We were this close to seeing De La Soul perform at Rock the Ruins, but were foiled by cancelled flights (theirs, not mine). Oh well. The Rock the Ruins people turned it all around, though, and spun the cancelled concert into a hip-hop DJ party! That is some quick thinking on their part. We stayed and ate Lou Malnati's pizza from the Lou stand, and got Ice cream at the BRICS table, and there were some other food trucks there, too. All of them take cards. We got the upgraded "silver" experience, which lets you park and enter through the premium entrance by the Nature Center. You also have access to a designated food and beverage tent, climate-controlled restrooms, and some exclusive food options. I'd definitely spring for this again if I attend another Rock the Ruins concert! read more

Enjoyed my first experience at Rock The Ruins. Initially I thought the logistics would be challenging, since Holliday Park is located in a mostly residential area. Turned out they have free parking available and it's only a short shuttle ride to the venue (it's also only a 10-12 minutes walk from the parking lot.) I arrived right before show time for a sold-out show. Most of the GA areas were already filled with lawn chairs. I didn't bother bringing a chair but found ledge seating at the back by the ruins. I was cool with this arrangement but it might be too far back for some. The sound was still good and I was able to roam around the food and bar areas. There are upgrades to get closer to the stage if you choose that route. Rock The Ruins has a fairly diverse lineup of genres. There is something from Classic Rock to Country and anything in between. I lucked out because I visited on an overcast night and the temperature was just right. It will be hotter if the sun was out, and there is not much shade to speak of. Do plan for that if you are visiting for a show. read more

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Checked out Rock the Ruins for the first time. Been to Holiday Park many times but this was a first. Great venue. There were probably at least a half a dozen food trucks for food options and adult beverages as well. Note: check there website. There are many items you can and cannot bring in. Also parking is pretty tight if you don't pay for it. Check the website as well for ootions. read more

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What a great evening! Even with it being blazing H.O.T.!!!! Seeing Ryan Adams...a little breeze...and a relaxing atmosphere. We actually upgraded our tickets to the next level and we are so glad we did! Arrived right when the show was starting and because we had upgraded, went right up to the VIP area and staked our claim. There were so many spots and we are so close! Not to mention the ease of the VIP bathrooms and bar. Seriously, it is so worth it! Sahm's is doing the food in the VIP tent and it was fabulous. Nachos that we were both able to share and they were great! The only issue I have is that our bartender did not tell us about the $5 discount if you buy a bucket of beer. So that is my tip to you, get the bucket, it's cheaper. Also, another tip, don't pay for the parking onsite. Just park in one of the houses across the street and walk over. We wish we would have done that as we would have saved $15. read more

Rock The Ruins - a band performing on stage - Music Venues Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Definitely a cool venue for outdoor summer concerts (pending weather, of course). Also loved that you could order clustertruck and they would drop it off for you at the food tent. We pre-ordered our dinner at noon for pickup that night! Way better than waiting in a food truck line. Things to be warned about: 1. Get there early if you want a decent seat! It is all lawn seating, and it fills up quickly. It also is all relatively flat so you will not be able to see as well the further back you are. There is also the sound booth tent in the middle which takes up room too. 2. Parking is challenging. We arrived early to park at The Orchard School. Even though it was pouring this also filled up by the time the show started! 3. I wish their socials would be more up to date about weather. It was storming at the start of our show (Blue October + Switchfoot) and all it said was "stay tuned for weather updates" but there were never updates. We got out of our car once we heard the music start up again. 4. There is no seating -- be sure to bring your own chair. read more

Not a bad seat in the "house". Great food trucks and decent drinks but at very reasonable prices. All the staff was courteous and very efficient. Definitely a great venue to see a band. read more

Saw my first concert at Rock the Ruins last night (saw Orville Peck and he and his openers were amazing!). Since I had never been before, there was some confusion prior to my arriving. I had bought VIP tickets for Orville Peck, but didn't realize that VIP with the artist is separate from buying VIP for the venue...two different sets of packages. I emailed the venue about VIP specifics. They were very prompt to reply. They did not know the specifics for VIP for the artist, but helped answer my questions with what information they had. The website states that you can bring chairs as long as they don't obstruct anyone's views which, in my opinion, typically means no camp/lawn chairs and only the short beach chairs. You can bring in the normal sized camp/lawn chairs. In fact, the venue's VIP seats were these style chairs and they took up the entire first 5-6 rows. So, even though I had bought VIP Orville Peck tickets that allowed early entry, we were not in the very front as those were designated for the VIP seats that the venue sold. The bag policy online states that only a small bag is allowed, but I saw people carrying all sized of bags and totes so this is a lax rule. Having never been here before, I didn't realize that there was not enough parking to accommodate all attendees. When I realized that my VIP Orville Peck tickets didn't include parking, the parking add on was already sold out online. When we arrived, I drove to the parking lot just to check. There actually was still parking available. Just make sure you have cash to pay for it. There a food truck court for food with plenty of great options. Beverage stations are readily available around the venue and I never had to wait to order a drink. Overall, it's a great venue. Now that we've been, we know what to expect and will have a much smoother experience. We had a great time. read more

Such a fun summer event! We bought tickets for the Drew Holcomb concert (even before it turned into a Yelp event too... we were determined to be there!) and had a blast with our friends. We really liked how relaxed the evening was, as we were spread out in the Holliday Park field with plenty of room to roam around, talk, sit back in the sun, and just enjoy the great weather and tunes. Parking can be a bit tricky, but you can either pay extra to park in the attached lot when you buy your ticket, park down the road at the Orchard School, or free ball it like we did and happen to find super close parking in the grass on the northside of the park. Be sure you read their full website of FAQs before coming. You have to bring your own chairs and blankets, and are NOT allowed to bring your own food, drinks, or pets. You can bring a bottled water per person, but they would like for attendees to buy from the local food trucks and drink vendors at the event. The beers there were very expensive, so I'd suggest going light on those. We had quesadillas from a Mexican food truck that were delicious and decently priced. Excited for this coming summer's line-up! It's a family-friendly event! read more

Rock The Ruins - Music Venues Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I live just a couple miles away and I wasn't able to attend any of the concerts last year (their first). We rode our bikes to avoid the parking issue (spaces within the park have to be pre-purchased and the off-site parking is a bit of a hike and limited) and were able to lock up right outside the gate. There are several food trucks inside and numerous beer/wine stands (so you never have to wait for a drink). We staked out a spot and spread our sand blanket and setup our table. The music was perfect for the venue (cool and airy) which made for a great Friday night. read more

Rock The Ruins - a group of people in a park - Music Venues Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Overall, great venue for the Wallflowers. However, we paid for premium reserved seats close to stage, and were overwhelemed with people crowding us out. Couldn't see anything. Extra cost not worth it - buy the cheap tickets and crowd your way to the front. read more

The bad: This is another venue with insufficient parking. The good: Darn near everything else. You are of course at the mercy of the weather, but this venue does a lot of stuff right. read more

We saw Mt. Joy this year and we did enjoy ourselves. It was incredibly hot and there is little to no shade cover in this area. It is a very cool venue for a concert and you can't control the weather so I'm not going to knock the concert for that. 1. Buy the Parking pass. If you are driving to the concert it is a must and be careful because the parking sells out. 2. Take a folding chair for before the concert starts and pump bug spray. The bugs were everywhere and you cannot take in aerosol. 3. The lines for alcoholic drinks were incredibly long the entire time. They never got shorter until the finale. Don't bother waiting for the line to get shorter. Just get on in there. Or they could open up more lines. Those things aside it is a cool place for a concert and when the sun started to set it was awesome! read more

Love this event! Great to see the park put to use and love the indie bands that come through on the roster. I would love to see a "Rock the Ruins season pass" type of set up (and forgive me if it exists, but I haven't seen that). Go to all the shows for the price of "xyz," for example. Some of the shows were very pricey, which definitely steered me away from purchasing (damn those fees!). A season pass might entice more to attend all of them, including the shows that don't seem to be selling very well. We didn't have issues with parking, loved that they have local food trucks, they also have a water fountain, so bring your own reusable water bottle! read more

Rock The Ruins - a crowd of people at a concert - Music Venues Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Trevor Hall...Wowsers. This is such a super gorgeous place right here in Indy! Snaps all the way around :)! Seeing the main focus as recycled from NY to make a new home in IN...superb. Love love love this notion. Each of the plants as placed by generous folks took a lot of Hoosier care & love for our state IMO. It's truly a marvel not only in their doing but also in how well was done. The outcome as I saw it showcased the "Ruins" as I went to "Rock" (in theory) when the show began ;)! Hee Hee & yes, I'm giggling writing this now as I don't rock IRL. Bravo to the landscape architect or whomever opted for each flower our group was able to embrace. So pretty. Wasn't sure about how the bug situation was gonna be as I'm not a fan of flying insects IRL or virtually. Glad I sprayed myself & those that rode with us beforehand. You cannot take aerosols inside the grounds. If you goof, the security team will make it safe for all involved. Leave your aerosols at home. Must say, I was impressed with the detail of said security team. My little bitty purse was checked & I paid no mind in doing so. They took their position seriously & personally I am grateful. Food was available via food truck from local venues so were adult refreshments. I didn't partake in the food options mainly bc it was stinking humid with a pleasant surprise. Me, myself, & I (yes all three of us) were thrilled in seeing a fabulous restaurant help sponsor this particular show. Ale Emporium...if or when you're able to do so, get their special chicken fried on a salad. It's delicious. It's begins with the letter "H". Good luck with that clue btw ;)! We were shuttled to & fro Orchard School. Pick up was boat loads better than at Disneyland. Our entire party (10+) was able to find each other without using our cell phone tracker systems. I still can't believe that's a thing. Am I showing my age? Mb. Anywho, sound wise...this place wasn't too overwhelming. If I didn't want to stand during the show, I could still see given my vertical challenge. Wasn't sure how this event was gonna go as I've not been up in this area for years & years. So delightful we got tickets+it didn't get rained out+everyone got home safely=to do this show n tell. Thanking each sponsor for this production but more to each human that cares for this area. Impressive. If you get a chance perhaps YouTube a song, "Coast". The young lady who sings has a unique voice, she was in the middle band. All three bands were amazing. TYVM! Enjoy & take care, Amy read more

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Last night I visited Rock the Ruins with friends to see Amos Lee perform. This was the second time I've been to this venue for a concert. I was very pleased with my experience both times. If you like being outdoors and a more relaxed atmosphere when attending concerts, this is a great spot for you. The sound and lighting are on par with larger venues, but offer a more intimate experience. When you first enter the area, you are welcomed by the beautiful ruins structures that are a hallmark of Holliday Park. You have to provide your own seat, but the walk from the parking lots in the area is pretty convenient. Security was prevalent and efficient. After entering, I went straight to the food truck area since I was pretty hungry. They have plenty of options, so it was pretty tough to choose. I landed on Pronto Taco since I love Mexican inspired food. Once I got some grub, I hit up the bar for a couple drinks. The line went pretty quickly and they also had lots of drink options. Since I was all set with my food and drinks for the night, I set up my spot with my friends in time for the show. You get a good view of the stage pretty much anywhere onsite unless people stand up to dance. If you want to get close to the stage, you could work your way to do that. I didn't mind sitting back since Amos Lee is not known for dance music. There were people of all ages in the audience, so it's a family friendly venue unlike some concerts. Throughout the night, the sunsets behind the ruins give scenic views all around. There were plenty of portable toilets, but I recommend the installed restrooms located in the ruins structure. VIP options are available for a more luxurious experience. I've had VIP tickets before as well as General Admission and was pleased with both. At the end of the night, the exit was smooth and it was very easy to get out of the parking lot. For more laidback concerts, this is the perfect spot! read more

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First visit to RTR was 7/17/22 to see the Counting Crows. Here is what I learned: 1. Buy the parking pass. Easy in and easy out. 2. If you want to sit in the front (it's festival seating), make sure you buy a VIP ticket. Only VIP tickets can sit in the front. Great place to see a show! read more

Rock The Ruins - Counting Crows - Music Venues Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If you order tickets through this place just make sure that you are ordering an actual "General Admission" Ticket and not just an "Upgrade." I ordered tickets for a concert to be in the pit for $20 a ticket. I got an e-mail after ordering them that said I would also need to order General Admission Tickets or I would not be allowed in (General admission tickets are $55 each). When I reached out to customer service they said they don't do refunds on anything. I kept bugging them and they eventually sent me to a manager that was able to help me when he realized I didn't understand what I was ordering. He was very nice and helpful but it took me forever to finally get a refund. read more

Amazing! Chill vibes, kid friendly, sweet summer concert lineup, food trucks, adult beverages- what more could you ask for?! We even had free parking at the Orchard School, about a 10 minute leisurely walk from the venue. They do have the option for paid parking, and VIP perks but we enjoyed ourselves without any of the bells and whistles. Can't wait to go back! read more

Rock The Ruins - Rock the ruins - Music Venues Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Can't beat the feel of seeing live music here. Considering buying a ticket to a show here? Pull the dang trigger. Take pump bug spray, a sealed bottled water, a folding chain and you are set for a nice night read more

Great venue! Glad I brought a reusable water bottle to take advantage of the water stations.

OK I might be biased because I live right beside Holiday Park... But how awesome is this venue for a concert! And how awesome is the lineup this year! Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies and head to the show people! This is a family friendly venue where people sit on blankets and talk to neighbors and have a couple cocktails and listen to some amazing music. Overflow parking is in the Orchard school, which is about a block away from the park, so nobody has to walk far. Also I will put in a plug for Lou Malnati's (A previous yelp elite eventI) for whipping up some excellent pizzas for sale! I commend the park and the sponsors and the Vogue for putting on an awesome summer show! If you haven't been to a show, please look up Rock The Ruins and make a date!! read more

This review refers to the July 8, 2022 show with Michael Franti and (as it turns out not) Arrested Development. The multiple problems with the actual show are well documented on Facebook and other social media, so I will only address the communication issues I experienced. I purchased our tickets on the Rock The Ruins website on February 18, the on sale date. We sprang for the $100 Platinum VIP upgrade and received my tickets via email the same day. This was not through Ticketmaster but something called "Opendate". I only found out elsewhere in late June about the parking issues and that an opportunity to buy a parking pass had been added. Never heard from RTR about this parking change; the addition of Arrested Development, or a VIP meetup that was mentioned on Facebook. I traded emails with two separate people at the Vogue about this which were unsatisfying. Will not be looking at any shows there in the future. read more