Be prepared to bust a move if you dress as Ann for Halloween. | Photo by INDYtoday team
Picking out a Halloween costume can be a frightful affair. It’s not always easy to find something that’s cute, fun, topical, and immediately recognizable — especially as the holiday creeps closer.
Here are a few easy costumes inspired by Indy for you to choose from.
Ann Dancing | One of our favorite landmarks is so easy to replicate. Spray paint a cardboard box black and attach some shoulder straps. Use some glow sticks, LED lights, or neon paint to create her simple figure, and dance your way through the night.
Indy 500 Festival Princess | Since its inception in 1959, over 2,000 Hoosiers have been official 500 Festival Princesses, and you could be one too for Halloween. Take a simple princess costume + embellish it with moto-themed elements like checkerboards and racing stripes — don’t forget a crown.
An iconic mural of an iconic Hoosier.
Photo by INDYtoday team
Kurt Vonnegut | You know the iconic mural we’re thinking of. All you need to pull it off is a blue button-up, a red sweater, a blue trenchcoat, black pants, and a cartoonishly big mustache.
Victory | Indy natives should easily recognize the famous lady who crowns the Soldiers and Sailors’ obelisk. Drape a bedsheet over you toga-style and find a torch and (fake) sword to carry around — bonus points if you can get a bird to sit on your head.
Victory was designed by George Thomas Brewster in 1889.
Abraham Lincoln | If you didn’t know, Honest Abe grew up in Indiana, and his signature look is as recognizable as it is easy to pull off. Don your best suit with a ribbon for a tie, toss on a top hat, and glue on the bushiest fake beard you can find.
Orville Redenbacher | Is anything better than a costume that keeps you munching on popcorn all night long? Masquerade as the man who launched a popcorn empire with a suit, bowtie, big black-framed glasses, and perfectly coiffed hair.
Events
Events
Monday, Oct. 21
Genealogy Drop-In | Monday, Oct. 21 | 1-3 p.m. | Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel | Free | Bring your own tablet or laptop to get help discovering your ancestry.
Halloween Painting with Mr. Mummert | Monday, Oct. 21 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Speedway Artist Collective | $30 | Little artists in kindergarten through second grade can join a spooky painting session.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Scroll Sawing Techniques | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 3-5 p.m. | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware | $100 | Learn about delicate piercing, stack laminations, selecting materials, and choosing blades for your scroll saw.
Spooky Board Game Night | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 6-7:45 p.m. | IPL Irvington Branch | Free | Learn to play festive games like Zombie Exploding Kittens and Cthulhu Fluxx.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
3rd Annual Tricks to Make Networking A Treat | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 3-6 p.m. | Office Evolution, Carmel | Free | Expand your professional network, forge new connections, and enjoy a delightful afternoon complete with food + giveaways.
Screams of Silent Cinema | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 7-11:30 p.m. | Healer | $10 | Celebrate Halloween in cinematic style with live musical accompaniment set to scary short films.
Friendship bracelet-making stations where you can craft personalized accessories with your squad
Ash & Elm Cider Co.’s limited-release cider boxes (in the shape of the Lover House, of course) with beverages representing each era to enjoy
Kids karaoke for the littles to sing their hearts out
The best part? The event is free. Join the fun at Midtown Plaza from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. — just two hours before the award-winning singer-songwriter takes the stage at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indy.
Noblesville City Council approved a $250 million residential + retail project that will be next to the Morse Reservoir. Across 175 acres of land, Morse Village will have homes, condos, apartments, and businesses. It will also include ~6 miles of trails and sidewalks. (IndyStar)
Real Estate
A Carmel-based developer is looking to build 142 homes near the Village of West Clay. The development called Clay Cottages would feature 99 single-family detached + 36 attached-paired houses priced from $450,000 to $650,000, plus seven estate-style houses that would range from $1.25 million to $1.5 million. (IBJ)
Sports
The Pro Volleyball Federation announced that Indy Ignite has the No. 1 overall draft pick in the draft, which will be held on Monday, Nov. 25. Highlights of the draft will be available on Indy Ignite’s social media.
History
Construction crews working on the Henry Street Bridge project are uncovering more history at the site. Indy DPW told WTHR they found granite pavers + rail lines from what was once considered to be the first and largest electric railway freight terminal in the US. Moving forward, the project will be led by a team of archaeologists. (WTHR)
Hoosier
“America’s Got Talent” champion and Terre Haute native Richard Goodall will sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the home opener for the Indiana State University men’s basketball team on Thursday, Nov. 7. ISU shared that he will also be performing at halftime. (WTHR)
Trending
“Ariana, what are you doing here?” Actor Tom Hanks was recently spotted shopping at some Old Northside businesses like Dream Palace Books & Coffee and Semantics Paper Goods. Hanks was with his daughter, but there’s no word on what brought them to Indy. (IndyStar)
Listen
The Pacers pulled off a big comeback in OT, beating the Charlotte Hornets last week to close out the preseason. How did they get it done? Listen with Locked On host Tony East.
Drink
Remember when we gave you the scoop on the smoothest vodka ever created? Good news, Circle City: All Huse Culinary locations now offer sweet happy hour deals every Monday to Thursday, including $5 off any cocktail made with Barkeep Vodka. We’ll cheers to that.*
Edu
Thinking about changing your child’s school? St. Richard’s Episcopal School is now accepting applications for students (age 3-Grade 8) for the 2025-2026 school year. Since 1960, St. Richard’s has provided a curriculum based in educational research + timeless values that meets the evolving needs of their students. Schedule a tour.*
Tech
Scammers’ tactics are increasingly sophisticated — OmniWatch offers a groundbreaking layer of identity protection (think: 24/7 monitoring, full-scale identity restoration, and up to $25,000 in scam insurance).*
Category
Answered
Check your shelf before you wreck your shelf
Loudmouth Books is one of our favorite places in town to shop small and support local authors. | Photo by @loudmouthindy
We asked, “What other local Indy authors should be on our reading list?” Here are a few you recommended:
Bloomington native + Zionsville resident Rob Harrell is known for his young adult books. His newest release, “Popcorn,” follows a young man humorously dealing with OCD and anxiety during school picture day.
Indy resident K.R.S. McEntire has penned several dystopian + fantasy YA novels, with a focus on promoting diversity. In fact, she even founded a Facebook group to help other authors with diverse backgrounds share their stories.
C. Bluu was born in Gary and began writing at the age of 10. She now lives in Indianapolis and specializes in thrillers + erotic fiction, publishing her first novel “H.E.M.M.” in 2022.
Tess Kossow’s book “I’m Very Ferris” and its sequel gently explain infertility through in vitro fertilization from the perspective of a child.
The Buy
The Buy
A pair of thermal fleece lined leggings. Made with an elastic waistband and moisture-wicking fabric, they’re perfect for both casual and active wear.
If you make it to Healer this week for the Screams of Silent Cinema event, be sure to check out the space’s newest installation, “Arachnid Jungle” — if you’re brave enough.
