Chreece celebrates a decade of endurance
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Smino and Audrey Nuna are two of the headliners set to take the stage at Chreece 2025 in Fountain Square. Photos: Paras Griffin/Getty Images and Jeff Hahne/Getty Images
Over the past 10 years, Chreece has evolved from a homegrown hip-hop festival to a celebrated local example of DIY endurance.
Why it matters: The single-day music fest showcases and uplifts the Circle City's culture and creators.
Driving the news: Chreece — an oft-mispronounced mashup of "cheers" and "peace" — returns to Fountain Square on Saturday across seven venues, featuring performances from over 70 artists.
- More than just a collection of shows, it's a block party that includes a vendor village, afterparties, producer battles, children's activities and more.
- It starts with DJing and beatmaking at Fountain Square Plaza, and each venue holds performances at various times throughout the day.
- Headliners include 81355, Smino, Mavi and Audrey Nuna.
Flashback: Founded by musician Sean "Oreo" Jones, the inaugural event in August 2015 doubled as a fundraiser for nonprofit Musical Family Tree. The first headliner was critically acclaimed Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins.
- Chreece saw annual growth, reaching a high in 2019 with a sold-out festival headlined by Talib Kweli, Griselda Records and Fat Tony.
Yes, but: The pandemic stopped the music for three summers. While the festival was on hold, Chreece launched the DJ Indiana Jones Scholarship in honor of Ron Miner, a local hip-hop legend and Chreece leader who died in 2020.
- The festival returned in 2023 with headliners 9th Wonder, Redveil, Kari Faux, Jordan Ward and Pink Siifu.
- For their resilience and impact, U.S. Rep. André Carson presented organizers Jones, Jane Sun Kim and Jay Brookinz with the Downtown Indy, Inc. Arts and Culture Visionaries award in 2024.
What they're saying: "Chreece Festival has been at the pinnacle of Black culture, creativity, ingenuity and artistry — and is a way to highlight Indianapolis' growing creative community," Carson said in a statement. "It has become a right of passage for any artist wanting to express themselves in our great state."
If you go: Chreece begins at noon, and tickets start at $60. Act fast, because it's approaching a sellout.
- Festival HQ is located at 1043 Virginia Ave. Go there to pick up wristbands, check in for volunteering, or rehydrate at the water station.
- HI-FI, HI-FI Annex, Square Cat Vinyl, Atomic Bowl, FTSQ Plaza and Wildfyre Tap will be all-ages venues.
- White Rabbit Cabaret will be 21 and up.
What to know: Virginia Avenue, Woodlawn Avenue, St. Patrick Street and Shelby Street will be closed to traffic starting at 6am.
- Street parking will be unavailable in the area from 6am to midnight.
- IndyGo's Red Line will run throughout the festival and is the recommended mode for transportation.
- A site map can be found here.