Indianapolis weekend events: Penrod Arts Fair, Oktoberfest, Cosmic Baseball and more
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
It's once again time to celebrate "Indiana's Nicest Day."
Why it matters: The annual Penrod Arts Fair is the nation's biggest single-day arts fair, and organizers expect more than 20,000 people to fill the Newfields gardens.
Driving the news: Organized by all-volunteer philanthropic organization The Penrod Society, the event's proceeds go to creators, students, organizations and nonprofits that work to advance the arts in Indiana.
Zoom in: The celebration starts Friday with Evening with Penrod, a gala-style preview with food, drinks, unique live art experiences, a designated VIP area, fireworks and musical performances.
- The 58th Penrod Arts Fair on Saturday features more than 350 artists from across the country, hundreds of performers across five stages, more than 50 arts-related nonprofit organizations, an extensive children's area and food.
Flashback: The Penrod Society was founded in 1967 and pays homage to Penrod Schoefield, a literary character created by Indianapolis novelist Booth Tarkington.
If you go: The art fair runs from 9am-5pm Saturday.
- Tickets are $20, and kids 10 and under get in free.
- Evening with Penrod, a 21+ event, is 5:30-11pm Friday.
- Tickets are $175 and include admission to the fair.
The rest of our weekend picks:
🍻 Start Oktoberfest season at German Park with a weekend of live music, traditional food and plenty of bier, 4-11pm Friday and Saturday.
- Tickets are $5. Kids 12 and under are free.
🤩 See what some of the city's most talented artists are working on during the free First Friday open studio sessions at The Stutz, 5pm Friday.
🎨 See art in motion when 2025 Art & Soul featured artist Monique Burts hosts a free wearable art performance at Big Car Tube Factory Artspace, 6pm Friday.
🤘 Get metal with Pantera at Ruoff Music Center, 7pm Friday.
- Tickets start at $30.
🚀 Catch some out-of-this-world baseball when the Tri-City Chili Peppers and their Cosmic Baseball tour take over Victory Field, 7:30pm Friday and Saturday.
- Tickets start at $35.
🖼️ Witness one of the most prestigious Western American art shows in the nation when the 20th annual Quest for the West Art Show and Sale returns to Eiteljorg Museum, Friday and Saturday.
- Museum admission is $20.
🎈 Get high with hot air balloons during the Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival at Conner Prairie, 7am Saturday and Sunday.
- Tickets are $10.
🛒 Snag a rare find for a sweet deal during the Fountain Square Neighborhood Association yard sale, 9am-2pm Saturday.
🚗 Gawk at hundreds of enthusiast and collector cars in the Carmel Arts & Design District during the free ARTOMOBILIA event, 11am Saturday.
🎵 Rock out at the inaugural I Music Fest, a free community celebration with performances, food and face painting at 3919 Lafayette Road, 1-8pm Saturday.
🧘 Gather for sunsets and vibes during the free Full Moon Yoga Party at the Downtown Canal, 8pm Saturday.
😂 Laugh until it hurts during the 85 South "Spin The Block" comedy tour at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 7pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $58.