All Indiana! 40 Things Every Kid Should Do This Summer

June 6, 2017

From Simple Pleasures Like Camping & Catching Fireflies, To Exciting High-Energy Activities Like Zip Lining Or Visiting Splash Parks.

There is no shortage of activities for kids – and for their parents or grandparents – in Indiana, and we’re here to show you some of the best for any time this summer.

(Of course, check your local festival calendar for date-specific events.)

Inspired by and borrowing from the Indianapolis Star’s “50 Things Every Indiana Kid Should Do This Summer” and Indy’s Child’s “100 Things to Do This Summer in Indianapolis,” here are some of our favorite suggestions.

  1. Tube (or kayak) down Sugar Creek in Turkey Run State Park.
  2. Touch a truck… at a local Touch-A-Truck festival.
  3. Catch a movie under the stars at Tibbs Drive-In.
  4. Explore a new playground.
  5. Let a butterfly land on you in the Hilbert Conservatory at White River Gardens.
  6. Enjoy an Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Symphony on the Prairie concert at Conner Prairie.
  7. Cool off and get wet at a splash park.
  8. Soar through the treetops on a zip lining adventure
  9. Play a round of Frisbee golf.
  10. Discover nature inside at a central Indiana Nature Center.
  11. Go for a bike ride on the Monon Trail and get a shaved ice in Broad Ripple.
  12. Pick your own berries at a local u-pick farm.
  13. Chase lightning bugs around the yard on a warm summer night.
  14. Don’t let the rainy days deter you! Head inside to an indoor playground.
  15. Watch the fountains dance and glow at dusk with ever-changing colors at Garfield Park.
  16. Go for a balloon ride at Conner Prairie.
  17. Get out the sidewalk chalk and create a masterpiece in pastels.
  18. Explore the caves and caverns of Indiana.
  19. Make a giant bubble Let the soapy fun ensue.
  20. Go for storytime at your favorite bookstore or public library.
  21. Eat cotton candy on the State Fair Midway.
  22. Speaking of trees, play in the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek Park of Fishers.
  23. Watch the Downtown Indy fireworks on July 4.
  24. Scan the 2017 Guide to Outdoor Movies in Indy. Find the perfect one. Go.
  25. Go see a free concert during Concerts on the Canal on Thursdays.
  26. Get up close and personal with Magnificent Macaws at the Indianapolis Zoo.
  27. Sit in the outfield lawn at an Indianapolis Indians game at Victory Field. Bonus: Kids eat free on Sundays.
  28. Stroll the 92-county walk along the perimeter of the Indiana State Museum to see 3-D works of art that highlight each county in the state.
  29. Have a picnic at The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres at the IMA and gaze at art.
  30. Grab a chair or blanket, pack a picnic and take advantage the Summer Concert Series in Hamilton County.
  31. Run through a lawn sprinkler.
  32. Have an adult fire up the grill, then eat in the backyard.
  33. Hop on the saddle for a guided trail ride through Fort Harrison State Park.
  34. Turn up the radio or iPod and have a dance party on your front porch.
  35. Ride a bike around your neighborhood or along the Cultural Trail.
  36. Set up a lemonade stand, and donate half your profit to charity.
  37. Visit a Carmel hidden gem…Cool Creek Park.
  38. Lie in the grass and count the stars, or ask your parents to take you to Butler University’s Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium.
  39. Eat lunch at City Market in downtown Indy.
  40. Go on a garage sale exploration tour.

Have a great summer!