15 movies. 13 summer nights.

This June, July, and August, watch the sun set and catch a film in The Amphitheater for Indy’s favorite summer tradition, The National Bank of Indianapolis Summer Nights Film Series. Gather your friends and family to experience a lineup of timeless classics and hidden gems. Bring your blankets, pack your favorite snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and enjoy the show under the stars. Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray. It is summertime in Indiana, after all.

Doors will open at 7 PM. Arrive early to grab the perfect patch of grass, pick up some popcorn, and relax as the sun sets behind The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Before each film, enjoy music from local DJs and challenge your friends to trivia, games, and activities. Film start times will vary throughout the season. Alcoholic beverages and additional concessions are available for purchase until 30 minutes after the film begins.

Want to travel light? Add a chair rental for $8 and we'll do the heavy lifting for you.

In the event of inclement weather films will be screened in The Tobias Theater at 9 PM. You will be notified via email on any weather calls as soon as they are made.

Experience all that Newfields has to offer on the first Thursday of every month. Members and public get free General Admission to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden, live musical performances, and open studio hours and gallery conversations. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime Member, Free First Thursdays presented by Bank of America are the perfect opportunity to discover something new and have an exceptional experience with art and nature.

Schedule

10:30 AM–12:30 PM | Garden Exploration Cart | The Garden

11:30 AM | Artful Conversations | Meet at the LOVE sculpture | Floor 2

11:30 AM–3:30 PM | Open Studio | Studios 1 & 2 | Floor 1

12:30 PM–2:30 PM | Garden Exploration Cart | The Garden 

12:30 PM–4 PM | Open Print Study | Print Study Room | Floor 1 

1–1:30 PM | Docent-led Tour | Meet at the top of the escalator in Efroymson Entrance Pavilion | Floor 2

1–1:30 PM | Nature Story Time | Stout Reference Library | Floor 1

1:30 PM | Artful Conversations | Meet at the LOVE sculpture | Floor 2

1–3 PM | Musical Performance by Jan Aldridge Clark | The Beer Garden

2–2:30 PM | Lilly House Tour | Meet just inside the entrance to Lilly House

2–4 PM | Garden Exploration Cart | The Garden

1–4 PM | Stout Reference Library open | Floor 1 

3 PM | Tour of The Garden | The Garden Entrance Pavilion

5–7 PM | Open Mic | The Beer Garden

We invite you to join us as we screen some of the funniest, most captivating, kid-friendly movies from the past to the present. Enjoy a buffet of cereal options included with your ticket. Tickets include a same-day complimentary General Admission to Newfields for those who wish to stick around after the film. Ages 5 and under are free but will still require a ticket.

Join Seth Feman, Executive Director and CEO of the Frist Art Museum and co-curator of Alma W. Thomas: Everything Is Beautiful, for a talk entitled, “What Alma Thomas Teaches: Dancing the Watusi.” Using Alma Thomas’s Watusi (Hard Edge), Feman will illustrate how Thomas’s experiences in Washington D.C., shaped by race, gender, age, and ability, informed her artistic practices.  

Thomas is often celebrated as the first African American woman to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. While the talk centers on this iconic work, it invites a broader reexamination of Thomas’s legacy and encourages viewers to see her paintings through a richer, more nuanced lens. 

Following the conversation, Robin Cooper, Manager of Curatorial Affairs, will host a 20-minute Q&A with Seth to dive deeper into the making of this landmark exhibition. 

More Alma Thomas events happen August 9:

Explore, investigate, and create together. In this class designed for 5 to 10-year-olds and their adult, you’ll go on a guided exploration of artworks, create your own book of artwork, and become evidence-based investigators using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a child-led conversation that grows observation skills and vocabulary. 

Each ticket includes one child and one adult. Additional adults will need to purchase a General Admission ticket. All materials provided. 

Schedule

August 16: Work in Progress: Conversations about American Art 

September 20: The Message is the Medium: Contemporary Art 

October 18: African Art 

November 15: The Clowes Pavilion Reimagined 

December 20: Decorative Arts 

Get away without going away. Discover the perfect escape in your own backyard with Summer Staycation at Newfields, a two-day celebration of art, nature, wellness, and community. There’s something for everyone—enjoy a wide variety of activities all over Newfields. Both days will be jam packed with morning yoga, fun in The Garden, brunch in The Beer Garden, and art making and tea tasting in THE LUME Indianapolis featuring Connection.  

Whether you’re a curious visitor or a local in need of a stress-free retreat, Summer Staycation invites you to sip, stroll, and stay awhile—without packing a bag.  

Check out the schedule to plan your day trip to Newfields. Please note, Saturday and Sunday will follow similar schedules. Your ticket will cover one day, so choose the day that works best for your getaway. Your ticket includes THE LUME Indianapolis featuring Connection.

(*) Items with an asterisk require an additional fee and ticket. You will be able to add these items in the checkout process.

Creative Encounters

• Art making activities all day in The Garden and IMA Galleries 

• *Youth & Adult Art Making Workshops (Saturday only)

• *Wee Wonders  (Saturday only)

Wellness Experiences

• Morning yoga in The Garden  

• Sound bowl sessions  

• Guided tours in the IMA Galleries, The Garden, and Fairbanks Park  

Music & Movement

• Live music in The Garden 

• Evening dance party in THE LUME to celebrate summer (Saturday only) 

• Visit Glick Fountain to see a choreographed show that dances in harmony with music by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra  

Explore the Exhibitions

• Explore THE LUME Indianapolis featuring Connection: Land, Water, Sky—a vibrant, multisensory journey featuring 100 contemporary Indigenous Australian artists 

• Explore five new exhibitions and participate in their corresponding activity spaces  

Play & Relaxation

• Lawn games  

• Fish or take a walk in Fairbanks Park 

• Capture the moment at the LOVE photo op and family photo spot  

Tastes & Treats

• Tea tasting and culinary delights in Café Ngura 

• Brunch in The Beer Garden 

• Happy hour specials in The Beer Garden and Café Ngura 

Family Film

• *Enjoy Cereal Cinema screening of Finding Nemo on Sunday morning 

Join our Garden Guides to see The Garden transform throughout the seasons. Each tour will highlight the prominent characteristics of each garden space and discuss flora, architecture, and history. 

Meet at The Garden Entrance Pavilion. 

Don't let the stress of the work week follow you into the weekend. That may seem easier said than done, but at Newfields, it's a walk in the park. 

Each session will start with a short wellness exercise followed by a 30-60-minute walk, depending on the weather and available daylight.  

Meet in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park under Align at 4:30 PM. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. This is a rain, shine, or snow event. In cases of heavy rain, thunderstorms, or extreme low temperatures, the event will be cancelled, and you will receive notice via email at the email you used to register.  This webpage will also note if a Wellness Walk in the Park has been cancelled.  

Recharge your spirit through creativity, nature, and community. In this program designed for adults, spend 30 minutes immersed in a guided art activity, followed by a refreshing 30-minute walk through The Garden at Newfields. Experience the health and wellness benefits of artistic expression, gentle exercise, and the beauty of nature—all designed to inspire and rejuvenate. Nurture your creativity and embrace a healthier, more balanced you.