I this was so fun!! The other reviews are accurate- the lines are very long and there are a lot of…read morethem. But honestly I was having so much fun I didn't mind! There are 2 stages so there is always live music while you are waiting in lines which helps. The food was SO GOOD from the vendor they brought it, and the beer choices were very good! Even as someone who pretty much only likes sours and ciders, I was able to find 2 beers I liked enough to drink 32 oz of it. The events were really what made this so much fun! My favorite was the daschund races obviously. We got to the "arena" area about 20 minutes early with our beer and got front row seats - so worth it!! They are so cute and it is so fun. The stein holding contest was also very impressive and fun to watch. We danced at the Rathskeller, cheered along to live music, and saw lots of people we knew. Looking forward to this next year!

Went to Germanfest today. I had a couple tickets waiting for me that I won from @YelpIndy. There…read morewas confusion by everyone around the ticketing and also they could not find my tickets. People waited in line for wrist bands only to find out they needed to go to the podium first to get a ticket. This is the 13th year for this event I would think things like this would be worked out. I found a parking spot about a half a block away so that worked out well. I had a nice time. I talked to a lot of nice folks. I ate some good food. I really enjoyed my potato pancakes with sour cream. I do not drink beer but they also had wine and regular cocktails. They had German music and everyone really enjoyed it. They had weiner dog races but it was very crowded around the track and I did not get to see them but I did see plenty walking around the event. They had several vendors and I purchased a hat for my grandchild. I had fun and also enjoyed a meal at The Rathskeller.

I've been to two Moonlight events and will go back for future ones as well!…read more Is so nice to see everyone dressed up in themes and having fun like kids again! The food and drinks are always a hit! I love the small bites and samples of food and trying new places I might not have otherwise. The event is a fund raiser for a good cause so that makes it even better! Each year the theme is different. One event was roaring 20s and the next was enchantment. Nice thing is that you can do as little or as much as you want with the theme. I've seen people go all the way into a character and people dress casually. The only sore spot is when a place runs out of food. Especially early in the evening and you didn't get a chance to try. But there are so many spots to sample and also tons of games and activities and photo ops all around.

A time was had!…read more Museum by Moonlight at the Children's Museum is such fun! If you're a kid at heart this is the place you want to be! The fun ranges from getting to play with all of the interactive activities at the museum, to exploring the exhibits child free, and having a nice cocktail and giggling with your friends while you walk around and reminisce. There are yummy snacks to sample from local eateries and you will love moving from Florida floor enjoying each of the unique treats. And don't forget - the DJ keeps the party going all night, so be sure to bring your dancing shoes!

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.

This weekend (8/22-8/23/26) makes my 3rd year in a row, going to Greekfest…read more The food is DELICIOUS. The desserts amazing. Items I've never heard of or tasted. The entertainment is fun. Everyone is always welcoming. I love to see so many different people from different walks of like participating in the big dance.

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!

First time experiencing this brunch event. I was not able to get there right at general admission…read moreopen time but was only a half hour late and several locations were already sold out. I feel that with the admission price and the event not close to being done that you should be prepared as a business to bring your A game and be able to provide samples for a longer period of time. But I guess I can assume that also means they know how to do brunch right and were really popular. I appreciated that they had bottled water available. I enjoyed trying multiple different local restaurants that I have not been able to try. I would recommend it to friends and family but we have to wait another year!! Great experience to support local and a great charity to support the community.

The only thing I hate about this event was that it only happens once a year in Indy!…read more What a fun morning of brunching and drinking and celebrating everything about breakfast time! Tips for going: wear good walking shoes, have a fun crew, and bring an empty belly! This was the perfect opportunity to try restaurants that I have long wanted to but just hadn't had the opportunity to do yet. They all came to this one event and shared their best bites! DJ was awesome music was perfect! They kept the drinks coming and there was definitely enough food to go around!

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.

First time going and it was planned very well. Staff and guests were all friendly and in a good…read moremood. Held at the Pan Am pavilion this year, saying they could set up for rain or shine. Weather was great Friday evening. Lucky us because if this was held earlier, it would've been uncomfortably sweltering. Event was offered two days, Friday from 5p to 10p and Saturday 3p to 8p. Alcohol serving ended 30 minutes to closing time. You could have bought tickets for one night or both. There's an upcharge if you wanted food or the VIP wines. A few weeks before the event, the FB page listed a $5 off coupon code and a $15 discount if you bought the ticket at Big Red liquor store. I wish I waited to buy my ticket to get the discounts but I wasn't sure if it was going to sell out. We walked in, was wristbanded, received our cute wine glasses, 20 tasting tickets, and a free beer sample ticket. There were food trucks on-site that you could pay out of pocket. We had a dinner reso later so i didn't get to try the food but it certainly smelled good. There was seating near the stage. Plenty of porter potties with hand washing station. Informal lines and walking around to sample wines. You could clean your glass at most tables with a water bottle and then dump into the bucket. Total of 1 oz pours and they're not allowed to put more than that at one time but you can resample with another ticket. At first i was disappointed with the pour size but by golly! 20 samples plus some freebies really was enough. If it weren't for our reso we could've easily spent 3-4 hours here. I started with whites but quickly switched to the reds because i prefer dry, oak, and whiskey. My favourites included Suite Michelle riesling and reds; Cooper Hawks almond, moscato, and cab; St. James peach; Constellation 7 moons and Cooper & Thief bourbon wine; and 520 bourbon and chocolate wine (tastes like a tootsie roll!). Thank you for such a great time!!

The inaugural Indianapolis Wine Festival exceeded expectations. Even though the event was new to…read moreIndy, the organizers have planned similar events in other cities. The IWF appeared well-run and it made for a good experience. The IWF was a two day event, with separate tickets for each night. Because of inclement weather, Friday night was cancelled and tickets were honored for Saturday. I wasn't sure what to expect since it's a new event, and they ended up having a big turnout on Saturday afternoon. The wine tasting went for a full five hours, and people arrived on a staggered basis. Lines for check-ins lasted no longer than a few minutes. Kudos for hosting the event for a long duration and allowing people to come back. As far as the wine tasting, there were 30+ booths to choose from. Most featured several reds and whites with a few dessert wines thrown in. I concentrated on the reds and they were fairly solid. Most of the selections were middle tier so don't expect a lot of high-priced vino. The lines weren't bad at all, at least toward the second part of the event. I just asked for a couple of samples (moving out of the way in between), then hit the next booth. There were some nice features of IWF I did not expect. There was a mini beer garden and admission included a pint of beer. That's a nice change of pace especially on a hot day. Free water was also included, and one of the sponsors offered free flavored water which really come in handy. There were a few food trucks on-site, and Maple Leaf Farms offered free samples of duck. There was also free popcorn and I certainly took advantage of it. Since the food options were fairly limited, I recommend eating somewhere else beforehand. Indianapolis Wine Festival was pretty good especially since it was new. The price point was on par with other events, though technically you don't get unlimited tasting (you get 20 sampling tickets but it didn't matter anymore toward the end). There were some nice perks, decent wines, and you didn't spend most of your time waiting in line.

Attended Irish Fest for it's 25th anniversary yesterday. I'd never been before so can't compare it…read moreto it's pre-covid days at Military Park. This year it was at Garfield Park which is very pretty location and seemed a good fit for the festival. There were 3 stages with a variety of bands throughout the day. I enjoyed the tents dedicated to Irish history and there was a nice small exhibit dedicated to the 1916 Proclamation and Rebellion. There were enough drink tents with both Irish beers and other options. Needs to be some type of whiskey tent added. Food choices were limited and lines long. Not sure if this was due to the downsizing of the event or not. The Irish dancers were fun to watch and there could have been more of it. I would go again to compare against a non-covid year. Let's hope!!

I've always found Irish history interesting and have a few friends who are very passionate about…read moretheir Irish heritage which I support! I've heard about this via social media and people that I know, I'm glad I finally had the chance to check it out. Located in military park in downtown Indy, you'll find the Irish fest. You can purchase advance tickets or pay at the gate. After you walk inside further there are so many different tents and options I'm not sure how someone would make it through the whole thing! Visually it's awesome to take it all the different tents and booths, there's political, firefighters, art, jewelry, clothes and so much more! The beer options are impressive for a festival, Irish beers as well as some local, yay sinking! As well as some wine! Food options are "traditional" Irish fare, and they don't forget the kids so there's something for everyone. I had a corned beef sandwich on rye! I really enjoyed the music! From what I could see there were 2-3 different stages and we spent most of our time listening to the fighting Jameson's! Good time had by all