September officially signals the start of fall, and Hoosiers will have plenty to do around the city, from Butter: A Fine Art Fair, to Indy Jazz Fest, Circle City Classic and Penrod Arts Fair.
Whether you’re looking to attend a local theater production, food festival, concert or art fair, Indianapolis’ arts and culture scene has something for everyone this month. The Recorder put together a list of free and low-cost things to do around Indianapolis during the month of September.
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Thursday, Sept. 3
BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair — $44.52; Free for kids 18 and under (Recurring through Sept. 6)
The Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave.
Featuring more than 50 emerging, mid-career, independent and established Black artists from Indianapolis and beyond, BUTTER is an immersive four-day art fair and cultural experience centering around equity and visibility. The sixth annual fair has preview night at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 and reopens after Education Day at 3 p.m. on Sept. 4, and 11 a.m. on Sept. 5-6.
eventbrite.com/e/butter-fine-art-fair-tickets-1988084319718
Local Music Mix Series: Todd Williams Trio — $10
The Tarkington, 1 Carter Green, Carmel
Renowned saxophonist Todd William takes the stage with bassist Bethany Robinson and drummer Sean Dobbins at 7:30 p.m. to bring Hoosiers an unforgettable jazz performance. After the show, the band will take part in a Q&A session.
Friday, Sept. 4
IndyEast Arts Walk — FREE
10 East Arts, 3137 E. 10th St.
The annual art walk invites the community to tour the east side’s emerging cultural district and creativity alongside the opening of Art in Unexpected Places, a public art initiative through 10 East Arts. The tour takes place from 5-9 p.m. and is open to the public
10eastarts.org/10-east-events/indyeast
Meowsterpieces: A First Friday Feline Art Fundraiser — FREE
Indianapolis Propylaeum, 1410 N. Delaware St.
Hoosier art lovers are invited to participate in a cat-themed art auction from 5-9 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Pepper’s Pals Cat Rescue. The event will feature live music, food and drinks, vendors, adoptable cats and more.
pepperspalscatrescue.org/events
Saturday, Sept. 5
RICHHFEST— FREE
The Evolve Center, 3202 E. 42nd St.
RICHHFEST is a one-day event where the community can come together to experience live music, entertainment and culture. Featuring artists and DJs spinning all genres, comedy, food, local business vendors and community and wellness booths, RICHHFEST takes place from noon to 5 p.m.
facebook.com/events/2455933824840082/?active_tab=discussion
Monday, Sept. 7
Isaiah Rashad: Lil Sunny’s Awful Road Trip Tour — $38.05+
Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
Rapper and singer Isaiah Rashad’s will stop in Indianapolis for a show at 8 p.m. in the Egyptian Room with opening act Alemeda as part of his Lil Sunny’s Awful Road Trip.
Friday, Sept. 11
Penrod Arts Fair — $22.89
Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
Known as “Indiana’s nicest day,” the 59th annual Penrod Arts Fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring a day filled with live music, food and drinks and wares from hundreds of local artists.
Opera in the Park — FREE
MacAllister Amphitheatre, Garfield Park Arts Center, 2425 Conservatory Drive.
Soprano Angela Brown and Maestro Alfred Savia are hosting a free concert alongside the Indianapolis Opera and Indianapolis Youth Opera in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and will include musical guests Ron Dukes and Joseph McBrayer.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Bless the Block Vol III — FREE
Belmont Beach, 1300 N. White River Parkway Drive W.
Bless the Block is a community-centered hip hop concert series aimed at providing Indianapolis residents with a safe space to engage with live music and storytelling with access to free food and community resources. The concert takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and features headliners Rome Herbert and Auboni Essence alongside DJ Fati and BlueGiraffeKid.
Book Bonanza — FREE
Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
The Indianapolis Public Library invites kids and adults to celebrate the joy of reading from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring panels with audiobook narrators, authors and book cover designers; genre meetups, Book Speed Dating and literary vendors.
reservations.indypl.org/event/17020476
Sunday, Sept. 13
“The Last First Lady – Blackout at the Whitehouse” — $16-$22
The Basile Theatre at IF, 719 E. St. Clair St.
Presented by 2009 Art & Soul Featured Artist Gabrielle Patterson, “The Last First Lady” is a monodrama exploring the archetype of the First Lady, and the profound weight of being a Black woman in America. The show begins at 3 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 14
Party on the Plaza — FREE (recurring through Sept. 15)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Morris Bicentennial Plaza, 117 S. Pennsylvania St.
Community members are invited to kick off their evenings with a free party on the plaza. Beginning at 6 p.m. each day, guests can enjoy free bites and drinks from Shake Shack alongside live music and yard games.
Friday Sept. 18
Black As U R: A Cultural Salon Experience — $20
Kan-Kan Cinema, 1258 Windsor St.
Presented by BLQ Medium in partnership with the Damien Center, the evening opens with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by a drag performance, a screening of Michael Rice’s documentary “Black As U R” and a community conversation.
kankanindy.com/events/blqmediumblackasurscreening
Foodees Fest — FREE (Recurring through Sept. 20)
Castleton Square, 6020 E. 82nd St.
The Foodees Food and Culture Festival is coming to Indianapolis, promising a weekend full of culinary delights across more than 40 gourmet vendors alongside arts and crafts from local and guest artisans.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Art Squared — FREE
Historic Fountain Square, 1043 Virginia Ave.
The 13th annual Art Squared brings residents together for a day filled with quirkiness and creativity for guests of all ages. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests can browse the festival marketplace of more than 100 local artists, watch or participate in the Masterpiece in a Day competition, enjoy busking-style musicians or the creator demonstration space.
fountainfletcher.com/artsquared
Central Indiana Electric Vehicle Showcase — FREE
Irvington Presbyterian Church East Lot, 10 S. Audubon Road
For those who are curious about electric vehicles, the Indianapolis Office of Sustainability presents an opportunity for Hoosiers to explore different models, learn more about charging and speak directly to owners.
Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys — $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers
Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
Built over the last two decades by musical artist Alicia Keys and cultural icon Kasseem Dean (Swizz Beats), ‘Giants’ aims to highlight the works of Black diasporic artists across 134 objects from the couple’s holdings.
Thursday, Sept. 23
COLTRANE at 100 — $23.43-$65.52
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave.
Rob Dixon and the Indianapolis Jazz Collective celebrate night two at the Jazz Kitchen as part of the 2026 Indy Jazz Fest, featuring a show at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. alongside spoken word artist Lasana D. Kazembe.
Friday, Sept. 25
42nd Annual Circle City Classic — $16.25–$37.75
Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave.
From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the 42nd annual Circle City Classic features non-stop football games between Crispus Attucks, Arsenal Tech, Lawrence North, Ben Davis, Warren Central and Pike high schools.
Swing — $250
Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St.
Presented by Krieg DeVault, SWING at Victory Field is the Indianapolis Indians Charities annual charity gala supporting youth development, family success, education and neighborhood development. Guests are invited out to a night at the ballpark, featuring live music, elevated local cuisine, craft cocktails and more from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Garfield Park Art & Music Fest — FREE
MacAllister Amphitheatre, 2425 Conservatory Drive
The 9th annual Garfield Park Art & Music Fest aims to showcase the talent of local BIPOC musicians and artists. The family- and pet-friendly festival takes place from 4-9 p.m., and includes more than 50 artists, live bands, artisan booths, food and drinks, and a kids zone.
Indy Jazz Fest Grand Finale — $29.43-$96.44
Indy Art Center Opti Park, 820 E. 67th St.
Headlined by Sheila E. & The E-Train, the Grand Finale concert begins at 1:30 p.m., featuring Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, MonoNeon, Brandon Meeks, Bashiri Asad and more.
Library Card Days — FREE (recurring through Sept. 28)
Indianapolis Public Library, all branches
September is the American Library Association’s Library Card Sign-up Month, and Hoosiers across the city are invited to sign up for or show off their library cards at any IndyPL branch to receive a free bookbag.
Please note: Admission and ticket prices listed are general and before taxes/fees.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
