It’s August, which means there are only a few more weeks before the leaves start to turn.
For now, however, Indianapolis is still hot for the summer — from the Indiana State Fair to IndyFringe Festival, Chreece Fest, BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair and more.
The Recorder has put together a list of a few free and low-cost arts and culture events and activities to attend this August.
Friday, Aug. 1
Art & Soul in the Alley — FREE
The Alley at The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite B
Presented by Click Art, The Alley Sessions is hosting an evening of music and creation celebrating the Art & Soul 2025 Featured Artists and Alumni.
Icons of Community: Indiana’s Historic County Courthouses — FREE
Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Ave.
Indiana Landmarks’ Friday Art Show and Talk will dive into attorney Douglas Church’s journey to collect artwork representing all 92 of Indiana’s county courthouses.
indianalandmarks.org/event/historic-county-courthouses
“Clue: A Drag Parody” — $35 (Recurring Aug. 2-3 and Aug. 7-10)
The District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Ave.
Indy Drag Theatre’s latest performance tackles the humor and chaos of the 1985 cult classic “Clue.” The drag parody promises to be a celebration and fusion of the traditional art of theatre and exaggerated art of drag.
Saturday, Aug. 2
50th annual South Side Reunion — FREE
Babe Denny Park, 900 Meikel St.
Attendees are invited to celebrate the 50th annual South Side Reunion — also known as William Lester Craig Day — with live music from a DJ, food vendors, historic exhibits and a community balloon release. The event honors five decades of unity, heritage, excellence on Indianapolis’s South Side, featuring a Scan-A-Thon for family photos and an appearance by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.
4th Annual AfroFest – A Celebration of Culture, Community, and Creativity — $7.18
Morris Bicentennial Plaza, 125 S. Pennsylvania St.
Hoosiers are invited to African culture in the heart of downtown with live music and DJ sets, food vendors, local shopping, games during an evening filled with community and culture.
Indiana State Fair — $17 (Recurring through Aug. 17)
Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.
The Indiana State returns, celebrating Hoosier traditions with food, farm animals, live music, art and family-friendly entertainment. This year’s theme, “The Art & Nature of Fun,” showcases creativity and the outdoors with new exhibits alongside classic fair favorites.
Sunday, Aug. 3
Art & Soul Sundays: The Gospel of Morris — FREE
Indianapolis Artsgarden, 110 W. Washington St.
The Gospel of Morris presents a high-energy live show with musician Morris Kimble blending gospel, R&B, funk and pop into a soulful, reimagined sound for weekly Art & Soul Sunday showcase
Wednesday Aug. 6
Hoosier Lottery Free Stage: Babyface — FREE
Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.
Babyface will play the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage. Tickets are free with the price of admission and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
indianastatefair.com/p/entertainment1/-free-stage
Thursday, Aug. 7
The Kickback: Family Game Night w/ Dr. Ashford & Friends — FREE
The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd.
Hosted by Dr. Austin Dean Ashford and sponsored by GANGGANG, community members of all ages are invited to engage in a joyful, family-friendly night of music, games and storytelling.
Friday, Aug. 8
Blues in the Alley — FREE
The Alley, 924 Pennsylvania St.
The Jazz Kitchen is hosting a soulful night of music with Harriett Ellis and gospel-blues artist Rebekah Meldrum complete with food, desserts and top-shelf cocktails available for purchase.
Industry Baby 2 — FREE
Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive
GPAC Second Fridays open exhibition invites guests to meet the artists, see the show and enjoy drinks from Garfield Park Brewery. “Industry Baby 2” showcases work by Hoosier artists currently working in the food service industry.
Saturday, Aug. 9
Cereal Cinema — $6; FREE for children 5 and under
Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
Newfields’ family-friendly movie night features a selection of funny and exciting kid-friendly films spanning past-to-present alongside a curated cereal buffet. The event is included in general admission, offering a full day of entertainment for kids and parents alike.
discovernewfields.org/events-exhibitions/cereal-cinema
2025 Naptown DJ Fest — FREE
Watkins Park, 2360 Dr. M. L. King Jr. St.
This festival honors Indiana’s rich DJing culture alongside Indianapolis’ recognition of DJing as a “powerful art form” to unite communities and preserve its musical legacy. Through performances, workshops and exhibits, Naptown DJ Fest celebrates past legends while inspiring the future of music innovation in Indianapolis.
Sunday, Aug. 10
READ MORE: Diversity blooms in abundance at 2025 Indiana State Fair
2025 Levitt VIBE Indianapolis Music Series: August Concert — FREE
The Tube Factory Artspace, 1125 Cruft St.
The lineup for the August concerts includes Girl in a Coma, Iibada Dance Company and Criollisima con Sentimiento. The food truck will be The Grub House. The Tube Factory art galleries, Bean Creek Outlook and Terri Sisson Park nature will also be open with a Latino Market, games and activities available to enjoy.
Thursday, Aug. 14
2025 IndyFringe Festival — $12-$22
The Basile Theatre and The Barnes & Thornburg Blackbox, 719 E. St. Clair St. + various locations
Presented by Everwise Credit Union, the 2025 IndyFringe Festival features 515 artists across six stages in 69 shows and 245 performances, presenting Hoosiers with an opportunity to engage with immersive arts experiences presented by local, national and international creatives.
Friday, Aug. 15
6th annual Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival — $30
Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St. and the Kan-Kan Cinema, 1258 Windsor St.
The three-day film festival will showcase documentaries exploring Black life, history and social justice. The festival will kick off by honoring filmmaker Vincent Singleton with a Spotlight Award ceremony honoring his outstanding achievement in filmmaking.
Indy Library Store Sale — Free; pricing varies
Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian St. and online
The Indy Library Store, which hosts a sale nine times each year, supports citywide library programs as well as offering the community a place to donate books, CDs, DVDs and other media. The store is open for in-person shopping as well as online.
indypl.org/about-the-library/indy-library-store
That Peace Open Mic: Pre-Anniversary Celebration — FREE
The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd.
Hosted in partnership with GANGGANG’s Kickback series, the community is invited to join in a special open mic night featuring poetry, music, storytelling and spontaneous moments to celebrate 10 years of art, culture and the legacy of That Peace Open Mic.
Saturday, Aug. 16
West Indy Art & Music Festival — FREE
Meadowood Park, Speedway Indiana
The festival aims to highlight the best of what West Indy has to offer, featuring a line of up The Jazz Tornia, Crossroads Brass Band, Indianapolis Brass Choir, Zionsville Concert Band and more alongside food trucks, art vendors and a silent auction supporting student scholarships.
westindywinds.com/west-indy-art-music-festival
Sunday, Aug. 17
Summer Sips & Shops — FREE
Provider Coffee, 1101 E. 16th St.
Hosted by Tinker House, Hoosiers are invited to join Provider coffee to shop through handmade gifts, clothing and vintage goods while enjoying a variety of coffee, cocktails and food items.
instagram.com/tinkerhouseevents
Thursday, Aug. 21
Pavel & Direct Contact present The Latin Tinge — $24.47
Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.
Dominican pianist Pavel Polanco-Safadit joins the Indy Latin All-Stars for a night celebrating Afro-Caribbean music, rhythm and dance, featuring members of Bembé, 317 Proyecto and Direct Contact.
Conversations in Indiana’s African American History — FREE; registration required
Indiana Landmarks, 2101 N. Central Ave.
This month’s conversation explores the intersection of race, gender and incarceration in Indiana alongside Drs. Michelle Daniel Jones and Elizabeth Nelson of the Indiana Women’s Prison History Project.
Saturday, Aug. 23
Chreece Hip-Hop Festival — $55-$150
Various venues, Fountain Square, Indianapolis
The annual outdoor hip-hop festival returns to seven beloved music venues across Fountain Square with more than 70 artists — including Alfred Banks, Big Vonna, Brandon Lott, Casper Merci, Chrissco, Dr. Ashford & The Dissertations, Joosi and more.
Thursday, Aug. 28
BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair — $55.28-$428.67 (Recurring through Aug. 31)
The Stutz, 1060 N. Capital Ave.
BUTTER is back for year five, highlighting the work of both local and national Black artists. Sponsored by AES Indiana, the Black fine art fair aims to champion a new model for equity, care and economic justice in the arts.
Free ICO Concert at Riverside Park — FREE
Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre, Riverside Park, 1856 Burdsal Parkway
The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra is hosting a free, family-friendly evening filled with classical music. Guests need only bring a picnic and blanket and enjoy.
ci.ovationtix.com/36694/production/1239692?performanceId=11643889
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.
