Lots of fun! Great music and the food was good. Lots of fun vendors. I'd love to see even more in…read morethe future! Maybe some braiders or something. The cruise and bathroom remodel booths were odd.

This is a nice family event, just outside of Indianapolis. They normally hold it at Anson Acres…read morePark, annually, over a weekend in late April/ early May. It has tons of space and has a nice set up. Tickets are $5 per person, with kids 2 and under free. Tickets can be purchased on line or at the gate with cash or card. Parking here is easy, but you may have to walk a bit to get to the gate. I had about a half to quarter mile walk. They have inflatables available for the littles to play, but they were uncomfortably packed. My littles still had a good time playing on them though. The festival is full of food and drink vendors as well as merchandise vendors. You can purchase live action role play (LARP) swords, horns, furs, cups, soap, honey, turkey legs, root beer, lemon or strawberry shake-ups, burgers and fries. There is a stage where they have a Celtic band playing as well as other acts like belly dancers and speakers. They also have a ring in the center of the field where they host LARP battles, next to the field is a fire that was pretty much blowing annoying smoke while I was there. Near the food vendors and to the side of the stage, there are picnic tables under a shelter and tall tables placed in the open field. There are a few spaces that are designated for kids to learn how to sword fight with the LARP swords and learn how to use them. A little walk from the vendors and demo area is what they call Viking village. I think the role players actually live there over the weekend. The have a falcon and hawk handler back there and you will see them doing stuff like actually making dinner and marching to the LARP arena on the other side of the park. The park has a restroom facility, but the organizers have also added some port-a-pottys around the park for visitors. It was a good number because I did not have to wait to use them. For those of you that ate your Wheaties, the organizers host a keg throwing contest for kids, women and men. They use different sizes for different groups with the kids throwing a skillet and the men throwing a full size keg. There is also opportunities for adults to participate in archery and axe throwing. If you do visit, I will recommend a couple of things. First, get there early. You will get a better parking spot and have less of a crowd. Second bring one of those bag chairs. Seating here is limited and goes very quickly. Also, there are refills available on the shake-ups that you can get for almost half the price of the original purchase. Make sure to get your money's worth. Lastly, be aware that the merchandise you can be here is nice, but can be very expensive. I spent almost a $100 for a horn cup with a belt holster for one of my littles. This was a nice day and something different for my littles and I to do. The littles and I stayed here most of the day and the only thing that got us to leave was that they had to shut down due to lightning strikes nearby. I highly recommend checking out this event. At $5 per person, with free parking, it is a deal. You will definitely have lots of fun here. I cannot wait until next year.

This was my first year going to Zoolala, and it did not disappoint. The only complaint I have is…read morethat I wish I'd had more time there and that it didn't start raining, but what can ya do? We got there just as the costume contest was starting under the Pavilion, and there were so many costumes. I think it's really fun that the event happened during Halloween season, dressing up and showing it off is so fun and such a great way to start conversations. The MCs were pretty funny, cringey jokes and all, it was really fun to see the costumes and hear from the judges. There was also an incredible selection of breweries. I am not a beer drinker, so this was so fun for me to meet the people, hear their recommendations and try all the new things. You do get a cute tastings glass when you arrive, but we also ended up trying the Zoo's Jack Rum Reaper, and it came in super cool cups (refer to the photos + video). The rum cocktails was quite pricey, so I'd stick to the beer tastings, and eat before coming so you can actually enjoy all the beer samplings. We did, and I am SO glad we did otherwise the walking might have been less straight. (Y'all there were *so*many breweries there, so just be safe.) A few of the exhibits were open as well which was super cool. We got to sip some samples while fawning over the dolphins, which is genuinely my favorite little cove in the zoo. I wish they'd shared the schedule on line ahead of time because I did miss a few of the chats, but also was not fully aware those were going on. I am dumb pumped for next year's Zoolala, and can't wait to be part of it.

We had a great time at Zoo La La last night! Who doesn't love a good costume party. The beer was…read moregreat and it was fun to check out the zoo at night.I tried a bunch of new breweries I hadn't had an opportunity to try. I really liked the physic reading. It was a fun touch and I'd never had one before. The zoo also set up a number of animal chats throughout the event. There were great costumes and Pumpkin Town was open to check out as well. All in all, it was a fun night out. I would offer a few tips for next years Zoo La La: A little more information upon entering. We totally missed the costume contest when we were in line for the physic. We couldn't find the time anywhere. It's possible it was on the map but juggling a map & a beer in the dark didn't work to well. More posted signs and real life people giving direction would be helpful.

Absolutely worth the visit, our 3 year old boy loved every minute despite the 90+ degree heat. We…read morefound the lines to be short and pretty quick, at least for meeting Alpha Pig, the giant inflated slide, and fire truck. We did get in the Alpha Pig line about 10 minutes ahead of his arrival, easy to do if you have a 2nd adult to do the bulk of the waiting. Outside of TV character stuff, our toddler got to sit on a real police motorcycle, sit behind the wheel of a real fire truck, run under the spray of a real fire hose, use bubble wands that actually worked darn well. Also saw numerous small animals like a baby alligator, lizard, hedgehog, guinea pig, giant turtle. Can't recommend it enough, honestly. We were there for 3 hours and saw 1/2 of it. Tons to see and do.

OK. It's free. I should have known that you get what you pay for (especially when it's open to the…read morepublic) but I went b/c I am a working mom who doesn't get to do all the cool weekly fun mom shit that other moms get to do with their kiddos, so on weekends when there is a family event that is advertised as the best thing in town, I figure I'm an even worse mom than normal if I don't go. I certainly don't want my kids to be THOSE kids who don't get to do cool kid-friendly shit. So, I convinced my hubby to take us down to PBS in the Park even against my better judgement b/c it SAID that there were guaranteed meet and greets with the likes of Curious George, Super Grover and Super Why. I was sad to see two hour lines for EVERYTHING from the meet 'n greets to the blow up bounce house (which we have at home - yes, I have one - don't judge). The point is that everything with a short line was something you had to pay for and between the sales people hocking their insurance and home protection devices to the Colts Fan Club that was $75/per kid to sign up for, there was NOTHING worth standing in line that long for. We threw a football and saw a turtle - coolest parts of the day. We ditched that event and went to the zoo which ...was fun (though not free which makes sense since there were actual things to see and do while visiting). Obvvvvvviously this event is over but this is just a warning for next year. Remind me to read my own review when my working mom guilt steps in.

My husband is into D&D and painting miniatures, so in 2023, he wanted to attend Gen Con in…read moreIndianapolis. I had never heard of Gen Con before, but it is the biggest tabletop game convention in North America. Gen Con began in 1968 as the Lake Geneva Wargames Convention (hence the name "Gen Con") by Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, and was first held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It was then held in various locations in Wisconsin until it was fixed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1985. In 2003 Gen Con was relocated to its current location, Indianapolis. Gen Con is HUGE. It's held in the Indiana Convention Center and when we went in 2023, there were over 70,000 people in attendance. The convention is held over four days at the end of July/beginning of August (Thursday to Sunday), and you can buy a pass for one specific day, the weekend, or the entire four days. You have to purchase your passes well in advance (they go on sale in February), and only if you have a pass can you enter the lottery to book a hotel. Pretty much all the hotels in Indianapolis are reserved for Gen Con attendees and you are given a random time slot to book your hotel. If you get a bad time slot, you're lucky if you can even book anything within a 50 mile radius of the convention. My husband and I both got horrible time slots (like 4pm), but thankfully my husband had an acquaintance with a 9am time slot who didn't need to book a hotel (he was staying with friends or something), so he generously gave us his time slot and we were able to book a prime hotel, the JW Marriott, which was not only near the convention center, but connected to it. (But we did pay a premium for it.) I didn't know what to expect, but I ended up loving it! While I am not into role playing games, D&D, miniatures, etc, I love boardgames and they have a lot of that -- both to play and to purchase. And purchase we did! There is a huge vendors' hall, and there is so much to see and buy. Dice, miniatures, boardgames, and anything tangentially related to gaming, you name it. There are also a ton of activities you can book in advance, such as game tournaments, casual game play (I signed up to play Balderdash), miniature painting lessons, dance lessons (we took one), evening ghost tours (unfortunately the ghost tour was booked up), and so much more. The options were dizzying. There are also rooms where you can play boardgames with other people, which I really enjoyed. I played Dominion, Settlers of Cattan, Carcassonne, Codenames, and more. In addition to the game rooms hosted by Gen Con, the hotels had rooms set up for people to play games and hang out. It was so much fun, and despite it being so crowded, people were really well behaved and friendly. Many were also dressed up in costumes, which was fun to see. With the price of the convention, hotel room, and all the games and things you buy, Gen Con is an expensive experience, but worth going at least once if you like games. My husband and I would love to go again, preferably with a few of our friends. [Yelp collections: Louisville/Indianapolis 2023; Indianapolis, IN 2023]

Gen Con has always been one of those bucket list things for me. Even though I work practically…read moreacross the street from the Convention Center, I've only made my way to Gen Con briefly a couple of times for film obligations and one panel that I appeared on one year. Since being diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, I've become more committed to really living into bucket list items. This weekend, that has included more time than usual at Gen Con. I doubt I'd ever fully immerse myself in it - the crowd is pretty huge and I'm more a dork than a nerd, but it's actually an environment I love with a really cool communal spirit on a pretty large scale. First off, the basics: From the Gen Con website, "For over 55 years Gen Con has been the largest and longest-running gaming convention in North America. Founded in 1967 by Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, Gen Con now attracts tens of thousands of attendees from around the world to Indianapolis for The Best Four Days in Gaming™." Gen Con has both in-person and online activities. Obviously, the major emphasis is on the in-person experience. While I tend to be fairly asocial, even I prefer the in-person convention. Gen Con is almost worth attending for the Exhibit Hall alone. Entrepreneurs' Avenue Entrepreneurs' Avenue dedicates space in the Exhibit Hall for companies making their Gen Con debut. It's a great place to find new games, discover up-and-coming publishers, and find newbies within gaming. It's a must visit. Other programs include costume contest/cosplay (If you're in Indy and downtown during Gen Con, you WILL see costumes), auction and consignment store, trade day, a film festival (which I love), miniature hobby events, an always successful blood drive (gamers are actually notoriously kind and generous), and more. Gen Con is fantastic about correctly categorizing things. For example, parents should know that the schedule clearly indicate what age groups an event are appropriate for and also clearly identifies those that are more mature. Of course, there's gaming galore that unfolds and a variety of events for the Trekker, Whovian, or other sci-fi culture devotee - While there's certainly pop culture here, I've always felt like what separates Gen Con from something like Comic-Con is that it's less "pop" and more devoted to true hardcore gamers and such. Generally speaking, Gen Con does very well with accessibility. The Convention Center itself is pretty accessible, though it's a big facility and that's always a consideration. Gen Con is very inclusive and has a strong, published anti-harassment policy. I'm a wheelchair user and I really had no problem getting around. Curb cuts are all over the place here, the Convention Center has elevators and various accommodations including automated door options, and there's an abundance of gamers who seem to pop out of nowhere to assist if it's needed. I sometimes feel a little overwhelmed in this environment - one, I often feel less intelligent than some of these gamers. However, there's something and someplace for everyone. For those who do get overwhelmed, it's easy to take a time out here. Most of the surrounding hotels are pretty disability friendly (Marriott as a chain typically does VERY well). I do wish Gen Con better addressed accessibility on the website. It's pretty lame, to be honest. I'd recommend ensuring a disability liaison of sorts (this may exist, but I couldn't find it). There's so much more I could write, but I'll run out of room soon. Suffice it to say that I had a blast and hope to return in the future.

Okay, so a rainy night a week before Christmas was probably not the perfect time to check out…read moreChristmas Nights of Lights at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. On the other hand, traffic was lighter and there was something Dickensian about the entire experience. This is exactly what you expect it to be, though perhaps a better experience than I expected it to be. It's a drive-thru experience of Christmas lights, a synchronized light show with lots of spectacle and holiday spirit to be found. The music broadcasts through your car radio (I was glad I was with friends since my radio actually doesn't work). Christmas Nights of Lights opens before Thanksgiving and runs through New Year's Eve. It's a rain or shine (or snow) event. A few things to know: You enter at Gate 3. Online reservations are required and no cash/credit is accepted at the ticket booth. There are no refunds as they sell a limited number of tickets for each night. You "may" be able to exchange for a different time/night depending on availability, however, this MUST be done no later than 10pm on the day the ticket is valid. Carload passes and group passes apply to single vehicles. Also, the height restriction of the entrance tunnel is 11 feet. I grew up without Christmas in my home and there's a certain nostalgia to this experience in terms of driving around and seeing Christmas lights. Obviously, this is quite a bit fancier and a lot more festive. Is the experience somewhat expensive sure? $38 for a carload up to eight. $58.50 for 9-15 people. $84 for 16-35 people. If you go for an earlier slot, you get a time slot range of two hours. If you go later, it's about 30 minutes for the experience. With a carload, it's not a bad price. Will it become a holiday tradition? Probably not. I enjoyed it, maybe even more because of the rain. It added a certain sparkle to it all. However, it didn't quite have the "wow" factor that makes me immediately think I can't wait to go back. This is a neat experience and certainly a fun one for larger families or children's groups, however, for singles and small groups it's likely a bit pricey and not a great value.

I think the past years seemed better…read more The price is somewhat steep for a single family. The music this year (2025) didn't seem as good as the past. The music is noticeably more religion-oriented this year than the past. I'm not sure who actually runs this but it seems weird on the state fair grounds. And this is coming from a Catholic family. I just prefer blasting the Christmas classics in the car, not some new age Christian metal that I'd get exposed to at one of those churches.

Every year I see advertisements and news coverage of the Celebration Crossing at the Indiana State…read moreMuseum. I decided this was the year I would finally go check it out. From the moment you walk into the museum, whether from the street or the parking garage, you see signs and information about this exhibit. Located on the east end of the museum, there are several activities for kids to participate in. What gets the most attention is the train ride through a winter wonderland. The good news is that there is no additional fee for the rides! The ride isn't very long, so the line moves quickly. There are things to look at in the room that include a miniature storefront like the old LS Ayres, a Christmas themed mural on the wall, and a couple display cases about trains. There is also a "Santa's Workshop" where kids can participate in activities that have been given a sleigh theme. Most of those are for elementary age kids. There is also a sleigh near the area that is prime for photo opportunities too. For adults who want to visit, but aren't parents, the museum hosts an adult's only evening so that you check out the exhibit without deferring to children. The exhibit runs from Thanksgiving through Jan 5 (2020). Review #3421

What a perfect annual music festival taking over and showcasing all that Garfield Park has to…read moreoffer. I was fortunate enough to win a pair of tickets to both days (thank you Indy Chamber!) so I was excited to check things out, for free. Location: the location is perfect. It's near downtown, but far enough to not have to worry about traffic or congestion, even when construction was going on in the area. Garfield Park is perfect for a music festival, and HOTH showed it's possible. The trees added some much-needed shade during the 2nd day when the sun was beaming down. Weather: the weather made this event perfect - a perfect way to celebrate the first day of fall! Crowds: very small, but high for being its first year. The stages had ample room to stand/sit and listen wherever you wanted to be. Vendors: the vendors were a nice mix - a little of something for everyone. The aluminum cups seemed to be a great hit. A cool idea for next year would be to have that cup come with admission and then you can have beverage vendors set a price where they can fill them up. The food trucks were nice for all dietary needs as well which was great. :) Lots of spaces available for adult beverages from both national and local companies. Lineup: a perfect way to introduce yourself to new bands and fall in love with musicians you already know in the intimate festival experience. Ticketing: getting your wristbands was extremely easy and effortless. Branding/swag: this is where the festival hit the nail on the head for me. The branding was spot-on. From the graphics, you knew exactly what you were getting from the get-go. The swag was amazing and so perfectly designed too :) One concern: beverage licensing. I knew Hotel Tango was a big sponsor of the event but wasn't able to keep their set up in place (with free liquor samples/cocktails) after excise police asked them to tear down, due to licensing issues. That should be addressed next year to ensure all sponsors/vendors are okay in their designated locations.

Wonderful venue. Three stages going at once with very little crossover of the music. Great bands…read more Good food and beverages. Bring your ID for alcohol; you will need to get a wristband to purchase. Plenty of room to move about. Have a friend drop you off or use Uber, parking is free but quite limited. Be prepared to walk, bring a chair. The only seating is in front of the amphitheatre and at picnic tables around the park. Reserved seating applies only to the amphitheatre; no seating in front of the other two stages. Port-o-lets are unisex. Ladies, bring t.p. with you. Enough said.

After years of wishing to see this event, I got my friend to join me for our first viewing…read moreexperience. The Sunday drive downtown was much easier without all the busy traffic. There's construction so park on Ohio St. in the surface lot for $10 for first 3 hours then $3 / hr. Or get a membership pass and have the parking validated at Guess Services upon check-in. We utilized the free, self-help coat room. You can bring in your own beverage container and use the water bottle fillers on each floor. The trees were decorated by organizations and businesses throughout the greater Indianapolis. Four floors were decorated and have areas so you can join in the fun pictures. We ate at the Stardust restaurant on the Canal level. I tried her pizza which was fine. I ordered a bison cheesesteak egg roll, and we tried a bag of Michigan cherry BBQ kettle chips. Both were good but pricey even with the 10% member discount. I loved the candy cane display and the kaleidoscope tree as well as the floral tree. I have never seen a pink tree before. They had a tree auction. I found one pickle on a tree but did not see any Hoosier Buddy (Elf on the Shelf). We browsed the gift shop, and she found a Yeti for her family. The indoor event probably changes yearly so I hope to go again.

This has become an annual tradition for my family to go to. The main tree this year was beautiful!…read moreOrganizations from around the Indianapolis area sponsor a tree and decorate it and at the end you get to vote for your favorite.