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.

This is such a beautiful museum, I always learn something new each time I visit…read more The staff are always open to questions and are always excited to talk about their favorite pieces. The community events they offer are such a treasure, and the rotating exhibits make every visit feel like the first time. I feel so lucky to live close by to have access to this amazing place. Don't forget to check out the staff's exhibit on the first level, everyone who works there is insanely talented!

Newfields is pretty neat. There's a nice little nature trail outside where you can take a brief…read morewalk and there's a small beer garden along the trail. The space is really nice. The staff is very friendly. Admission is $25. Some of the art I dug and some I didn't, but there was a dark room with a video board ceiling that showed a video of the moon and stars on the ceiling that is captivating. I could have sat there for 15 minutes and just gazed at the ceiling. It was beautiful and peaceful.

What's not to like at Conner Prairie? There's history, animals, walking trails along the White…read moreRiver and a tethered hot air balloon. After I retired in 2023, I decided to work here in the Education Department part-time (2-3 days a week.) I specialize in several exhibits. I've seen the evolution since 1998 when I came here with my son. Now, we visit with my teenage grandson! There's a foam pit to jump in, a 4-story treehouse with a 30-foot suspension bridge to explore, and SO much more. The website has all the info. You may love it so much you join them too. There's also a very successful Youth Volunteer program ages 10+.

We took the grandkids to Conner Prairie for the day and had a blast. We learned about prairie life,…read morefood and the White River. We had fun playing in the treehouse, Wellspring and more. There is so much to see and do at Conner Prairie. We arrived early for the 10:00 am opening. We started outside exploring the Lenape Camp, the William Conner House and Prairietown. We watched goats being milked and learned about beading. Not only were the kids captivated, but I was as well. The staff is wonderfully friendly, knowledgeable, engaging and helpful. We took a break for lunch before heading to the Treetop Outpost. The Treehouse is an area for kids to play and explore. The kids played for about 30 minutes while I rested on a bench. In the afternoon, when it was getting hot outside, we returned to enjoy the museum. The Food exhibit is interesting. We found a couple of hands-on exhibits which were fun and educational. The upstairs food immersion experience was a bit confusing. Upstairs, we enjoyed learning about the creation of the White River. The kids loved the Wellspring center where they could kick back and play in the foam pit. They spent an hour exploring the little nooks and seeing all the artifacts embedded in the walls. They played in the Spark Lab for a bit and appreciated a chance to sit and play. I haven't been to Conner Prairie in many years and I was impressed with all the new things to see and learn about. The kids were disappointed that the balloon was closed for maintenance. A balloon ride would have been the icing on the cake. That said, we still had a five star day and a great bonding experience. We spent a total of 5 hours and didn't see everything, but we were pooped. Pro tip: wear bug spray, sunglasses, sunscreen and comfy walking shoes. Bring bottled water. We brought a lunch, but you can buy sandwiches and drinks at reasonable prices at any of the three on-site cafes. Restrooms are far between, so plan your breaks when nearby. The trails are gravel and some of the prairie homes are not fully accessible. Designated stroller parking is available. I'm looking forward to going back in the fall to explore the trails and see the trees changing color.

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.

This event had so many great vendors! The Beauty Bar at Geist, Merle Norman, The Dry Bar and Reveal…read moreBy Polish just to name a few. We started out the afternoon with a wine slushy from Daniel's Vineyard. Then the keynote speaker Nicole Pence Becker gave us the low down on self-love and self-care. We even got to see a makeup demonstration from Merle Norman. Then we all headed upstairs to the Love Loft to get pampered. All of the vendors had a booth set up to pamper you. I was lucky enough to have my hair done, make up applied, a wonderful hand message and spray tan on my arms! I wish there was an event like this once a month not once a year for Mother's Day! Thank you to all of the vendors that made this a great afternoon.

Had a great time at the Mamahood event with 150 plus other ladies, hosted by theCityMoms. A great…read morething about this event is that it was open all women, not just moms. A unique experience seeing women of all ages as well, some grandmas and aunts, and of course moms too. It started with a key note speaker who spoke the main downstairs area. There were a ton of great giveaways and each lady got a goodie bag as they arrived. There was an option to purchase a VIP tickets, which included an additional goody bag and a wine slushie. After the speaker, everybody was released to go explore all the offenders that were set up upstairs. this range from massages, to facials, to candles, to boutique, and even airbrush tanning. Many of the vendors were doing minis of their product, whether this be hair or massages, etc. Daniel's Vineyard was on hand selling glasses of wine and wine slushies. Their pizza was available for all the guests to snack on as they shopped & browsed. Love they're fire cooked pizzas!

An awesome event that gets better every year! This summer it was held at Banker's Fieldhouse which…read moreoffered lots of great space as well as ample parking. As always, entry is FREE but you could opt into a paid ticket which allowed pre-entry an hour before the public. I always enjoy the variety of merchant vendors, but this year there were so many interesting businesses represented! Sierra Club Indiana Chapter, Hoosier Environmental Council. Upland Peak Animal Sanctuary, Pet Friendly Services, Commuter Connect...to just name a few. It's a great way to learn more about environmentally friendly businesses and the services they offer. There was even a vegan dietician on hand to answer any questions guests had about living a healthy vegan lifestyle. I came hungry and wasn't at all disappointed by the variety of food vendors available on the floor level. Many sold out of their goods by the end of the event. I had an amazing bbq jackfruit sandwich from Union Jack's Pub, pistachio ice cream from Moo Over and took home some amazing soy Gouda cheese from the Vegan Cheese Lady. Also purchased some amaretto flavored maple syrup and a sampler pack from Dragonwood syrups...yum! There was a cooking demonstration by Sea Salt and Cinnamon that I unfortunately missed. A variety of alcoholic beverages were also available at the fieldhouse bars. All in all, I had a great time as always. My thanks go out to Katelin and Joseph for all their hard work in organizing this fantastic event! There's something for everyone regardless of whether you're a veg-head or not.

I knew this event is a wild success each year, but I'm not a vegetarian or a vegan. I fully…read moreexpected to simply check it out and then eat elsewhere. NOPE. I ate DELICIOUS food from amazing vendors - many that I didn't even realize serve vegan options. Located at the Biltwell Event Center this year, the first floor consisted primarily of food vendors (both cooked-to-order and pre-packaged options). Bizs included: -Three Carrots -Ezra's Enlightened Cafe -Union Jack's -Mama P's Bakery -Duos, BRICS -Circle City Kombucha -Tlaoli New, amazing businesses I encountered for the first time: -Sea Salt & Cinnamon -Simply Divine Cupcakes -Roamers (delish beet hummus) There were a TON of people at this event. My tip would be to come towards the end so there's less lines. It's a great spot to learn about your food and also try amazing local options.

We've been coming for eight years, and it is always a fun time! Compared to other beer festivals,…read moreI love how expansive the grounds are--because let's be honest we need some space between all those beer (and wine and cider) samples. Also, the proceeds are benefitting Conner Prairie rather than some random person's pockets, so you feel good about patronizing this event, too. They also have free water for festival attendees which I think is such a great thing to offer since June can be hot in Indiana. Don't forget to stop by the pretzel lady (not Ben's pretzels -- the pioneer lady) to sample a delicious fire-made pretzel dipped in butter. It's one of our favorite stops of the evening!

This was an amazing event in past years but the leadership in charge this year needs to be held…read moreaccountable. This is an event that is rain or shine, if fact it has rained at past festivals and still gone on but this year- canceled without any rain for unsafe outside weather due to lightening. HOWEVER- they had general admission stand outside for an hour asking them to return to cars since there was no safety plan, backup plan, or alternative option- unfortunately being an unlimited drinking event most ubered and only VIP people were given shelter. Aka dangerous to cancle not enough to care and protect people and customers. They then pushed back the start with no intention or telling anyone the event was canceled. Instead- they asked volunteers to take the heat and start spreading the cancellation through word of mouth while sending out an email it would not be refunded. Breweries are about creating communities, respect of the creative process and prioritizing relationships. The actions this year proved a complete disregard and disrespect for the vary atmosphere and values that it should have represented. I would hesitate to encourage anyone to go back until leadership view this as a community event instead of profitable activity. Check out winter or summer fest instead.

Love this venue for an outdoor show! Had some yummy Mac and…read morecheese brisket..... decent spot on the lawn despite cutting up the entire venue for VIP access. And parking prices are ridiculous, imo! Trombone shorty put on an awesome show!

We were this close to seeing De La Soul perform at Rock the Ruins, but were foiled by cancelled…read moreflights (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!