Want to show off Indy to your friends and family? Walk off the turkey dinner at Highland Park. | Photo by @jdgrohvisuals
Dreading the debates and cringe questions that tend to take over holiday meals with the family? Consider employing one of these five table topics — they may just lead to your favorite conversation yet.
Have you seen these animal sculptures around downtown Indy?
Whether you’ve noticed them or not, we’ve got the backstory to the wildlife sculptures around downtown — like turtles hiding under lampposts. Tell your friends and family about this and they’re sure to go on a safari thenext time they’re walking around the city.
Soon, the area around Gainbridge Fieldhouse will look very different.
Bicentennial Unity Plaza— the new public plaza currently under construction north of Gainbridge Fieldhouse — was named in conjunction with the 200th birthday of Indianapolis and will have two public art installations. The plaza will even have a community basketball court in the heart of downtown that will be transformed into an ice skating rink in the winter.
How well do you know the Circle City?
Prove you’re a hometown expert with our 15 Interesting Facts about Indy. Make it a game to see who can guess the most correct answers.
Your sports-loving loved ones will appreciate this.
Indy is the real MVP when it comes to hosting sporting events. The city of Indianapolis recently celebrated another award for its success in hosting large-scale events. SportsTravel Magazine recognized Indy for hosting the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship — and the city is hosting the Olympic Swimming Trials in 2024, the women’s Final Four in 2028, and the men’s Final Four in 2029.
Convince your out-of-town friends and family to move to Indy.
If you have friends and family visiting for the holidays, there’s a good chance that Indy may be a more affordable place to live than where they came from. Indy has been constantly growing and announcing new developments this year, so we figured it was time to talk about the cost of planting some roots in the Circle City. Who knows — while they’re visiting, they could be scouting out their future home.
Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Wednesday, Nov. 23 | 7 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | $9-$214 | Can the Pacers bring home another W after their home win against the Orlando Magic on Monday night?
Thanksgiving Eve with Street Pennies | Wednesday, Nov. 23 | 8-11:30 p.m. | HI-FI Indy & HI-FI Annex, 1043 Virginia Ave. Unit 4, Indianapolis | Free | Kick off the holiday with jams from this homegrown Bloomington blues, funk, and rock band.
Friday, Nov. 25
Dasher’s Lightshow | Friday, Nov. 25-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 5:30-10:30 p.m. | Castleton Square Mall parking lot, 6020 E. 82nd St., Indianapolis| $29.95 | Drive through this holiday display and watch the roughly one million lights dance and blink in sync with holiday music favorites.
Indy Fuel vs. Iowa Heartlanders | Friday, Nov. 25 | 7 p.m. | Indiana Farmers Coliseum, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis | $16-$60 | Dress in your best black attire, bring a flashlight, and cheer on Indy’s hockey team during a blackout Black Friday game.
Circle of Lights® | Fri., Nov. 25 | 6-8 p.m. | Monument Circle, Monument Circle, Indianapolis | Free | Enjoy a night of live entertainment, music, and food — gather ‘round the tree at 7:50 to see Santa flip on the lights (pro tip: if you can’t be there in person, catch the magic on WTHR).*
Saturday, Nov. 26
Small Business Saturday | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 8 a.m.-7 p.m. | The Local Radish, 612 Main St., Beech Grove | Free | Shop unique gift options and support local businesses at The Local Radish.
The Stutz Winter Market | Saturday, Nov. 26-Sunday, Nov. 27 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Stutz Building, 212 W. 10th St. Ste. E-350, Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | See the renovation of the historic Stutz building and show your support for Small Business Saturday at this two-day winter holiday market.
Monday, Nov. 28
BINGO Night for Parks presented by Buckingham Companies | Monday, Nov. 28 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Guggman Haus Brewing Co., 1701 Gent Ave., Indianapolis |$21-$200 | Guggman Haus is celebrating Giving Tuesday early with proceeds benefiting The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
IndyGo wants to help make sure you get to your destinations this holiday season.IndyGo will give free rides on its fixed route and paratransit vehicles all day on Thanksgiving (Nov. 24). It will also offer free fare on Christmas Day and after 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. 🚌 (IndyStar)
Sports
You might have noticed we broke a bit of news up above.Indy has been tapped to host the 2029 NCAA men’s Final Four, a day after announcing it will host the 2028 women’s Final Four. The men’s Final Four will take place March 31 and April 2, 2029 and will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium. 🏀 (IBJ)
Is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition watching football? We want to make sure that you’re catching all the sports coverage you need to join the conversation. Tell uswhat kind of sports content you want to see in INDYtoday. The ball is in your court.
Watch
Four Indiana high school marching bands will be performing in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade — the Whiteland Warriors, Decatur Central Hawks, Mt. Vernon Marauders, and Jasper Wildcats. The parade will air live on WRTV Channel 6 beginning at 9 a.m. ThePhiladelphia Thanksgiving Parade is the oldest in the country. 🥁 (WRTV)
Feel Good
Gobble, gobble.200 turkeys will be going to 200 families in central Indiana, thanks to Colts star Shaquille Leonard. Hundreds of Hoosiers filled the parking lot of Chapel Rock Church Monday afternoon for the linebacker’s annual turkey giveaway. Shaquille is out for the season due to a back surgery. 🦃 (WRTV)
Cause
Have you ever considered becoming a foster parent, but didn’t think you could do it full-time? Becoming a respite care provider might be a better option for you instead. Respite care providers care for children on a temporary basis and support full-time foster parents. Connect with SAFY to learn more about the program.*
Stat
63% of first time homebuyers admitted to bidding for a homethey didn’t really want.That’s nearly two in three homebuyers. Here’s why that may be.*
Drink
If you haven’t made a run to the store for your Thanksgiving Day spirits by now, we’re thinking you already have a million things to do. Enter: Drizly, an online alcohol marketplace that delivers beer, wine, and spirits to your doorstep. Place an order now and it will arrive in under 60 minutes.*
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Tuggle’s moved into a bigger location across the street, just in time for holiday shopping. | Photo by @tugglesindy
Can you believe it? Small Business Saturday is three days away.
To help you support local, we’ve rounded up some small businesses to shop your holiday list with.
Fountain Fletcher District
In addition to 55 passport stops at area small businesses, many merchants in the district have extra events and promotions to make the day even more special.
Tuggle’s | 1029 Virginia Ave. | While you’re shopping, write a letter to Santa and drop it off in the North Pole mailbox.
Hi-Fi | 1043 Virginia Ave., Unit 4 | Stop by the Hi-Fi to check out merch from local bands.
Editor’s pick: Another conversation starter for me will be the transformation of the Stutz Building — and you can show it off to your family (after you give them the backstory) during the winter market happening this weekend. I know I’ll also be hitting it up for Small Business Saturday.
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