19 Indoor Activities In Indianapolis To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: June 2, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
Does the forecast call for rain? In that case, Indianapolis is the place to be! It’s home to the state’s largest concentration of things to do, after all! From fine dining to cultural institutions, the Hoosier City has something to please everyone. Not to mention the many private party venues you can rent with ease through Peerspace for event planners in Indy! So why not take a look at some of the unique indoor activities in Indianapolis we’ve discovered? Even lifelong locals will find something surprising here!
1. Go fowling at the Fowling Warehouse
Fowling has nothing to do with birds; it’s a mixture of football and bowling that was first invented right here in Indy! Originally a tailgating game at the Indy 500, fowling can be played at bars and arenas throughout town. Check out Fowling Warehouse in the Circle City Industrial Complex for a few games! You can reserve a lane for unlimited fowling while enjoying drinks and good company indoors!
2. Plan a potluck dinner
Why not have your friends over for dinner the next time it rains in Indianapolis? Dinner nights are the perfect chance to catch up over a fine meal. Make it even more interesting with a potluck affair so you won’t be stuck handling all of the cooking! All you need is a spacious venue for a lovely dinner with your favorite people.
Peerspace is the nation’s leading online marketplace for special event spaces. We have several venues in Indianapolis you might like, such as this 3-bedroom house in Fountain Square! An evening rental comes with space for up to 16 guests and is available by the hour, rather than by the day as an Airbnb would be!
3. Visit the Fashion Mall at Keystone
Shopping is one indoor activity in Indianapolis that won’t be ruined by a bit of rain! Head to the Fashion Mall at Keystone to pick out some luxury goods at any of the more than 40 retail outlets there. You’ll find tech retailers like Apple, clothing outlets like Tiffany & Co, and Nordstrom, plus Cafe Bistro and other dining options once you need a break to eat.
4. Check out an Indiana Pacers Game
Looking for a high-energy indoor activity in Indianapolis? How about an NBA game? The city is home to the Indiana Pacers, NBA perennial playoff contenders that always provide a good time. Escape the rain and cheer on the Pacers in their home stadium at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse downtown!
5. Enjoy comedy and magic at the Mind Tripping Show
Who doesn’t love a bit of comedy and sleight of hand? If you want to try something unique, check out the 75-minute-long Mind Tripping Show! It is a magic show for adults that’s filled with humor, intrigue, and wonder! The Mind Tripping Show is also the longest-running live theater experience in Indianapolis, with examples of mind reading, illusion tricks, and more.
Looking for more flexible work space options? Then you need to check out our guide on where to rent coworking space by the hour in Indianapolis!
6. Enjoy a game show experience
We’ve all seen game shows and dreamed of being a contestant. Now is your chance to live out that dream at Game Show Battle Rooms! You’ll need a group of at least 8 friends to play one of their three game show experiences. You can solve puzzle phrases while spinning a giant wheel, play a price-matching game, or enjoy a family feud experience based on survey questions.
7. Visit the Eiteljorg Museum
Indianapolis has some of the best museums in the Midwest for an educational day indoors. Check out the Eiteljorg Museum which has the largest collection of Western and Native American art in the state. You’ll find artwork from famous artists like Georgia O’Keefe and Andy Warhol as well as special events celebrating Indigenous culture year-round!
8. Catch a live show at the Indiana Repertory Theatre
Bring a date or friends to a live performance or stage play at the Indiana Repertory Theatre this year! They host classic shows like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, local events for schools and theater clubs, comedy routines, and more. The Indiana Repertory Theatre has been hosting performances for 52 seasons and counting!
9. Explore a new restaurant
The state’s largest city is home to hundreds of unique dining experiences to discover. Why not try some authentic Southern comfort food at Root & Bone on N. College Ave? Meanwhile, Chicken Scratch Indy is in the running for some of the best wings in town! For a more international experience, Julieta Taco Shop has a wide selection of meat and vegetarian tacos that are on par with anything further south.
10. Dance and party at Howl at the Moon
Dance, party, and enjoy dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon, one of Indianapolis’s premiere party spots! You can book a party ahead of time for a birthday or bachelor event. Or show up for one of their year-round special events. The live music selection includes dance hits and party anthems to keep the energy high and people on the dance floor!
11. Learn at the Zion Nature Center
You can still appreciate the outdoors indoors at the Zion Nature Center! Founded in 2002 by the Zionsville Parks Department and the Friends of Zion Nature Center, the Nature Center has exhibits showcasing the natural beauty of central Indiana. You’ll find educational displays on turtles, deer, birds, and other wildlife. And on a nicer afternoon, you can join an interpretive hike with one of the nature center’s naturalists.
12. Visit the Garfield Park Conservatory
The 10,000-square-foot Garfield Park Conservatory is a sure cure for rainy day blues in Indianapolis! Admission is just $4 and you’ll be able to enjoy tropical blooms and rare plants inside of a 65-foot-tall greenhouse. Chairs sit next to bubbling ponds for a relaxing time and the Conservatory provides endless opportunities for flower photography or painting!
13. Take the kids to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Looking for an indoor activity in Indianapolis that is kid-friendly? Check out the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis! It is the largest children’s museum in the world, with dozens of interactive displays and play areas for kids to learn while having fun! Even children under 5 will enjoy themselves in areas like the Playscape, a touch and sight-based activity spot where they can safely explore their senses!
14. Movie night in a private screening room
Pick a movie or two for a night with your boo and plan a movie night! But don’t share a theater with the general public. Make it a romantic, intimate date night with a private screening room instead! You can bring whatever snacks and drinks you like to your chosen venue. Lounge in extra large, cozy chairs and watch whatever you bring rather than what’s playing.
Peerspace has several spaces suitable for an intimate movie night in Indianapolis. Have you seen this 2-bedroom, 1-acre space in Glendale? It comes with a flat-screen TV, a full kitchen, and a wooded lot for a romantic movie night getaway for two!
Love scoping out the city’s most unique hidden gems? Then you need to check out our collection of the most Instagrammable places in Indianapolis next!
15. Race indoor go-karts
The Indy 500 is the city’s most famous racing experience but you don’t have to be a professional racecar driver to experience the intensity of the track. Not when the city has several indoor go-kart tracks to explore! Check out Speedway Indoor Karting for a fun and competitive time indoors. Unlike many indoor tracks, Speedway has four kinds of go-karts: some sized for youth, adult models, big + tall-sized karts, and even a two-seater with a stationary wheel for extra-young kids to enjoy the ride with an adult!
16. Enjoy an art and wine event
Painting and wine go hand in hand as a relaxing way to enjoy a rainy day indoors. Wine and Canvas is a traveling Indianapolis event where an experienced painting instructor guides the group while everyone enjoys wine together. They host art and wine events in restaurants and wine bars as well as any private event space you have in mind. You can easily make an art and wine party part of a bachelorette night, wedding reception, or other indoor special event!
17. Get cultured at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Explore the work of the world’s most famous artists at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Whether you prefer Renaissance paintings, Asian calligraphy, or Native American ceremonial headdresses, there’s something to please everyone here! The museum takes visitors on an educational artistic tour of the world through history and has a rotating collection that’s worth visiting again and again!
18. Find a new coffee shop
Coffee shops are a great place to catch up with a friend or enjoy a date in Indianapolis with someone special. The Hoosier City has a great selection of places to enjoy a cup of coffee at. Many are themed venues with plants, furniture, and artwork that create a distinctive vibe. Enjoy beans roasted fresh each day and a wide selection of sandwiches, teas, and scones with your cup of joe. Blue Mind Roasting is a local favorite as they prefer low to medium roasting that brings out more of the beans’ natural flavor!
19. Make and paint clay pottery
Looking for a more creative indoor activity in Indianapolis for a rainy day afternoon? Work some clay into pottery! Pottery lessons are a chance to get behind a potter’s wheel and sculpt vases, bowls, and other pieces. Once you’re finished firing your clay the fun is only just beginning! You can then paint and glaze each piece with the guidance of an instructor at most of the pottery schools in Indy! Check out Kiln Creations in Noblesville, IN, for pottery making lessons for all skill levels.
Indoor activities in Indianapolis: conclusion
Indianapolis is no boring city, not with these kinds of indoor amenities to explore! We hope something on our list has captured your interest. As lovers of special moments, Peerspace collects not just ideas but local party venues as well. If you’re planning an indoor birthday, wedding reception, or other special event, let us help you find the right venue!
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