Your weekend plans: Circle City Classic, Harvest Nights, Colts vs Texans and more.
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This weekend, the Circle City will get its first look at a revamped Classic.
Why it matters: The change is a major reset for one of Indianapolis' longest-running Black cultural and sports traditions.
Driving the news: After more than 40 years of being a fall showcase of HBCU football teams, the annual Circle City Classic will give the spotlight to younger student athletes in 2026.
- Indiana Black Expo leaders said the pivot to a high school football and girls flag football showcase at Lucas Oil Stadium was made to reduce costs, respond to changing engagement and sustain the Classic's role in supporting year-round programs.
Yes, but: HBCU bands will still be in the house to bring the funk.
Zoom in: The Saturday schedule starts with Crispus Attucks vs. Arsenal Tech girls flag football at 10am, followed by Lawrence North vs. Ben Davis girls flag football at 11:30am.
- Warren Central vs. Pike boys football starts at 2pm, followed by the HBCU Battle of the Bands at 5pm featuring Talladega College, Kentucky State University and Miles College.
- The night wraps with Lawrence North vs. Ben Davis boys football at 7pm.
- Tickets start at $28.
Plus: The weekend also includes the Circle City Classic parade at 10am Saturday, an Education Day and college fair, a 21-and-up day party and more.
- Check out the full lineup of events here.
More weekend picks:
🎃 Have a spooky, artsy good time when Harvest Nights returns to Newfields Friday night at 7pm. The celebration along the museum grounds and gardens and in the Lilly House runs through Nov. 1.
- Tickets start at $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and $16 for kids.
🤼 Swing a steel chair with some WWE superstars when Friday Night SmackDown slams Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 7:30pm Friday.
- Tickets start at $44.
🎼 Hear the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra pair Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with Stravinsky's intense "Rite of Spring" at Hilbert Circle Theatre, 7:30pm Friday and 5:30pm Saturday.
- Tickets start at $15.
🎭 Join the Indiana Repertory Theatre as it presents its stage adaptation of Dan Brown thriller "The Da Vinci Code" with an opening-night celebration following Friday's performance.
- 7:30pm Friday, 5pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $45.
🖼️ Find a masterpiece when the free Carmel International Arts Festival brings more than 130 juried artists, live performances and food to Carmel's Arts & Design District, 10am-6pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday.
🥳 Party at a free, family-friendly neighborhood when the Rocky Ripple Festival hits Hohlt Park, 11am-6pm Saturday.
🎨 Spend a Saturday evening with local musicians and artists during the free Garfield Park Art and Music Festival.
- 4-9pm Saturday at the MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park.
🏈 Support the Colts as they chase their first win of the season and debut their "Anvil Strike" rivalry uniforms against the Texans, 1pm Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium:
- Tickets start at $37.
🎨 Celebrate Latina women in the arts during the free Mujeres en Arte event, 3-6pm Sunday at the Indianapolis Artsgarden.