Schedule of events

• Tuesday, May 14 — Opening Day: Indianapolis 500 Practice
• Wednesday, May 15-Thursday, May 16 — Indianapolis 500 Practice
• Friday, May 17 — Fast Friday: Indianapolis 500 Practice
• Saturday, May 18-Sunday, May 19 — Qualifying
• Monday, May 20 — Indianapolis 500 Practice
• Friday, May 24 — Carb Day
• Saturday, May 25 — Legends Day
• Sunday, May 26 — Race Day

Know before you go

• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession, and merchandise purchases with a debit or credit card.
• Race fans will be allowed to bring coolers + bags smaller than 18"x15"x15" inside the gates.
• Food and beverages will be allowed through the gates. This includes water, soft drinks, beer, and wine in non-glass containers.
• Carts and wagons are allowed every day except Indy 500 Race Day. Strollers, lawn chairs, and folding camping chairs are permitted but are not allowed in concert and VIP areas.
• Smoking is not allowed in IMS grandstands. If you want to smoke, you must do so 20 ft away from buildings + seating entrances. Smoking is allowed in the IMS infield.

• Indianapolis Indians vs. Buffalo Bisons | Wednesday, May 1 | 11:05 a.m. | Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis | $13-$32 | Students from across central Indiana will spend the afternoon at the ballpark — school groups are provided a special ticket discount when purchasing in advance.
• Lou’s Pizza Porch Party | Wednesday, May 1 | 6-9 p.m. | Lou Malnati’s Broad Ripple, 6320 Ferguson St., Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | Enjoy dinner on the pet-friendly patio featuring local acts for the ultimate Pizza Porch Party with fellow music lovers.

• Speed Dating for Professional Singles (29-45) | Thursday, May 2 | 8:15 p.m | 1933 Lounge, 127 S. Illinois St., Indianapolis | $9 | Whether you have tried speed dating before, or this is be your first event, it’s a great opportunity to mix it up and meet new individuals.

• Harrison Center First Friday Porch Party Kick-Off & Gallery Opening | Friday, May 3 | 6-9 p.m. | Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis | Free | Check out Open Studio Night, Indy Flow Jam, a DJ, mocktail bar, a race flag pennant-making class, food trucks, and music.

• 500 Festival Post Race Party | Saturday, May 4 | 7 a.m. | Military Park at White River State Park, 601 W. New York St., Indianapolis | Free | Come down to the 500 Festival Post Race Party and cheer on the thousands of participants as they cross the finish line.
• Garfield Park Art Walk | Saturday, May 4 | 12-5 p.m. | Garfield Park, 927 E. Tabor St., Indianapolis | Free | Come join the first Garfield Park Art Walk + meet local artists as they open their artist studios.

• R&B Ain’t Dead: Cinco De Mayo Day Party | Sunday, May 5 | 3 p.m. | The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N. College Ave., Indianapolis | $10-$70 | Dance along to R&B hits of the 80s, 90s, and today all afternoon long.

• Chamber Music Festival of the Bluegrass | Saturday, May 25-Sunday, May 26 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd., Harrodsburg | $50-$75 | Join New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for performances on Memorial Day Weekend at Shaker Village in Harrodsburg, KY.*

• The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon will draw tens of thousands of people downtown on Saturday, May 4. Whether you’re a participant, spectator, or just trying to get around downtown, make sure you’re aware of the road closures. (WTHR)

• This week, Mayor Hogsett is sharing his plan to bring a Major League Soccer franchise with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission. The proposal includes building a new soccer stadium at a different site from the one planned for the Indy Eleven soccer team. (WTHR)

• Starbucks is open downtown — less than a five-minute walk from the former Monument Circle location, which closed in October 2022. The new location opened yesterday at 30 S. Meridian St. (IndyStar)

• The owner of FortyFive Degrees is planning a new eatery at 555 N. Delaware St., west of Riley Towers Apartments. Harrison’s Restaurant will feature “good portions and fair prices” and is projected to open by spring 2025. Fun fact: The restaurant name is a nod to Benjamin Harrison. (IBJ)

• Heavy metal legends Slipknot announced they will kick off their 25th anniversary tour with a show at Ruoff Music Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 3. (WRTV)

• The Indiana High School Athletic Association will begin fully recognizing two new sports next school year. The board approved boys volleyball and girls wrestling, which will now have an established IHSAA state tournament. Girls wrestling will be a winter sport + boys volleyball will be played in the spring. (WRTV)

• The US Fish and Wildlife Service has provided a $750,000 grant for the Emrichsville Dam’s removal in order to allow fish to swim freely through the White River. The dam, which has been near downtown Indianapolis for more than 100 years, will soon be torn down after several boaters drowned in its current. (WRTV)

• The Colts did right by Anthony Richardson in the 2024 NFL Draft, adding ample protection and giving him more weapons. Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Indianapolis Colts with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.