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    Kroger Symphony on the Prairie

    4.3 (63 reviews)

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    ABBAMANIA-the dance floor filled quickly
    Lien K.

    A favorite summer night out activity! Arrive early to get a good spot, especially if it's hot and you're hoping for some shade before the sun goes down. You can pack in any and all food and drinks. There are also on site vendors. If you park out in the field it can be quite a walk but in the past, there has been a shuttle available and the Boy Scouts also offer help carrying your stuff for a donation. Note that snything with a flame is prohibites-tiki torched, grills and candles. The time before the show starts goes fast when you're eating and enjoying your company. The venue itself has a fun atmosphere. It does get crowded but I've always had great neighbors at this event-a few times we have shared food or forgotten items!

    Niki B.

    Nothing says summer more than Symphony on the Prairie! Buy a summer ticket package to save money and so you can go to multiple shows! Invite all your friends, pack a picnic and bring a blanket -- then arrive early so you can sprawl out, snag a space and enjoy a nice bottle of wine or snacks. The concert line-up is always amazing and family-friendly. Some of my upcoming favorites include: Queen, Elton John, and Broadway hits. So excited! We went to a Michael Jackson Symphony on the Prairie last year, and everyone was dancing around in the grass, having a great time. Every concert is always packed, but you'll always at least find a little chunk of grass. There's also local snack and drink options including Sun King, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and much more. Everyone definitely needs to attend at least one of these fun concerts! The tickets are reasonably priced too!

    Reserved seating area

    Not tons of food options (aside from the usual Connor Prairie concessions and lots of alcohol) when I went for Cody Fry. It was a fantastic show, though, and I recommend these seats if you're looking to hear the orchestra as acoustically as possible, as long as you're willing to splurge a little.

    Symphony on the Prairie
    Shelly B.

    We love Symphony on the Prairie as a date night or fun family night out. Here are my tips: Ride Your Bike- If you're close enough and have good safety lights/reflectors on your bike you should consider riding to the concert. You will be able to easily bypass parking traffic on entering and exiting the venue. We were able to pile all of our necessities in the bike trailer with our daughter and it made for a special little spot for her to play with toys when she got restless.  Get up close- It's often intimidating to get up close to the orchestra members during a performance at the Hilbert Theater. At Conner Prairie you have the chance to show your children the performers in action by getting close to the stage. Check out the Teddy Bear series for preschoolers as well as Community Concerts (free) where families can learn more about playing in the orchestra.  BYOT- Bring your own treats! Although Conner Prairie has concessions at the event, there's nothing like packing your own picnic for an outdoor concert. I've seen everything from people bringing in Jimmy John's to people setting up a table with candles, linens and place settings for a gourmet meal! Our favorite treats are chicken salad on croissants, potato salad, frozen grapes and chocolate covered strawberries. Bring the fun- Symphony on the Prairie is a great chance to introduce young children to the arts. It's a wide open area for children to be able to dance and sing as they wish. We like to bring light up toys like Lite Brite or Crayola Light Up Drawing Pad. If we know we're in a kid zone or it's an especially kid friendly event, we'll break out the light up balloons and glow necklaces. Let your family choose- Check the Symphony on the Prairie series lineup and ask your family which ones they want to attend. The ISO performs their top concerts each year (John Williams and Beatles) so if you aren't able to attend multiple you won't miss out. The Star Spangled Symphony is an awesome event. Very kid friendly and they have an amazing firework show.

    Karley C.

    I think going to Symphony on the Prairie is a "must-do" for all Indy residents--it is such a unique experience! Pros: You will see some of the most impressive picnic spreads at this event. People pull out all the stops--some even brining table decor and candles. After attending two shoes, I can also promise you that the music will always be good. This is a great place to come together with family and friends to enjoy all that summer has to offer: warm weather, picnics, and outdoor concerts. Cons: Really, the only con is if you don't bring a lawn chair (trust me, you'll want one) and the parking situation.

    Brady R.

    SOTP is a staple summer event for many in the central Indiana area. I mean, c'mon, what can be better: BYO drinks, eats, chairs, blankets, etc. all while listening to the ISO play tunes, enjoying the summer weather, with the sunset in the background and hanging with friends/family. I've been a handful of times and every time I have sat in the grassy hilly area with friends where we're able to make a picnic out of the event. Everyone brings wines, drinks, local eats, and more. You're able to hangout and create an experience out of the event. I most recently came for the 2019 season opener, the Broadway Rock of Ages. Honestly, I had no idea the ISO wasn't going to be performing, and instead, it was a karaoke-like rockband. I wasn't a fan. New for the 2019 season, they have offered front-row, assigned seating for front-row experiences. This also includes private, VIP, A/C'd bathrooms and it seemed like the bar staff were coming around and serving drinks as well. In theory, this setup sounds amazing, and if you're a die-hard fan for whomever is performing, it's totally for you. Sadly, I was there more for the experience of hanging with fellow Yelpers, sharing local wines and foods, and seeing the sunset in the background. The front-row experience doesn't allow for that, sadly at all. While there seems to be good intentions, I'm not sure I'm a fan. It takes away from the whole SOTP experience that we've all come to love and enjoy. Again, that was my personal experience - others seemed to love the opportunity to be front-row.

    Star Spangled Symphony night
    Lakisha C.

    I've always brought my own food or eaten before coming to Symphony on the Prairie, but since before my last visit there was no time to get food, it was my first time actually paying attention to food available at the venue. Leaving this brief review on food vendors since I couldn't find anything online about what types of concessions were available. The Prairie Grille is the main option for a meal at Symphony on the Prairie. They sell hot dogs and fries for about $3 each. There are also burgers, chicken fingers and tenderloin sandwiches for $7 each, vanilla or chocolate ice cream for $3 and water/soft drinks for $2.50. They also have cheese fries and chili cheese fries. Adjoining vendors have pretzels, popcorn, kettle corn, Dippin Dots and elephant ears. The Apple Store, to the right of the entry gates, has a variety of snacks and apple-based treats. A brief walk to the right, after the entry gates and past the Prairie Grill and restrooms is a tent where you can purchase alchoholic drinks. I had the tenderloin sandwhich and a limited-time option, loaded potato wedges, and thought both were pretty good. The size of each of those was very large and could be easily split between two people. I also got the kettle corn, which is amazing! More often than not, your order will be hot out of the kettle they have on-site, and available in small ($2), medium ($6) and large ($9) sizes.

    Got an extra ticket for the husband's bday!
    Libby B.

    ROCK ON! I wish weather hadn't cut things short because I was having the best time! The reserved seating section up front is brand new, and if you want to be front and center, that's the way to go! It looks like you can bring small coolers in as well so you don't sacrifice some of the comforts of the lawn, but you are assigned seats so you don't have the luxury of spreading out and making your own way here. Also, the events aren't just the symphony! We got to watch the Broadway band of Rock of Ages! It was just the perfect way to celebrate my husband's bday because he loves this music! I had a lot of fun too. Can we do it again?? This was a full on replay of the Rock of Ages songs so it's not always pure symphonic music! I loved the reserved seating, but the lawn looks like so much fun! The reserved seating also comes with private bathrooms and a personal bartender. Now that I have been to this event once, I'm going to have to go again!

    That's me on the far right, chomping on some grapes :)
    Brian M.

    I love a great summer night at the Symphony on the Prairie! The theater is set at the bottom of a slight hill. This works great - come, set up a spot on the grass and because of the hill, it is hard to find a bad spot. I love that you can bring all sorts of food and drinks - alcohol included. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets (leave your video cameras at home though - not allowed). Some people go all out on the food and others keep it simple. And, for an extra charge, you can reserve an up front table for your group. I have heard various bands and orchestras here. As I write this, I am in an intermission for the band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, swinging hits from the roaring '20s. And this year (2017) the kids can earn a free ticket thru the Indy Library summer reading program. Free tickets or not, buy your "non-free" tickets in advance (available at Kroger or the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra box office - early tickets save $13 on an adult ticket. It is a hit with our family!

    Our picnic area
    Samantha K.

    We always have a great time here, the music is always great and the vendors are even better. I got a wine slushee at the jack Daniels tent, we saw the temptations preform (so good) my parents got there at 6:15 (show started at 8) to get a good spot. Which can be annoying but with everything the night comes with I think it's worth it. You can bring a cooler with food and drinks, blankets, tables, chairs, a candle. Just a super good time all around

    General seating
    Cara S.

    This is such a nice venue and concert series, plus the workers are all happy and friendly. I loved being able to bring a picnic and some wine to enjoy an outdoor concert with friends. We all had a great time, and the bands (Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, with Seratones as openers) REALLY ROCKED!

    VIP seating near the stage. This is Joel Hoekstra who gave one of the best guitar performances I've ever seen live.
    Jacob D.

    (I mistakenly left my review at Connor Prairie Events, so reposting here!) Coming for Symphony on the Prairie is always a blast, and now that I've been three times I feel confident in saying it's one of the best ways to celebrate warm weather and a love of music. There are several ways to plan a trip, so you can pick your favorite. The standard ticket prices are low, and allow you to make camp out on the grass. This is actually my favorite way to go with a group of people. Bring all of your picnic/tailgate stuff and enjoy an evening on the lawn with friends, family, and music. Conversely, if you want a table or chair provided for you, there's a small up charge, but it's great if you don't have or don't want to bring any blankets and furniture. Finally, the VIP tickets get you a seat right next to the stage with your own bathrooms and a bartender who will bring your drink orders to you. I did this just recently when I came solo, and it was an excellent experience to be right next to the stage and the music. No matter how you do it, you can't go wrong. Just go, you're going to have a blast.

    Jen K.

    I went to see Broadway's rock of the ages band and they killed it! I loved their energy! The venue allows you to bring your own cooler and most people bring chairs to sit on the lawn. The concert was cut short a bit because severe weather was moving in, but the venue management were very good at informing us on the status. And they made sure we all got out in time before the storm rolled in. It was a super cool experience, got reserved seats and it was great! I would definitely recommend bringing your own food&drinks as it can be quite pricey to buy here.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kroger Symphony on the Prairie

    Is there room in the Sunset Lounge seating to bring your own picnic food?

    Yes you can but get there early or you won't be under the lounge roof. If not you'll be in one of the Adirondack chairs on the surrounding lawn area.

    FIRST TIMER AT THIS VENUE!! Is it worth upgrading to the Sunset Lounge or reserved seating, if so which is better!! I prefer not to wast my money if not worth it?

    Personally, the normal seating is just fine for me! But it's all very subjective so I'd go one time and scope out the seating for yourself!

    Has anyone ever purchased a table for one of these events? We are trying to avoid having to be there super early to stake out a spot for a group of 8

    Yes the tables are nice! We've done it twice.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Kroger Symphony on the Prairie

    Perfect for a picnic with the whole family or just an easy relaxing night on the lawn with your loved one.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Nickel Plate District Amphitheater - Michael Franti

    Nickel Plate District Amphitheater

    3.8(38 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $

    Free concert of Pink'd. Free parking. Free photo booth…read more Saw the makeup 250 yr USA celebration drone show. Excellent location for Farmer's Market, Sparks 4th of July, and Tuesday summer night concerts.

    What a venue, what a show, what a night. I was at Nickel Plate District Amphitheater for the Built…read moreto Spill / Yo La Tengo concert, and it was amazing. Live music feeds the soul, and this concert fed me well. I've been listening to Yo La Tengo since high school, and Built to Spill since several years ago, and never did I anticipate that I'd see them in real life. They just lived in my mind and in my headphones as soul-nourishing entities. And yet, I got to see them play live! In Fishers, Indiana, of all places! I love that Nickel Plate District Amphitheater has been able to bring in some top-notch musical artists lately. It's so great to see bands that I consider elite playing so close to home. I don't even know if I should mention this. But, at one point, I left the venue proper, and was standing outside of the barriers. I could hear and see the concert as clear as if I were in the venue! One of the advantages of an outdoor concert venue. So, I don't know: If you happened to walk up to the venue and didn't have a ticket, but you were a big fan of the artist playing, you would get a satisfactory experience even just standing near this outdoor venue. I'm just saying! Nickel Plate makes it easy on its guests to get through the gates. You do not need a clear bag -- any bag will do, but they will check it. You're allowed to bring your own chairs and blankets. They say no outside food and beverages, but I had an unopened bottle of water in my bag, and they didn't say anything about it. Basically, this is a chill venue at which to see music. They don't allow you to bring alcohol, but if you wanted such a thing, there are two tents available with drinks for sale like canned cocktails, beer, sparkling wine and TCH/CBD-infused beverages. They will make you a gin and tonic, if you want. (Ask me how I know! Actually, don't.) There are also food trucks, with some very tasty food options. There's lots of room in the grassy general seating area to spread out. Everyone I came in contact with was super respectful of space. No one stood in front of me and blocked my view like I thought might happen. (This happens to me a lot -- it's all a part of being a shawty.) Overall, Nickel Plate was a great place to see two bands I love in an outdoor space on a perfect-weather day.

    Photos
    Nickel Plate District Amphitheater - Fishers Blues Fest

    Fishers Blues Fest

    Nickel Plate District Amphitheater - Nickel Plate District Amphitheater

    Nickel Plate District Amphitheater

    Nickel Plate District Amphitheater - Two nights of great blues music!

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    Two nights of great blues music!

    Ruoff Music Center - We love our golden hour views!

    Ruoff Music Center

    3.3(260 reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$$

    We really love this venue. A positive: it is so close to…read moreseveral hotels. It is an easy 1 mile walk vs drive situation. The negative: unless it is a sold-out show, the back entrance is rarely open so you have to walk all of the way around the amphitheater. This is super inconvenient given the number of people who walk from their hotel. The positive: you can take in an unopened water bottle or an empty tumbler for water (IN summer can be brutal heat & humidity) The negative: there are only two refill stations throughout the venue. On hot days where attendance is high, you can find yourself waiting in line to refill water for 25-30 minutes.

    Apparently, as of this writing, Ruoff now charges $10 to rent a lawn chair. I had lawn seats, and I…read moredidn't want to give these cats any more of my bread than I need to, so I thought I'd thug it out with a blanket. It was the right decision! Sitting on the lawn ain't bad. In fact, sitting on a blanket was preferable for me because it allowed me to do some stretching while I listened to the ebullient sounds of an all-female Japanese kawaii metal band. Speaking of sounds: The sound at this outdoor music venue is great. I feel like there isn't a bad seat in the house, even if you have lawn seats. The lawn is sloped, with the stage being at the bottom of the hill, so you have a great view no matter where you're sitting. Plus, there are big TVs showing you what's happening on stage, so you can really see everything. I got dropped off and picked up, which was another good decision. Drop off is a breeze, as there's a designated rideshare spot at Gate 2A just north of Boden and 146th Street. Pick up was also a breeze: Just tell your driver to get there a little bit before the show is supposed to end. Another good thing: There are lots of restrooms! And the restrooms are clean. There are also water bottle refilling stations, which is nice. It's nice that they're not charging for water, if you have a water bottle to refill. Where they getcha is with the alcohol, but that's true for any venue. Still, I grimaced when I had to pay $22 for a pint of Bell's Two Hearted IPA. That didn't stop me from buying two of them, but still. I wasn't happy, dang it! For the most part, I enjoyed my experience at Ruoff Music Center. Some things to keep in mind: It took us about half an hour to get in after being dropped off. If you don't have a bag for them to check, you will get through faster. You can bring bug spray, just don't bring aerosol bug spray, because they will take it away from you. (People are dumb and ruin things for others.) You can bring in outside snacks, as long as they are contained to one gallon-sized bag per person. Bring your patience -- everyone seems like they're doing the best that they can here.

    Photos
    Ruoff Music Center - Let's go!

    Let's go!

    Ruoff Music Center - Hozier!

    Hozier!

    Ruoff Music Center - Seating can be somewhat different for shows, but got a great seat.

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    Seating can be somewhat different for shows, but got a great seat.

    Fishers Nickle Plate District

    Fishers Nickle Plate District

    3.6(7 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $

    It is an interesting, happening area. You can walk the trail and swing on the different types…read more(singles, couples, opposites, nearby, and at a distance) of chair swings. Stairs to climb if you want more exercise. I like the amphitheatre for the free concerts. On the same grounds are the summer Saturdays Farmers Market, which you can see my reviews on their Yelp page. I am currently expecting to see the fireworks after dark; I saw the terrific drone show accompany songs this past Tuesday. Tomorrow is the 2-9 pm festival with again ferris wheel with waiver and $5 for 5 kids activities,parade, community vendors, Hamilton East Public Library, etc. I was intrigued by Bay Area Bistro food special for this Friday night of 2 for $5 or $3 each of a pancit (chicken, rice noodles, carrots and cabbage) or mac-N-cheese egg rolls. I ate 2 pancits with the sweet mango sauce. Now I feel stuff and need to walk more around the district. A recommendation is to have filter water from new sensored bottle water fountains by the center restrooms and actually near each restroom area. I prefer more and clearly labeled recycling containers.

    Fishers has done a great job building up the NPD into a "one stop shop" for everyone's needs…read more Necessities like the library & post office to really fun things like weekly farmers markets , the fishers amphitheater & countless delicious restaurants & shops are all scattered throughout. Not to mention everything is easily walkable, including the nearby Nickel Plate trail!

    Photos
    Fishers Nickle Plate District - Inside chicken, rice noodles, cabbage and carrots with sweet mango sauce.  Wonderful!

    Inside chicken, rice noodles, cabbage and carrots with sweet mango sauce. Wonderful!

    Fishers Nickle Plate District - My pancits egg rolls

    My pancits egg rolls

    Fishers Nickle Plate District - These were fun

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    These were fun

    Melody Inn

    Melody Inn

    4.3(79 reviews)
    13.0 mi
    $

    I'm not sure I could call Melody Inn my favorite concert venue in Indy, but it is a place I…read moreabsolutely love and it caters to types of music I don't always hear elsewhere. Melody Inn is at 38th & Illinois in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood and pretty much across the street from Tarkington Park. I lived at the high-rise at 38th & Meridian for a while and still frequent this area. The "Mel" was established in 1935. It's a historic venue that definitely gives off a dive bar/retro vibe. For live music, there's typically a cover charge around $5 (check the calendar to be sure). Parking in the area is free (street/lot across the street). You can still sit at the original oak bar, hang out in the PBR lounge, visit the Smoker's Garden, and even sit in a vinyl booth from Indy's gone but never forgotten Teepee Restaurant. Melody Inn has an incredible jukebox (obviously not during live music). Every Saturday night is Punk Rock Night (my favorite). The Mel has beer on tap (pretty limited), in cans, and in bottles. They also carry ciders. They have a limited food menu (pizza, chicken strips, corn dogs, and a handful of snack-type foods). This isn't gourmet food - it's dive bar "I got the munchies" food. Local brews include selections from Triton, Sun King, and Three Floyds. While I think Melody Inn is mostly known for its Punk Rock Night, you can also catch hillbilly, rockabilly, rock, comedy, metal, indie, pop, and other types of music here. I've always associated the venue with punk, however, there's something to please everyone here. They have a newsletter you can sign up for on their website. Melody Inn will book local acts. All acts have to be over age 21. They have high expectations for acts promoting their appearances (along with the entire bill). They don't book cover bands, however, they do have tribute nights. While the area here used to be somewhat rough, Butler-Tarkington has improved quite a bit. The park has been updated, Tea's Me is right across the street, and I've just never had much in the way of concerns here. In terms of accessibility, things are pretty decent here for a general admission place. Audiences tend to be pretty considerate (even the punk rock folks!). and the staff here is top-notch. This is just a great place to see local bands and to experience of of Indy's oldest bars/music venues.

    MELL OF A BAR!!!! First time here and I will be back. resident bar goblin Katie made me feel right…read moreat home. Great divey punk bar and 3 DOLLAR PBR!? it doesn't get better than that! We're here for a good time not a long time

    Photos
    Melody Inn
    Melody Inn
    Melody Inn

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    Kroger Symphony on the Prairie - theater - Updated September 2026

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