Join us in celebrating Civic Season, in partnership with Made By Us. Throughout Civic Season, we will offer a mix of in-person and virtual events, kicking things off with Free Day on Juneteenth! We also invite guests to pause, reflect, notice, and wonder utilizing our Educating for American Democracy civics questions located across the grounds. Dissenting Voices will close out our Civic Season, encouraging all of us to ponder historical dissenting views on the Fourth of July and showcase criticisms of American Freedom.
Through art, play, discourse and kinship, we hope you feel inspired to fall in “civic love” this season.
Curious about what Civic Season means? Check out our latest blog post for a deep dive into the importance of civics today and plan your experience to help connect your civic values.
Wish Wall
We’re proud partners of On Our 250th, a nationwide project capturing the wishes of Americans for the future of the United States! Head to OnOur250th.org to share your wish, or visit our in-person Wish Wall during Civic Season this summer.
Events
Juneteenth Free Day: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Enjoy free admission all day long and explore programs to amplify the spirit and importance of the day. Throughout the grounds, explore educational invitations focused on love, freedom, equality, and heritage.
Juneteenth Free Day, supported by Hamilton County Community Foundation.
“I, too” Civic Art Invitation: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Join us on Juneteenth for a Civic Art Invitation to paint your "America". Inspired by the powerful poem "I, Too" created by African American poet, Langston Hughes, this experience invites guests to reflect on their identity, voice, and place in the American story by illustrating what makes them America.
This program is free with Juneteenth admission and will be offered all day!
Location: Animal Encounters Shed
“This is Reclamation!” Live Podcast Recording: 1 p.m.–3 p.m.
Conner Prairie's podcast, “This is Reclamation!” explores Black history, cultural resilience, and the impact of faith, food, and fellowship. Come join us as live audience members for the filming of the last episode in our 10-part deep-dive series focused on our newest exhibit Promised Land as Proving Ground.
This is a free program included with Juneteenth admission!
Location: Next to the Reclamation building (#25 on the Guest Map) in Promised land as Proving Ground
Museum Theater- The story of Lucy Nichols: 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6 p.m.
Listen in as Lucy Nichols discusses her experience as a nurse for the Union during the Civil War, and her fight for fair compensation after the War.
This is a free program included with Juneteenth admission!
Location: Prairietown Grove
Juneteenth Jubilee: 5–8 p.m.
Celebrate Juneteenth with Fishers Arts Council and Fishers High School's Future Black Leaders Club. Explore Black-owned businesses and community resources along with local food vendors and entertainment.
This event is free. Please enter through the Festival Gates for this event.
Member Appreciation Month: Promised Land as Proving Ground Guided Tour: 11 a.m. – Noon
A guided walking tour led by Conner Prairie staff through our newest exhibit, Promised Land as Proving Ground. This tour will encourage personal connections with the historical experiences of Black Hoosiers and other African Americans. The Promised Land as Proving Ground Guided Tour experience is recommended for ages 9 and beyond but is open to everyone!
This program is free for members. Learn more about membership appreciation month.
Location: Meet at the Origins Cabin (#23 on the Guest Map)
The Freedom of Press: Reclaim and Resist with the Frederick Douglass Papers: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Discover the themes of resistance and reclamation from Promised Land as Proving Ground through the history of African American journalism. Dr. John Kaufman-McKivigan, historian and Chief Editor of the Frederick Douglass Papers will share materials from Douglass’ own newspaper The North Star and reveal its impact in the fight for emancipation of enslaved people. Come exercise your right to Freedom of the Press by crafting your own newspaper headlines to make your voice heard!
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Next to the Reclamation building (#25 on the Guest Map) in Promised land as Proving Ground
“Let’s Go Birding Together” (LGBT) Walk: 9–10:30 a.m.
Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT) walks are for everyone who loves birds and the outdoors. We welcome those who identify as LGBTQ, allies, families, and anyone who wants to enjoy an outdoor experience that is inclusive. We're flocking together with community partners for a guided bird stroll before the museum opens for the day. Some binoculars will be available to borrow; feel free to bring your own.
This event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required.
Location: The trail head of the Trails at Conner Prairie
Weekend Wander on the Trails: Civic Love: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
On this wander, participants will be introduced to and invited to utilize the “36 Questions for Civic Love” from the National Public Housing Museum. In collaboration with Civic Season programming, this wander encourages us all to strengthen our community relationships.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: The trail head of the Trails at Conner Prairie
Forest Therapy: 9:30–11 a.m.
Forest Therapy is a guided outing that invites participants to slow down and experience natural spaces in new ways. Your guide will offer a range of invitations to support “bathing” in the sights, sounds, textures, and smells in this shared natural setting.
Location: Meet at the Entry Gates
Civic Play Invitations!: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Join us at Treetop Outpost for civic-inspired play invitations for all ages! Thoughtfully crafted by our staff, these nature- and community-centered invitations are a perfect way to fall in “Civic” Love through play and connection.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Treetop Outpost
Weekday Wander on the Trails: Civic Love: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
On this wander, participants will be introduced to and invited to utilize the “36 Questions for Civic Love” from the National Public Housing Museum. In collaboration with Civic Season programming, this wander encourages us all to strengthen our community relationships.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: The trail head of the Trails at Conner Prairie
Member Appreciation Month- Promised Land as Proving Ground Guided Tour: 1:30–2:30 p.m.
A guided walking tour led by Conner Prairie staff through our newest exhibit, Promised Land as Proving Ground. This tour will encourage personal connections with the historical experiences of Black Hoosiers and other African Americans. The Promised Land as Proving Ground Guided Tour experience is recommended for ages 9 and beyond but is open to everyone!
This program is free for members. Learn more about membership appreciation month.
Location: Meet at the Origins Cabin (#23 on the Guest Map)
Civic Nature Journaling: 10 a.m.–Noon
Civic Nature Journaling is a hands-on invitation that combines observations of the natural world and personal reflection on your role in the community. Come slow down, explore your surroundings, and document what you see, hear, and feel in nature.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Nature Amphitheater (#27 on the Guest Map)
Pizza on the Prairie- College Edition : 4:30–6 p.m.
Bring your friends and come join Conner Prairie in celebrating the fifth annual year of Civic Season with our first installment of "A Slice of History" sponsored by Gen Z organization, Made by Us! You are invited to come socialize, network, and share your thoughts on America 250th with a classic pizza party! The first ten participants to register will receive free admission for the 1859 Balloon Voyage.
This program is free, but registration is required.
Location: Prairie House (#42 on the Guest Map)
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Civic Play Invitations!: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Join us at Treetop Outpost for civic-inspired play invitations for all ages! Thoughtfully crafted by our staff, these nature- and community-centered invitations are a perfect way to fall in “Civic” Love through play and connection.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Treetop Outpost
Town Hall Meeting: 2 p.m.
Community members of Prairietown are going to come together at the schoolhouse to discuss a problem that needs to be solved.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Prairietown Grove
Civic Play Invitations!: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Join us at Treetop Outpost for civic-inspired play invitations for all ages! Thoughtfully crafted by our staff, these nature- and community-centered invitations are a perfect way to fall in “Civic” Love through play and connection.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Treetop Outpost
Glorious 4th: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
July 4th is a time to celebrate the country’s autonomy as the citizens of Prairietown come together to celebrate 60 years of American independence. However, independence and freedom are contested ideas. Through our Dissenting Voices program, experience how history challenges the question of freedom in America with a focus on the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s. Through passionate speeches and debates, experience how history shapes today’s idea of independence.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Throughout the grounds of Conner Prairie
Dissenting Voices: Noon and 3 p.m.
Dissenting Voices returns as Richard Thatcher and Helen Keller showcase criticism of America through the lens of social justice and Civil Rights.
This program is free with general admission.
Location: Porter House Porch in The Junction
About Civic Season
Civic Season is the flagship program from Made By Us, a network of hundreds of museums, historic sites, libraries and archives unleashing access to history for younger generations. Civic Season will take place Juneteenth through the Fourth of July, and unites our oldest federal holiday with our newest, mobilizing a movement to understand our past and shape our future. Conner Prairie's Civic Season celebration reflects the initiatives of Made By Us by emphasizing community engagement and education, and by creating a space where diverse stories are shared and preserved.