INDIANAPOLIS – The annual White River Festival, a two-week long celebration of the White River and the area’s land, wildlife, plants, streams and people, occurs September 1-14 with multiple events at venues and locations throughout central Indiana.
With the recent opening of new trails along the White River and Fall Creek, recreation encompasses all that the Indianapolis community is looking to do this year. The two-week celebration will feature the following events, most of which are free to the public, with more additions to the lineup in coming weeks:
Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker, consultant and trainer for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.
White River Festival Events 2014
August 29 – September 1
White River Arts Music and Recreation Festival (WARMfest), Friday, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Broad Ripple Park. Tickets: warmfest.org.
August 30 – January 4, 2015
Exhibit: Water’s Extreme Journey – Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at Minnetrista in Muncie, Ind. FREE with admission ($5 public, free for members).
September 2 – 30
A River Runs through Us: Exhibit about the importance of the White River – Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 1 – 5 p.m. at Cool Creek Nature Center in Carmel. FREE to the public.
September 4
DamNation Community Film Screening – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Tickets are $9 for the public, $5 for IMA members.
September 5
Shoreline Fishing Trip down White River, 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Public Access Points, Noblesville to Mooresville, Ind. FREE to the public.
Primitive Skill Building in a Riparian Habitat, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the Indianapolis Art Center Boat Launch. FREE to the public.
September 5
Justin Riney and Mother Ocean: One Man, One Paddleboard, and 365 Days
5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Indianapolis Art Center. Tickets are $10 and kids 12 and under are FREE.
September 6
Walk Indiana, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Cardinal Greenways Historic Wysor Street Depot in Muncie, Ind. Tickets are $35.
Daleville to Anderson Appreciation Paddle, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Canoe Country in Daleville, Ind. FREE except for canoe/kayak rental.
The White River Is My Home Too, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Indiana State Museum. FREE to the public.
Family Fun Day at Minnetrista: Blue Planet, Noon – 4 p.m. at Minnetrista in Muncie. FREE for members, $5 for the public.
White River is Migration Station! Bird Hike 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at Potter’s Bridge Park in Noblesville, Ind. FREE to the public.
September 6
White River Festival Community Fun Day – 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at White River State Park. FREE to the public.
2nd Annual White River Festival Walk and Fun Run – 10 a.m. at White River State Park. Dogs are welcome, with special opportunities for them throughout the event.
Justin Riney and Mother Ocean: One Man, One Paddleboard, and 365 Days
1 p.m. at Minnetrista in Muncie, Ind. FREE with admission ($5 for public, free for members).
September 6-7
White River Past and Present, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Ind. FREE with general admission.
September 7
Mounds State Park Hike, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Mounds State Park in Anderson, Ind. FREE with park admission.
September 8
Abstract Landscape Painting Pop-Up, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Indianapolis Art Center. Tickets are $25.
September 11
Family Fun at the White River, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at River Road Park in Carmel, Ind. FREE to the public.
Film Screening: DamNation, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Anderson University in Anderson, Ind. FREE to the public.
September 12
The Magic behind the Screen: Screenprinting Pop-Up – 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Indianapolis Art Center. Tickets are $35.
September 13
Noblesville White River Celebration:
20th Annual White River Clean-Up, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Moose Lodge and Renner’s Body Works in Noblesville, Ind. FREE to the public.
Fun on the River, Noon – 4 p.m., 17180 River Ave. in Noblesville, Ind. Costs vary, some are FREE.
Bridge Fair, 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Logan Street Bridge, City Parking Lot in Noblesville, Ind. FREE
1 Million Dollar Duck Race, 5 p.m. – race time at the Logan Street Bridge in Noblesville, Ind. FREE to attend (ducks are $5).
Delaware County 8th Annual White River Clean-Up:
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Westside Park in Muncie, Ind. FREE to the public.
Family Fishing Day, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Riverside Park, Indianapolis. FREE to the public.
8th Annual Indiana Bat Festival, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at IUPUI. FREE to the public.
Celebration Fall Creek, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Fall Creek Parkway in Indianapolis.
8th Annual Indiana Bat Festival Evening Event, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Garfield Park in Indianapolis. FREE
September 16
4th Annual White River Alliance Stewardship Awards Celebration – 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Indianapolis Yacht Club on Geist Reservoir. Exceptional stewards of our rivers and lakes are recognized.
About the White River Festival
Each day of the festival, multiple venues and locations welcome the public with a range of events and activities. For registration information and details on all events, visit whiteriverfestival.org.
The Festival is a project of the White River Alliance, a non-profit coalition of local governments, educators, allied organizations, industries and citizens working together to improve and protect water resources throughout Central Indiana. The watershed of the upper White River extends from the river’s source in a farmer’s field in Randolph County across 16 counties into the tips of Brown, Owen and Monroe counties.
