Your weekend plans: DCI World Championships, Creatives in Color, Levitt VIBE and more
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Nearly 50 of the world's best marching bands are storming Lucas Oil Stadium this week for the drum corps Super Bowl.
Why it matters: The competition among musicians comes with lots of free fun in downtown Indy.
Driving the news: The three-day Drum Corps International World Championships marks the finale of a more than 80-event competitive summer tour for the world's top marching ensembles.
- Prelims that kicked off Thursday night with standard competition will continue Friday morning with all-ages prelims at 8:20am. Tickets start at $67.
- The all-ages bracket has no age limit for competitors, while the standard bracket is for musicians 21 and under.
Zoom in: The action ramps up Friday afternoon when the top 25 corps face-off for the semifinals at 1:30pm ($67).
- The musical main events are the DCI All-Age World Championship Finals ($63) at 9:50am Saturday, and the DCI World Championship Finals ($77) at 5:30pm Saturday.
Between the lines: Those looking for free fun can take in the Shining a Light on Music Education event at 5pm Friday on Monument Circle and the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival at 10am Saturday at Lucas Oil.
- Expect food, music and family-friendly festival vibes at both gatherings.
Here are the rest of our weekend picks:
🌎 Attend an international celebration of artists during the three-day Creatives in Color Five-Year Anniversary Summit.
- Friday has morning matcha at Guide & Anchor at 11am, and an art show at Factory Arts District at 6pm.
- Saturday has a vendor market at Factory Arts District at 11am, and a talk with Omari Souza at Herron School of Art at 6pm.
- Sunday has a panel with Fabiola Lara and Sophia Yeshi, moderated by Patrick Armstrong, at 2pm at Indy Arts Center.
⚾ Spend a summer day at the ballpark when the Indianapolis Indians host the Iowa Cubs at Victory Field.
- Games start at 7:05pm Friday and Saturday, and 1:35pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $15.
🎵 Enjoy an evening of free music at The Cabaret when Mariah Ivey and Troy Thomas with TruMusiq perform at 7:30pm Friday.
- Reserved tables are spoken for, so bring a lawn chair.
🐶 Get your pooch a sweet treat — and yourself a cup of coffee — during the free Pups & Cups event at Lugar Plaza, 9-11am Saturday.
✈️ See Hoosiers test their strength in support of the Special Olympics during the 25th annual Plane Pull Challenge at FedEx Express World Hub — Indianapolis International Airport, 9am Saturday.
- Register or donate here.
🚗 Check out some sweet rides from across the pond during the 38th annual Indy British Motor Day at Lions Park in Zionsville, 12pm Saturday.
🎷 Get your groove on when Rob Dixon & Triology headline the next Levitt VIBE Indianapolis Music Series show at the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis, 12-3pm Sunday. Free.
🎤 Catch 2026 Art & Soul featured artist Dr. Austin Dean Ashford in action when he puts on a free concert at Madam Walker Legacy Center, 3pm Sunday.
⚽ Hit the pitch when the Indy Eleven host the Hartford Athletic at Carroll Stadium, 5pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $21.