go as you progress, some of the vendors will be out. Great seeing all the museum exhibits and riding the carousel, though I swear the carousel gets slower every year.

    Starting the night with Rex!
    Kelsee H.

    Fun fact: I used to work this event every year and now I've been an attendee, so I know what goes into making this event happen and I loved being a part of both sides of it now. I'm a frequent visitor to the museum (I don't even have kids), but when it's adults-only, there's so much fun to have and you don't feel bad about wanting to try all the things while there are so many kids around. It's fun to get dressed up and try all of the fun activities they offer - cheesemaking, improv comedy, silent disco, the end of the evening parade, unlimited carousel rides, etc. The food runs out and the drink lines get long, so plan ahead. I had to tell the bartenders at both drink stations I stopped at how to actually make my drink (I ordered Whiskey Gingers both times), so I'm guessing that's why the lines got really long on every floor. Food-wise, the plates are small and everything that wasn't a sweet dessert option ran out REALLY FAST. I always suggest getting something beforehand so you aren't famished. Price is higher than what you're probably anticipating, but keep in mind that it is a fundraiser for museum programming. Buy tickets early - like 6+ months out (or make friends with a staff member who can get a discount) to snag the best deal when purchasing tickets. Go at least once! Do some good for the kids and have some fun yourself!

    Main room when you walk in.
    Rachel M.

    This event was extremely well-organized, benefits a great cause, and just downright fun! Museum by Moonlight is a 21+ event from 8pm-Midnight that brings the community together with free food, drinks & acting like a kid again, all to raise funds for the Children's Museums. Food samples were free, and some booths ran out veryyy fast. This is not an event where you come hungry, and that's not the main focus anyways! Museum staff was walking around their exhibits & interacting / educating guests like they would on any normal day. Face painting is available on the 2nd floor back by the music instrument room. My husband & I had never gotten our faces painted EVER before so we just had to!!! (Side story, our face painter works at Pure Eatery in Fishers & she remembered us!). I'd also never done a silent disco before so I needed to check it out! The DJs were great, and I love dancing, but when there's a full museum to check out, it's hard to stay still for long! Tips: grab a map and check out the whole museum. I thought we did but we didn't *crying face* Also, do not sit down!!!! As soon as we did, our bodies relaxed & we got so tired that we could not hang & had to leave an hour early. Don't be us. Push through to midnight!

    Silent discoing
    Ashley P.

    What a fun event! I'm mad at myself that I waited so long to go for the first time (2019). To start, get tickets early if you plan to go! Prices go up & it does sell out. I will say for a sell out I enjoyed still being able to get through likes relatively quickly and never feeling too overwhelmed. We parked in the garage and took the sky bridge over - right to the Yelp red carpet! Enjoyed the props and photographer available. You then take the ramp down to the main level and go through the line to have tickets scanned. There was a lot going on here. ComedySportz (to be honest - a bit weird), radio boots, food and bar lines. They sell drink tickets instead of paying straight at the bars. $7 a piece or 3 for $20, etc. Got some tickets and headed to the top to wind down through the floors and exhibits. Be warned that some exhibits do not allow you to take food or beverage into them but have a space to check and sit your items while you go through. The food was delicious! Had samples from Arni's, Joella's, Nameless, Titus Bakery, melting pot, Bluebeard, half liter/big lug & ocean prime. The most enjoyable part however was the silent disco. We spent the full last hour down there. We did have to wait a few minutes for headsets but not too bad. Drinks aren't allowed into the main dance area. But wow - how entertaining. All in all, great event for a great cause. Will for sure go again!

    Let's get this part started.
    Alesha M.

    You can't fight the moonlight! When the adults take over things get a lot MORE fun, dinos dance, djs spin, cafeterias become bars, and you leave all your troubles at the door. This is my second year attending the Museum by Moonlight - what a thrill to get all gussied up - and enjoy the museum to ourselves. Walking into the main corridor the music is bumping, wheels are spinning, and o the Ghostbusters are right around the corner. The bar is stocked with Hotel Tango Spirits and Sunkking beer, a great way to start the night. I do wish they had some Circle Kombucha or another non alcoholic non soda option. The drinks were basic but strong and I took it upon myself to get a little creative. My fav mix of the night was something I deemed Moon Fairy Punch - Hotel Tango Vodka, Gingerale, and a shot of hibiscus tea from HoiTeaToiTea. There was great potential for nibbles, however I highly reccomend eating before you come otherwise you'll spend the whole night standing in long lines for little nibbles and no one likes a hangry party goer. Most of the food vendors usually sell put within the first 2 hours, after talking to the vendors it seems there's a lack of communication between the museum and the volunteer vendors serving which creates a lapse in product. I didn't get to try at least... ¹/4 or more of the vendors. However I did have some favorites of the night! Half-Liter (Sahms Alehouse / Big Lug) was serving up homemade jalapeno biscuits with blackberry jam and tender moist brisket. A new restaurant I've never heard of, Low Carb Revolution served up some type of corn (succotash) soup that was divine - I could have eaten 20 of those! And.... the Buffalo Tortellini from Nameless Catering is ALWAYS a pleaser. The most creative dessert I tried was a Jello Shot with a sprinkle rim from Cretia Cakes. And the most tasty dessert was Small Cakes Cupcakery a GF Chocolate Cupcake! In past years I remember there being a more variety of food offerings - however they seem pretty basic other than the aforementioned above, this year. There also weren't a strong presence of truly local businesses, which was a little disappointing. However I know that's a large expense for a small business. I'd love to see a more creative way.to be environmentally friendly in following years... the amount of mini plastic plates / bowls etc that exist for a 2 second bite sort of break my heart. After all that indulgent food we decide to head to the dino exhibit to work it off. I LOVE the silent disco! It is by far my FAVORITE part of the Museum by Moonlight event. It's a great use of space, and mesmerizing watching the sky in the dino atrium light up. I wish all clubs were like the silent disco and I literally can't remember the last time I smiled that much. Be prepared for your face and your feet to hurt! A few other notes... -You must purchase drink tickets at a different counter other than the bar. Those tickets are NOT refundable. Several patrons purchased tickets ahead of time and then ran out of time to use them before last call (which was not announced). The bar refused to refund them. One person was out up to $40. So I reccomend purchasing them as you go. -They didnt sanitize the headphones before redistributing - so bring some wipes to wipe down everything. Or take some extra Vitamin C that day. -Make a game plan of what you want to do most - things run out quickly. We missed several food vendors and all the classes and extras sold out 15-30 min prior to events. -Wear comfy shoes so you can get your grove on! This is a great way to raise money for the Children's Museum child funds so that under privedged kiddos can enjoy the fun and I can't wait till next year!

    Silent disco!!
    Rachel L.

    What a fun event! Adults doing all the kid things all while sipping alcohol and eating great food. This was my first year doing this event and I definitely plan to do it again in the future! You can definitely expect to stand in lines for food and drink, however they all seemed to move pretty quickly. We decided to get food right away which was definitely a good choice. We noticed some of the vendors ran out of food towards the end of the night. We sampled food from City Barbecue, Yolk, Maggiano's, Donatos, Arni's, Bluebeard, Moe's, and probably some others that I'm forgetting. You get one drink ticket with your ticket purchase. After that, be sure to stop and buy more drink tickets at the designated areas before waiting in the drink line (we made this mistake the first time thinking we could just get a drink with cash). We chose to go to one of the Comedy Sportz shows in the Lilly theatre, and we loved it! They were so creative and funny. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of the shows, classes, and other fun things they offer at certain times throughout the night. I wish we would have done more than jus this one! We loved riding the carousel, playing in ScienceWorks, and the silent disco. I think this would be an even more fun event with a small group of family or friends. I think it would be hard with a large group to get around and do the same stuff, but fun either way.

    May the force be with you!
    Gigi L.

    Best night EVER!!! It was Adult night at the Children's Museum! I had a blast! Great food samples-- Melting Pot, City BBQ, & Yolk to name a few. But the highlight of the night was the Star Trek exhibit....yes I am a Star Trek & Star Wars geek! Very proud of it. I have to borrow a friend's kids so I can go back. After I calmed down I made my way to the basement & danced the night away at the silent party. Sooo cool dancing with the dinosaurs. I am so excited to go back next year!

    Partying with Rex at Museum by Moonlight
    Lindsay F.

    SUCH a great night! I wasn't sure what to expect since this year was my first time attending, but I was pleasantly surprised! The crowd was younger than I was expecting (which makes sense since so many of us grew up going to the Children's Museum) and dress was super casual. It's a bit pricey, but I feel better knowing it is a fundraiser for such a great place. I definitely need to plan ahead for next year since there is so much to do in a short period of time. The hours flew by and I couldn't believe it was already time to do the closing parade out the door. I showed up mid-way through and many food stops were already wrapping up, so eat early! I definitely enjoyed my experience, though, and really appreciated a night to be a kid again.

    Cristian E.

    I had so much fun! Lots of food vendors and drinks on multiple floors made it easy to explore the museum and stay full. I especially loved the silent dance party in the Dinasours exhibit. Can't wait for next year!

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    7 years ago

    Second year coming, such an amazing event! Learning and doing fun things and expanding your horizons, I love it every year.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Museum by Moonlight

    Is this just a one night event?

    Yes. Once a year.

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    Review Highlights - Museum by Moonlight

    The silent disco was in dinosphere allowing people to use headphones & switch between two live dj's.

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    Indianapolis Canal Walk

    4.5(207 reviews)
    2.8 miMile Square

    Goodness, have I walked the canal about 50 times now?!…read more It's such a unique experience for Indy to have some water space in the middle of the city. This 3 mile loop will take you from 11th Street down to White River State Park to access the green space and extra trails down there. The canal water itself is not super cute, where there can be litter, and the water is rather opaque. They do drain the canal every so often to keep it from getting too uncute. The sidewalks are kept nicer, though a few spots in front of apartment buildings could use some TLC. There are also a few spots where the sidewalk is not level, so take caution if that is an issue. It's mostly stair access to the canal, but I *think* I've seen an elevator around the Ohio street basin. The canal has a few businesses along it for your merriment. Notably, there is Fresco on the Canal (I have a separate review for this) which is open March-October. Eiteljorg museum cafe is open daily around the lunch hours (11-3) and can be accessed through their patio gate. Entertainment wise, there is more going on. I've done the swan boat rentals, where you can pedal around on the canal. This is quite a workout! Rental of swan boats and kayaks is near the Ohio Street basin. There is also the gondolas, where your gondolier can sing, and they've always sounded marvelous. There's also a few stations for the Pacers Bikeshare around the canal, which is free for Marion County residents. Any time the weather is right, you can find me getting my steps in!

    Nice river walk nearby center city area. It's refreshing looking at the water flowing through…read more We saw some fishes so definitely clean water for the city. Love the greens, bridges, arts around it. It would better with warmer weather for sure. I couldn't walk far because of the cold. But overall I love the scenery.

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    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk
    Indianapolis Canal Walk - Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

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    Look for this tall colorful mosaic to start your canal adventure!

    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison - Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Museum

    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison

    4.9(11 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    One of the most interesting tours I have heard, and I knew little about engines before I went. The…read moretour was led by two gentlemen who worked for Rolls Royce. Their knowledge, great stories, and enthusiasm really made the tour. My dad and brother love engines and had lots of questions the guides happily answered. My mom and I know less, but the guides were great about taking the conversation up a level that made the presentation very understandable and fascinating to us. I enjoyed learning about the history of Rolls Royce and Allison, and the evolution of engineering the guides illustrated using engines they have collected and restored. This a great tour for anyone who loves to learn. If you enjoy engines (car or plane), don't miss it.

    Excellent little museum at the Rolls/Allison headquarters. Sign in at the front desk. I got there…read morejust before 9 so I had to wait a few minutes, but there are magazines and books in the lobby, comfy chairs, and a few aircraft models. There's a small company store, sadly closed on the day I went. The museum covers the history of Allison very well, and the later merger with RR. Mostly Allison engines on display, a few RR. Models on top of each engine depict the aircraft that used it. Some engines are cutaway; one or two are operable with the push of a button. A few artifacts from the factories, and information about the other products they've produced. Towards the back are spacecraft parts; I did not know Allison was involved with that. Of course, not being an Indy native, I didn't know about his connection to the Speedway, or Prestolite, etc. All well-organized, brightly lit, lovingly cared for. And free. If you are anywhere nearby, this is worth a visit. If you are an aviation buff, get yourself here however far away you are.

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    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison
    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison - Welcome to the NEW James A. Allison Exhibition Center! Come on in!

    Welcome to the NEW James A. Allison Exhibition Center! Come on in!

    Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust Allison - Lift fan

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    Museum by Moonlight - museums - Updated May 2026

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