Your weekend plans: Indy 8 Hour, Heartland Film Festival, Pacers and more
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May your weekend be sweeter than cherry pie. Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
The Indianapolis 8 Hour returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, putting some of the world's best drivers and a fleet of sports cars to the ultimate test of endurance.
Why it matters: The event is the season finale for the global Intercontinental GT Challenge, with championships still up for grabs.
Driving the news: 28 GT3 cars will battle through Saturday afternoon and into the evening on the Speedway's 14-turn road course.
- The field includes Indianapolis 500 winners Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson, who will race alongside his younger brother, Hampus.
- Car buffs can expect to see everything from Aston Martins and Ferraris to Lamborghinis, McLarens and Porsches, with the race finishing under the lights.
How it works: Unlike an IndyCar race, the 8 Hour is an event where multiple drivers share each car and teams manage pit stops, fuel and tires over eight hours.
- The winner is the car that completes the most laps when the clock hits zero.
If you go: The main race runs 12:30-8:30pm Saturday, with practice and qualifying Friday and additional races Sunday.
- Tickets start at $20 for Friday, $40 for Saturday and $30 for Sunday.
- Weekend passes start at $85.
More weekend picks
🎬 Catch a movie during the first weekend of the 35th annual Heartland Film Festival.
- The celebration runs through Oct. 18 with more than 100 films, filmmaker Q&As, premieres and screenings at Alamo Drafthouse, Kan-Kan, Newfields and the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
- Tickets start at $13 for single screenings, and a bundle of 10 tickets can be purchased for $120.
🎃 Scare up some family-friendly fun during the The Indiana State Museum's annual Night at the Boo Bash event, 6-8:30pm Friday.
- Tickets start at $15.
😂 Have a laugh with comic and musician Craig Robinson when he takes the stage at Helium Comedy Club.
- Shows start at 7pm and 9:15pm Friday; 7pm and 9:30pm Saturday; and 7pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $40.
🍎 Travel to Beasley's Orchard in Danville for apples, a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin picking, apple cannons and other fall activities during the Heartland Apple Festival.
- 9am-6pm Saturday and Sunday.
- Admission is $16.
🔬 Explore hands-on STEM exhibits, demonstrations and activities during the free Celebrate Science Indiana.
- 9:30am–5pm Saturday inside the Indiana State Fairgrounds' Exposition Hall.
🎨 Experience local creators filling the city with art dung the free Monument Circle Art Fair at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, 10am-5pm Saturday.
🍺 See The Vogue parking lot filled with German-inspired food, a biergarten, a Kids Zone and live music during Broad Ripple's Oktoberfest, 4-10pm Saturday.
- Tickets start at $25.
🎥 Watch the original 1984 "Ghostbusters" film on the big screen while a live orchestra performs Elmer Bernstein's score during Ghostbusters in Concert, 6pm Sunday at Clowes Memorial Hall.
- Tickets start at $34.
🏀 Be part of the Pacers' big comeback season when they host the Atlanta Hawks for their preseason home opener, 7pm Saturday.
- Tickets start at $8.
🎤 Witness D.L. Hughley and Don Lemon pushing the limits of comedy and conversation when they bring the "Anything Goes" tour to Clowes Memorial Hall, 7pm Saturday.
- Tickets start at $35.
⚽ Join the Indy Eleven for fan appreciation night at Carroll Stadium as they take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7pm Saturday.
- Tickets start at $11.
👰 Get some inspo before saying "I do" during the Indiana Bridal and Wedding Expo at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1-5pm Sunday.
- Free with online registration or $10 at the door.