May is like Christmas time in Indiana with houses decked out for the Indy 500. | Photo by Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Month of May is almost here — and we want you to enjoy the greatest spectacles of local events.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month.
First Friday Gallery Opening | Friday, May 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Harrison Center | Free | Join this special edition with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, featuring nine new gallery openings and the annual Porch Party Kick-Off.
AANHPI Community Market | Sunday, May 4 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Stutz | Cost of purchase | Visit this first AANHPI Community Market — a celebration of local artists and small business owners.
You’ll find this traditional Japanese gate at the Japanese Garden in Carmel.
Photo by Carmel City Hall
Cherry Blossom Festival | Sunday, May 4 | 1-4 p.m. | Carmel Japanese Garden | Free | Join the first-ever festival to celebrate vibrant Japanese culture while recognizing Carmel’s sister city relationship with Kawachinagano, Japan.
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers: Round 1 Game 7 | Sunday, May 4 | Time TBA | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | $52+ | Hopefully, the Blue + Gold will close out the series early, but if it goes down to the wire, they’ll need every superfan in the building for the final game of the series.
500 Festival Post-Race Party | Saturday, May 3 | 7 a.m. | Military Park at White River State Park | Enjoy live music, live video feed of the race, and food from local restaurants + specialty food vendors.
Women of Wellness | 6-8:30 p.m. | Indianapolis Arts Center | $13+ | Listen to a wellness panel, enjoy meditation + yoga sessions, and browse complimentary experiences to help you feel your best.
The Improv Mixer | 8:30-10 p.m. | Comedy Sportz | Free | Whether you’re a seasoned performer or brand new to improv, this is your chance to jump in, play, and connect with the vibrant community.
Friday, April 25
Arbor Day at Newfields | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Newfields | Free | Help spruce things up in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park — all volunteers will be given a native tree seedling to take home.
Indy Ignite vs. Orlando Valkyries | 7 p.m. | Fishers Event Center | $30+ | Cheer on Indy’s pro volleyball team as the season heats up.
Saturday, April 26
The Square Food Fest | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Alamo Drafthouse | Cost of purchase | Enjoy tasty bites from Alamo’s kitchen, plus an incredible lineup of food trucks at this inaugural family-friendly festival.
Sunday, April 27
Sheng Wang | 7 p.m. | Old National Centre | $40+ | Laugh along with the Taiwanese American stand-up comedian, who was a staff writer for ABC sitcom series “Fresh Off the Boat.”
The evolving story of beadwork comes alive at this exhibit
Presented by Eiteljorg Museum
This exhibit is an invitation to experience bead art like never before — and to see how Native American artists are redefining its place in today’s world. | Photos courtesy of Eiteljorg Museum
Discover the art, power, and beauty of beadwork at the Eiteljorg Museum’s newest exhibition, “Radical Stitch,” open now through August 4. This one-of-a-kind experience is the only US showing of the acclaimed exhibit, and it features 100+ stunning pieces by Native American artists from the US and Canada.
The exhibit celebrates beadwork as a vibrant, contemporary form of artistic expression that bridges tradition and innovation. Visitors will see intricate designs, bold statements, and cultural narratives come to life through color, texture, and craftsmanship throughout the exhibit.
From timeless techniques to cutting-edge creations, these works reflect resilience, creativity, and cultural pride. This exhibition showcases the evolving art of beadwork, demonstrating how it connects past and present while pushing artistic boundaries and redefining what bead art can be.
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience beadwork in a whole new light — only at the Eiteljorg.
Nora library goers, get ready to be booked and busy. The Indianapolis Public Library’s Nora Branch will celebrate its reopening after extended renovations on Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. The event will feature speeches, performances, and activities.
Outdoors
Riverside Adventure Park is getting ready to welcome people of all ages to its new fitness and playground equipment, four miles of trails + new shelters. A ribbon cutting will be held on Thursday, May 1 and phase two of the project will begin next year. (WRTV)
Plan Ahead
This is your friendly reminder that the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon will take place next Saturday, May 3 and draw tens of thousands to downtown Indy. Check road closures and the race schedule. (WTHR)
Community
This Saturday, April 26 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day — a biannual event that encourages community members to safely dispose of unwanted, unneeded, and expired prescription medications. Visit IMPD and state police at several locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Listen
The Pacers scored early and often for a 123-115 Game 2 win over the Bucks. How has their offense been so good in this series + what comes next? Locked On host Tony East breaks it all down.
Sports
Get ready for the ultimate summer experience at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. With top tennis legends, live music, delicious food, and a vibrant social scene, this event has it all. Plus, the newly upgraded venue brings twice the action. Learn more + snag tickets.*
Home
Sometimes the smallest changes have the biggest impact. Explore the Signature Store to see how a small upgrade or fixture swap can liven up your kitchen. Need help deciding where to start? Get expert advice from their product and design consultants.*
The Word
Unlimited. As in, the limit does not exist when it comes to how many job listings you can post on the INDYtoday Job Board. Get started today + watch the applications roll in. Psst — upgrade your job posting and it will be featured right here in the newsletter.
Read
Looking for an informative, faith-based newsletter? The Pour Over delivers current events with a Christian perspective, perfect for staying informed. Subscribe to the newsletter to join the community.*
Number
$5,000. That’s how much your dog’s ACL surgery could cost if you don’t have pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that could be reimbursed.*
Biz
Biz
👀 Introducing ad bundles
Our bundles secure your business more advertising space for less. | Graphic by 6AM City
The newest addition to our self-service ad portal — our advertising marketplace with no long-term contracts — is bundles. We’ve put some of our most popular products into two different offerings — each with a savings of 20%. Here’s the rundown:
Branded Content Bundle: Three placements in our newsletter, including a 75-word article and two text ads in the News Notes section.
A smart bird feeder that auto-captures and identifies 10,000+ bird species. It features an HD camera with a wide angle lens and full color night vision, Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to receive real-time messages when a bird is detected, and a sturdy, waterproof fabrication for long-term use.
Yes, ‘Cers. I made it to Game 2 Tuesday night and witnessed another win over the Bucks. Before the game, I spoke with the “mayor” of vintage Pacers gear to get hyped up — so if you need more gear to rep the ‘Cers during this Playoff run, follow us on Instagram to find out who the plug is.
Answered
Answered
Speaking of the Playoffs, we quizzed you on your Pacers knowledge and here’s how you did:
The question was, “Who did the Pacers fall to in the Conference Finals last season?”
70% of you paid attention — our Playoff run unfortunately ended with a loss to the Celtics last season.
16% of you thought we lost to the Knicks.
11% of you forgot that we beat the Bucks. So far, it looks like we’re repeating history.
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