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Celebrate the Month of May with porch parties

Porch parties have become a tradition in Indianapolis to kick off Indy 500 celebrations.

Indy 500 porch decorations

May is like Christmas time in Indiana with houses decked out for the Indy 500.

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Grab a lawn chair, call the neighbors over, and sip on an ice cold beverage — porch party season is here.

“Porching is a long-standing Indianapolis tradition where friends, family and even strangers gather on front porches during the warm months of the year for fellowship,” according to the Indianapolis Recorder.

In 2016, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway partnered up with the Harrison Center to take porch parties, which typically begin around May, and use it as a way to kick off Indy 500 celebrations during the month of May.

Want to get in on the fun? Hosting your own porch party is pretty simple. Just put up some race-themed decorations in the front yard, choose an evening to host, invite your friends, family, and neighbors, prepare some snacks + drinks, and have a good time.

If you host a porch party by this Sunday, May 21, you can register your decorated home for a chance to win prizes from IMS.

Upcoming community porch parties

  • Presidential Porch Party | Thursday, May 18 | 5-7 p.m. | Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, 1230 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis | $5
  • Speedway Porch Party | Friday, May 19 | 4-6 p.m. | Advance Auto Parts, 5636 Crawfordsville Rd., Speedway
  • 16 Tech Porch Party | Wednesday, May 24 | 4-7 p.m. | The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis | Free

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