Free pep rally at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, January 21st. Prizes, cheerleaders and general raucousness should be expected. Don't know how kid-friendly it will be, but surely the noise will keep them entertained! Free parking too in Tire Barn south lot. Enter at your own risk...
http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=events&id=4888
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Free MLK day activities
There are a number of free institutions offering free admission - with the request of a canned food donation - on Martin Luther King, Jr. day. This is probably the first time I've seen the Zoo open free. The Children's Museum is also free as is White River Park, the State Museum, Eiteljorg Museum and the NCAA Hall of Champions. Conner Prairie is also open free. We will probably head to either White River and NCAA or to Conner Prairie ourselves. We try to avoid free days at places we have membership but if you don't it's a great opportunity! More detailed lists are available here:
http://www.aroundindy.com/tomorrow.php
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101140452
http://www.aroundindy.com/tomorrow.php
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20101140452
12 free days of Christmas
It's a little late for '09, but one of the best times of the year is the 12 free days of Christmas in Indianapolis. Each day, one place opens free in the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The stand-bys for the free days are the Children's Museum, Conner Prairie, and the State Museum with a few variations thrown in each year. This past Christmas we checked out the new Rhythm Discovery Center and the kids loved playing in the free play percussion area, with lots of drums, rattles and so forth.
I've been shocked how many people who've lived here longer than I have never heard of this, so check it out in '10 and spread the word! A simple Google search will turn up the annual list.
I've been shocked how many people who've lived here longer than I have never heard of this, so check it out in '10 and spread the word! A simple Google search will turn up the annual list.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Free Fall Fun
Fall in Indianapolis brings not just piles of leaves but a heap of free family fun. Twice we have run across church "fun" days, on the same street near our house alone. These offer free lunch (usually hot dogs and chips) and games for the kids, along with such accouterments as popcorn and sno-cones... keep your eye out for these and I'll post any that I see.
It's also ethnic and fall festival time. The second Chinese Festival was a couple weeks ago. It's a one-afternoon event that's free in Military Park. There's Chinese dancing, a variety of Asian food (Indian even!) and free bouncies for the kids. Oh, and don't forget the Pacers' spin the wheel for the prizes.
Last weekend was the Irish Fest. Most of the weekend it is far from free but if you go during the hour it first opens, it is free. In addition, if you sign up as a designated driver (just meaning you're not drinking) you get two free soft drinks or water. The kids' play area is $5 a kid, but in our case that paid off.
It's getting to pumpkin patch time too - our favorite is Waterman's - you get a lot of bang for your buck there and the pumpkins are cheap too.
So get outside, and rake in the free fun this fall in Indianapolis!
It's also ethnic and fall festival time. The second Chinese Festival was a couple weeks ago. It's a one-afternoon event that's free in Military Park. There's Chinese dancing, a variety of Asian food (Indian even!) and free bouncies for the kids. Oh, and don't forget the Pacers' spin the wheel for the prizes.
Last weekend was the Irish Fest. Most of the weekend it is far from free but if you go during the hour it first opens, it is free. In addition, if you sign up as a designated driver (just meaning you're not drinking) you get two free soft drinks or water. The kids' play area is $5 a kid, but in our case that paid off.
It's getting to pumpkin patch time too - our favorite is Waterman's - you get a lot of bang for your buck there and the pumpkins are cheap too.
So get outside, and rake in the free fun this fall in Indianapolis!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Miracle Mile Parade
The free Miracle Mile parade takes place this weekend, on September 5, practically right outside my home just south of downtown Indianapolis. I don't know a lot about it except that it was started to gather families to the south side of Indianapolis. I plan to walk the boys all up for the Taste of the Miracle Mile and Hall of Fame Exhibit at 11 am and watch the start of the parade at 1 before nap time. For those who don't need to nap, there is the Cruisers Car Show at Southern Plaza at 3 pm.
More info here: http://www.miraclemileparade.com/index.html
More info here: http://www.miraclemileparade.com/index.html
Friday, July 3, 2009
Indy Parks free lunch program
A couple days ago, in attempting to discover some new parks, we encountered the Indianapolis Parks free lunch program in practice. After drizzle sent us from the empty Riverside Park, we decided to stop at the Fall Creek Park where a bunch of kids were playing. I noticed a woman sitting at a table with coolers, boxes of toys and other activities and thought maybe she was having a picnic.
A couple of the older girls playing tried to engage my boys in playing but they were too shy initially. Then a truck showed up from Indy Parks delivering 20 free lunches. The lady called all the kids over to eat and then a few minutes later came over to invite the boys to have a lunch too. They were quite excited about their sandwich, applesauce, juice and chocolate milk. I had heard that they did this at a park by my friend's house but didn't know it was citywide. And as I talked later to the lady, found out she also watches these kids (usually 20 or so but on this cool rainy day just less than 10) there all day and organizes the activities. I was truly impressed by this program.
After lunch, the kids did exercises and games and I encouraged the boys to participate. They were pretty reticent and clinging to me at first but by the time they had moved on to Duck Duck Goose, they were fully participating while I just watched. Isaac especially was good at running around the park avoiding being tagged while Ethan seemed to make up his own rules by running to the playground and staying there...
We had a great time and I will probably take them back there since they know some of the kids now and we will also check out what they do at Garfield Park near us.
A couple of the older girls playing tried to engage my boys in playing but they were too shy initially. Then a truck showed up from Indy Parks delivering 20 free lunches. The lady called all the kids over to eat and then a few minutes later came over to invite the boys to have a lunch too. They were quite excited about their sandwich, applesauce, juice and chocolate milk. I had heard that they did this at a park by my friend's house but didn't know it was citywide. And as I talked later to the lady, found out she also watches these kids (usually 20 or so but on this cool rainy day just less than 10) there all day and organizes the activities. I was truly impressed by this program.
After lunch, the kids did exercises and games and I encouraged the boys to participate. They were pretty reticent and clinging to me at first but by the time they had moved on to Duck Duck Goose, they were fully participating while I just watched. Isaac especially was good at running around the park avoiding being tagged while Ethan seemed to make up his own rules by running to the playground and staying there...
We had a great time and I will probably take them back there since they know some of the kids now and we will also check out what they do at Garfield Park near us.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Let's Meet PBS Kids in the Park
The annual Indianapolis Let's Meet PBS Kids in the Park is coming up this Saturday, June 27. The is a great free Indianapolis event for kids. It's been two years since we've been, but the boys had fun even at age 2. They had bouncy slides and tunnels and lots of stalls with give-aways, buses for climbing and so on.
The only thing we didn't do last time that we'll see if the boys want to try this year is meeting the show characters. They were already quite fond of Curious George last time but the lines were really long for him, and it was drizzly that day. Now they know Arthur and Sid and the gang so they may want to wait in line... we'll let you know.
I highly recommend anyone with kids of any age that watch PBS to check it out.
http://www.wfyi.org/LM/
The only thing we didn't do last time that we'll see if the boys want to try this year is meeting the show characters. They were already quite fond of Curious George last time but the lines were really long for him, and it was drizzly that day. Now they know Arthur and Sid and the gang so they may want to wait in line... we'll let you know.
I highly recommend anyone with kids of any age that watch PBS to check it out.
http://www.wfyi.org/LM/
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