After a long Midwest winter, spring feels like a breath of fresh air. As the weather warms up and our city comes back to life, it’s the perfect time to try something new or revisit your favorite local spots. Whether you’re planning dates, family outings, or solo adventures, here are 50 Indianapolis spring activities to help you soak up every sunny (and rainy) moment.
Festivals and Events
1. Celebrate all things Irish at the 44th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade with floats, dancers, bands, and giant balloons downtown. (March 13)
2. Bring the whole family to enjoy flowers and animals at the Indianapolis Zoo’s outdoor spring festival, xZOOberance. Meet chickens and goats, dance along to a live DJ, sing karaoke, participate in animal-pose yoga and more. (Thursdays-Sundays March 19-April 19)
3. Celebrate the start of baseball season at Victory Field’s opening night and cheer on the Indianapolis Indians all season long. (March 27)
4. Bring your whole family to Indianapolis’ only egg roll, the annual Presidential Egg Roll at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. Children can race to roll wooden eggs across the lawn, search the grounds for golden eggs, and take their photo with the Easter Bunny. (March 28)
5. Help Indy Parks & Recreation clean up neighborhood parks throughout your community to honor Earth Month all April long. Stop by any Indy Parks family center to pick up trash bags and gloves donated by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.
6. Don your horned helmet and trusty shield at Whitestown’s Viking Fest at Anson Acres Park. Watch battle-ready reenactors, roam Viking villages, shop handcrafted goods, sip mead, and take part in competitions like the Keg Toss and Iron Skillet Toss. (April 24-26)
7. Kick off market season at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market. As Indiana’s largest farmers market, it returns outdoors in early May with more than 80 local vendors and an abundance of fresh, locally grown goods.
8. Experience the magic of cherry blossoms at Carmel’s Japan Spring Fest, where you can wander the Japanese garden in full bloom, sample authentic foods, and enjoy live performances. (May 3)
9. Dig into spring at the Spring Heritage Market at Conner Prairie. Museum experts can answer your gardening questions as you shop handcrafted textiles, pottery, woodwork, and blacksmith creations. (May 8)
10. Eat your way through Military Park during Indianapolis’ first-ever Panda Fest, the largest outdoor Panda-themed Asian food festival with 90+ street food vendors from China, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. (May 15-17)
11. Celebrate our state’s flower at the fifth annual Indiana Peony Festival, where Noblesville comes alive with blooms at Seminary Park. Enjoy food trucks, more than 100 vendors, floral installations, and family-friendly activities. (May 16)
12.Feel the adrenaline at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. (May 24)
13. Feed your sweet tooth at the 60th annual Indy Strawberry Festival, where more than 12,000 pounds of strawberries are served up in the festival’s iconic strawberry shortcake. (June 11)
Gardening Activities
14. Pick up free seeds at now available Indianapolis Public Library locations to start your own vegetable, herb, or flower garden.
15. Then, make the most of your free seeds by learning to grow edible, beautiful plants at the IPL East 38th Street Branch’s “Edible Landscaping” workshop. (March 27)
16. Get creative at Newfield’s Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse with a botanical art workshop where you can craft pieces like framed mini orchids or wall-mounted tillandsia displays. (March 12)
17. Want to improve your green thumb instead? The greenhouse is also offering its popular Orchid Basics class, which teaches you how to help your orchids thrive and rebloom season after season. (March 26 and April 9)
18. Discover how to grow your own mushroom garden with Mike’s Mycology at the Garfield Park Conservatory. (March 28)
19. Learn about the many types of bird nests and the natural materials birds use, then build your own to help welcome our feathered friends back as they return north for the spring. (April 1)
20. Build a fairy garden for the littlest sprites using tiny decor, furniture, and plants at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. (1 p.m. April 18)
21. Sprout some new friendships at Alice’s Garden’s Houseplant Bingo, happening every third Thursday.
Other Outdoor Activities
22. Let your spirits soar on National Go Fly a Kite Day (April 26) at Geist Waterfront Park.
23. In late May, wander among 44 species of butterflies fluttering through tropical greenery inside the Hilbert Conservatory at the Indianapolis Zoo.
24. Pick your own strawberries to bake into a sweet treat at Beasley’s Orchard. (late May to mid June)
25. Navigate 40 exciting obstacles including ziplines and high-rope crossings rising up to 41 feet in the air at Eagle Creek Park’s Go Ape Treetop Adventure.
26. Bring a checkered blanket for a picnic at Highland Park while admiring the downtown skyline.
27. See why Indianapolis is one of the best cities to explore by bike along the Cultural Trail. Join guided tours about the trail’s history or hop on group rides that stop at local bakeries and coffee shops.
28. Stroll, bike, or paddle down the Indianapolis Canal to enjoy the fresh spring air.
29. Head to Holliday Park and check out the new nature-themed playground that opened last November. Children can climb, swing, slide, and explore across whimsical areas designed to spark adventure.
31. Head just west of Indianapolis to Oinking Acres Farm & Rescue Sanctuary for a self-guided tour where you can spend time with ducks, goats, cats, and rescued pigs, all while supporting pig rescue efforts and raising awareness for farm animal welfare.
32. Have a doggie day out at a local park like Cardinal Bark Park or Broad Ripple Dog Park so you and your pup can both make some new furry friends.
Indoor Rainy Day Activities
33. Bedazzle your favorite book at Loudmouth Book’s “Booked & Bedazzled” party. Don’t have your own copy? You can purchase a book to bling out with a 10% discount. (March 20)
34. See “The Scarlet Letter” or “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Civic Theatre in Carmel. (March 13-28 and April 24-May 9)
35. Or, enjoy the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production of the Tony award-winning musical “Come from Away.” (April 7-May 10)
36. Let a rainy day turn into a purr-fect afternoon at Nine Lives Cat Cafe or Smitten Kitten Cat Cafe with coffee and cuddly kitties.
37. Catch a movie at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, where you can watch a movie and have everything from pizza and burgers to cookies, craft cocktails, and more than 30 options of beers on tap served right to your seat.
38. Shop at local stores like Thrifty Threads or Broad Ripple Vintage to refresh your spring wardrobe.
39. Or, spring clean your closet and the rest of your home by donating to local churches, non-profits, or a Habitat For Humanity near you.
40. Create your own seasonal scent at the Truly Fragrance Bar, where its staff will introduce you to the history of fragrance and guide you through making your own truly unique bottle of fragrance.
41. Learn to make your own fresh pasta by hand at Angelo’s Italian Market in Zionsville or Fishers using just a rolling pin, pizza cutter, fork, and your hands.
42. Find a new hobby at the Indianapolis Art Center’s “Make It Take It” beginner adult classes, featuring introductory sessions in oil painting, glassworking, screenprinting, and other art forms.
43. Relax your mind at the Conrad Spa’s Guided Sound Bath Experience through vibrational sounds and stillness.
44. Master the art of making colorful, sweet-filled gourmet macarons at the Macaron Bar’s “Intro to Macarons” class.
Food & Drink
45. Check out Arlene’s for a Southern-style “meat-and-three” experience from the team behind Milktooth and enjoy a fresh new menu in a familiar space. (Opening in April)
46. Take your mom out for brunch at Cafe Patachou for Mother’s Day (May 10) to enjoy french-style omelettes, cinnamon toast, and more.
47. Wake up your taste buds with Best Friends Coffee & Bagel’s Cold Brew Flights featuring four new seasonal cold brew creations every month.
48. Visit Recess, Indianapolis’ first matcha bar that served nearly 4,000 matchas in its opening month, for a creamy, earthy sip.
49. Kick back with games, live music, cold beer, and a cozy fire in the pet-friendly beer garden at Half Liter BBQ after your stroll along the nearby Monon Trail.
50. Treat yourself to a sweet scoop at a local ice cream shop. Try Lift Off Creamery for more than 90 flavors (including vegan and seasonal) or Square Scoop for dairy-free and gluten-free options.
Nicole Thomas is a writer and digital marketer who can’t wait to start her own garden this spring in her new home. You can follow her on LinkedIn.
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