Family-friendly first Fridays in Indy: Your guide to galleries with kids
Whether your child is a budding Frida Kahlo or you’re just starting your family’s art journey, First Friday events in and around Indianapolis can be a low-cost, high-impact way to enjoy art. These events feature local artists, often have food available for free or purchase, and cover almost every medium. Read on for some of our favorites!
Find a first-Friday (and some Thursdays!) event for your family here:
Local Love
Circle City Industrial Complex
First Friday Hours: 6-9 PM
Is art + ice cream your kid’s vibe? Then CCIC might be a good fit - ice cream shop Lick is on site! Featuring live music, plus breweries for adult drinks, CCIC has a little something for everyone.
Bonus: Its open layout is stroller friendly!
First Friday Hours: 6-9 PM
If you’re looking for a more traditional gallery experience, Harrison Center’s First Friday event is a must: while they may look like any other art gallery, they strive for equitable development and inclusive programming, which is a mission we love to support.
First Friday Hours: 6-10 PM
First Fridays at the Murphy Art Center offer a chance for your whole crew to bond over beautiful art in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. This open format art exhibit is a great place to explore both emerging and established artists!
Bonus: There’s a pinball collective on-site!
Looking to introduce even more culture into your kiddos worlds? Read this next…
First Friday Hours: 5-10 PM
Come shop for unique handmade and vintage clothing from four local, women-owned Indy clothing brands!
First Friday Hours: 5-9 PM
If you find yourself driving north and need a pit stop, Goshen’s First Fridays are all about kids’ activities!
First Friday Hours: 5-8 PM
Featuring over a dozen galleries in a one-mile stretch, Bloomington’s First Friday is packed with art to see. Make a day of it and swing by Bloomington’s Wonderlab Science Museum before checking out the art!
Honorable Mentions
First Thursday Hours: 5-8 PM
If you’re looking for art during the week, Muncie’s downtown galleries offer shopping plus live demonstrations on the first Thursday of every month. Bonus: check the local Episcopal church for organ concerts!
First Thursday Hours: museum operating hours vary by season
If you’re looking for a morning of art or even an entire day, check out Newfields’ Free First Thursday, starting at 11 am and going until the museum closes. You do need to reserve free tickets online, so grab yours here.
Bonus: Museum admission is also free the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the last Friday in May for Gardens and Museums Day.
Ready to pack your bag for an artistic evening?
Grab some binoculars or a magnifying glass so that your kiddo can see all the details up close without getting their fingers on the artwork. Include a sketch pad so they can draw their own version of a favorite piece, and don’t forget the colored pencils!
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