The pumpkin spice lattes are brewing and the leaves are changing colors, usually a seasonal indicator that Harvest Nights is returning to Newfields.
Presented by Everwise Credit Union, the seasonal event will run from Sept. 25 through Nov. 1.
The outdoor festival transforms the campus garden into a glowing, family-friendly display featuring thousands of pumpkins, light shows, local food vendors and interactive art installations.
“Harvest Nights is one of our most popular events of the year and I am so happy that we can provide our community with another exceptional experience at Newfields,” Newfields President and CEO Le Monte G. Booker Sr. said in a statement. “Being a part of so many families’ traditions during this special season is such an honor, and all of us at Newfields love to see our guests enjoying the festivities. Whether they’re coming for the first time or they’re loyal Harvest Nights fans, we’ve got something amazing in store.”
Attendees walking along the path will encounter returning favorites like the Fungi Forest, which features 50 large, handmade mushrooms built by artist Cara Kent and local fabricators Expo Arts.
Visitors can also stroll the Pumpkin Path of Peril, feel the rumble of the Ghost Train and view the Garden Monsters sculptures. Created by local artists and presented by Corteva Agriscience, the monster figures take inspiration from author Felicia Feaster’s book, “The Goth Garden.”
This year also introduces Boo Shoo by Lightborne, a brand-new interactive shadow show set in the garden that lets children and adults chase away glowing spirits on foot.
Inside the historic Lilly House, visitors can explore Mischief Manor, an interior setup designed by Tiffany Skilling Interiors. The rooms feature Halloween decor, including moss growing across the dining room, a Witch’s Kitchen display, and 30 custom jack-o’-lantern sculptures by Katie Lloyd-Jones inside the Great Hall. Adult guests can also visit the upstairs Harvest Nights Lounge, presented by Cutwater.
The Beer Garden will offer a wide menu of autumn aperitifs and fall foods. Grub options include chili made with local Fischer Farms beef, Old Major bratwurst, vampire garlic parmesan fries, cream-filled churros and maple sage sweet potato fries. Drink options include hot campfire cocoa, whisky, applejack and craft drafts from Elysian Brewing Co., including its Night Owl Pumpkin Ale.
The festival schedule includes several specialty event nights throughout October. On Oct. 9, Newfields will host Ghouls Night Out, a 21-and-older evening featuring local DJ music, drag performances, and costume contests. On Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, families can attend Art or Treat, an evening trick-or-treat walk included with standard admission. The trail will feature allergen-friendly stations marked by teal pumpkins, offering gluten-free and vegan treats. The Tobias Theater will also host Spooky Screenings, showing seasonal movies like “Casper” and “Scream.”
Tickets start at $25, with pricing varying based on the date and time of the visit. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
Guests enter through the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion, with free parking available at the Michigan Road entrance and reserved parking for $20 at the 38th Street entrance. Free shuttle service is also available for guests using off-site lots.
Tickets and full event schedules are available online at discovernewfields.org.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
