Ready. Set. Explore!

Summer

Summer days are a great time to enjoy Indiana’s first Smithsonian affiliated museum. Wonder through time as you experience history come to life. Enjoy nature-based play at Treetop Outpost then cool off at our River Crossing Splash Pad.

Watch our sunflower field come to life and book an event or photography session as the sun-drenched flowers tower over you. Catch a baseball game and be a part of America’s favorite pastime.

Through engaging storytelling, meaningful conversations and acres to explore, central Indiana summers are an unforgettable experience!

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CP Fall Blue Balloon Ride

Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival

 September 8 - 10, 2023

two guests watching the hot air balloons

Come celebrate a weekend of innovation and experience the colorful glow of Indiana's largest hot air balloon festival.

Check out all of the engaging family-fun activities across three days that will explore the innovation of flight!

Sunflower Field

Black Oil Sunflower with Bumblebee

Find that picture perfect moment in our sunflower field. Learn more about our wedding package as well as our professional photo shoot pass.
Don't miss out on this opportunity as sunflowers rely on mother nature.

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Programs & Events

Symphony on the Prairie

Symphony on the prairie

From June 24 through September 4 at the Conner Prairie Amphitheatre, fans will be thrilled with an exciting line-up that offers a fun-filled musical summer experience for the whole family.

Past Events

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Homeschool Day

June 1

Explore the variety of learning opportunities Conner Prairie has to offer in our seven historic areas. Meet the residents of 1836 Prairietown and experience Indiana’s brush with the Civil War at 1863 Civil War Journey. Also be sure to explore the Conner House, and take a journey out to Treetop Outpost.

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History On Tap

June 2

Conner Prairie’s Horizon Council invites you to an evening of craft beer at Conner Prairie, featuring tastings from local craft brewers and vintners.

Members Watching a movie on the symphony lawn

Membership Appreciation Month: Movie Night

June 9

This Membership Appreciation Month, get ready for a blast from the past at Conner Prairie’s Movie Night featuring the iconic classic, “Back to the Future”! Bring a blanket and your family and friends for a fun-filled evening of time-travel and adventure.

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Historic Baseball Game

June 10

Baseball is a sport rooted within American culture.
Join us to watch a historic game of baseball between two local historic baseball clubs! This program is free with general admission.

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Historical African American Cuisine

June 17

Do you want to learn how to make Gumbo, Sweet-Potato Pie and Kush? While learning some of the history of African American cuisine get the chance to cook it and learn about its impact on our society.

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Kiln Burning

June 18

It's time for the Baker Brothers to fire their wares during their kiln burning. Gather around the kiln to experience how pottery is "salted" for a spectacular finished look. Take home a piece of wood-fired pottery for sale at the Conner Prairie Store.

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Fathers Day picnic

June 18

Celebrate the father in your life by joining us for our Father’s Day Picnic Lunch. Relax, let us do the cooking, and make the day special with a delicious picnic on the prairie.

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Juneteenth Jubilee

June 19

Celebrate Juneteenth with Fishers Arts Council at Conner Prairie. Explore Black-owned businesses and community resources along with local food vendors and entertainment.

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Wheel Thrown Pottery

June 20

Discover the basics of wheel thrown pottery. Students will be able to practice all aspects of throwing and shaping pottery. Whether a beginner or intermediate student, you will be able to progress at your own rate and develop your skills.

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Throwback Camp

June 24

Experience the best of Conner Prairie Adventure Camp as an adult during "Throwback Camp". Enjoy a grownups-only day of canoeing, ziplining, archery, camp crafts, field games, summer tubing, and more!

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Member Appreciation

June 1 - 30

Throughout June, enjoy member-only
programs, fun daily activities and
exclusive garden and nature tours.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at our
1859 Balloon Voyage. Balloon ride is
included.

Woman giving blood

Blood Drive

July 1

Looking for a great way to give back to the community? Stop in and give blood! Each donation saves 3 lives!

Fourth of July parade

Glorious Fourth

July 1 - 2 and 4

Independence and freedom are contested ideas. Join the citizens of Prairietown as they celebrate 60 years of American independence, but also hear how others have questioned just how free America is.

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Learn to Weave on an Inkle Loom

July 8

Learn how to get a loom set up, how to weave and how to create other patterns. $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers.

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Throwback Camp

July 8

Experience the best of Conner Prairie Adventure Camp as an adult during "Throwback Camp". Enjoy a grownups-only day of canoeing, ziplining, archery, camp crafts, field games, summer tubing, and more!

Person working on pottery

Wheel Thrown Pottery

July 11

Discover the basics of wheel thrown pottery. Students will be able to practice all aspects of throwing and shaping pottery. Whether a beginner or intermediate student, you will be able to progress at your own rate and develop your skills.

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Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Try Weaving on the Inkle Loom

July 12

Try weaving on an inkle loom with our youth volunteers. Learn how to create things like belts, straps, ties and trims that can be sewn together to make bags, placemats and so much more!

This program is free with general admission.

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Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Mordants

July 16

Learn more about the mordants and how the same dye can produce different colors. Stop by the loom house to learn more about the dying process.

This program is free with general admission.

Woman reading cocktail recipe

Corn to Cocktail

July 20

Explore four different spirts to learn where they originated, how they’re made, their history in the United States — and best of all — how to make them into delicious cocktails.

Prairietown person working in the fields

Hay in a Day

July 22

The weather may be hot, but the citizens of Prairietown are already preparing for winter! Join us for Hay in a Day and lend a hand as they cut, rake, and stack hay to feed their animals all year long. This program is free with general admission.

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Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Cochineal

July 29

Learn about how insects are used as dye. Stop by the loom house to learn more about the dying process.

This program is free with general admission.

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Feeding and Healing the Historical Family with Herbs

July 29

Tour Conner Prairie's historical gardens and identify a plethora of 1836 herbs that you can grow. Learn their medicinal and culinary purposes for the family and weary travelers.

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Campbell House Garden Party

August 5
11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Campbell's invite you to experience classical music of the 19th century that will be performed in a fashionable concert setting. You will hear operatic singing accompanied by classical piano music. You also get the unique opportunity to learn about music and its impact on the daily lives of people in the 1800s regardless of their social and economic status. This program is free with general admission.

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Pop-Up Play

August 5

Join us for a morning of Pop-up Play designed especially for early learners Kindergarten to 1st grade (5 - 7 years old) to wonder, explore, discover and create!

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Soul, Clap and Dance! JOY as Resistance

August 5 at 12 & 3 p.m. and August 6 at 3 p.m.

The Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, in partnership with Conner Prairie, presents "Soul, Clap and Dance! JOY as Resistance." The performance examines how African Americans have historically established traditions of joyful celebrations highlighting strength and resilience despite the constant weathering of hardships.  A young cast of nine performers will use spoken word, song and dance to bring this special history to life.

This performance is free with general admission.

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Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Wild Dye Plants

August 6

Learn more about the wild dye plants in Indiana. We will dye with Golden Rod, Queen Anne's Lace or other plants from the fields. Stop by the loom house to learn more about the dying process.

This program is free with general admission.

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Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Indigo

August 12

Learn how indigo is made. Stop by the loom house to learn more about the dying process.

This program is free with general admission.

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Sensory Friendly Hours

August 13
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Enjoy a calm environment at Conner Prairie and explore at your own pace. Anything that makes loud noises or has bright lights (i.e. the Dry Goods Store in CWJ) will be shut off unless specifically asked to turn on. Access to the quiet space areas in our buildings and across the grounds will be highlighted for easy access.

A group of Tunis Sheep

Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Tunis Talk

August 17

Get up close and personal with our heritage breed, Tunis Sheep. During our Tunis Talk speak with our Agriculture experts about all things Tunis Sheep. Learn about the role they have in fiber making.

This program is free with general admission.

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Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators

August 19

Stop by Treetop Outpost to learn something new about Indiana wildlife from Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators and explore the importance of conservation, nature and wildlife.

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We Can Camp

August 19 - 20

Love the idea of camping as a family, but don't know where to start? Join our We Can Camp guides to learn basic camping skills, enjoy fun, outdoor experiences like fishing and archery, and spend the night in a tent!

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Homeschool Day

August 22

On this day, any homeschool family can visit Conner Prairie for our current school group rates without the usual requirement of having a group of 15 students or more.

Children participating in a drum circle

Cultural Diversity Drum Circle

August 22

Enjoy the sweet sounds of music with the Cultural Diversity Drum Circle. Be part of the musical journey and explore your own rhythms while embracing people of all cultures. This program is free with your purchase of tickets to homeschool day.

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Wheel Thrown Pottery

August 22

Discover the basics of wheel thrown pottery. Students will be able to practice all aspects of throwing and shaping pottery. Whether a beginner or intermediate student, you will be able to progress at your own rate and develop your skills.

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Chautauqua

August 24

Chautauqua returns to share interesting stories about Indiana history. Enjoy interesting — and likely little known — stories from within the county’s boundary lines. This event is for participants 21 and up and includes three craft cocktails, each one themed to that evening’s shared stories.

Prairietown Funeral

Historic Funeral

August 26

Grief and loss have always been a part of our lives. Join Conner Prairie on August 26 as we explore grief and mourning from a 19 century perspective.

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We Can Camp!

August 26 - 27

Love the idea of camping as a family, but don't know where to start? Join our We Can Camp guides to learn basic camping skills, enjoy fun, outdoor experiences like fishing and archery, and spend the night in a tent!

Girl Watering Flowers

Come-Bye Fiber Trail: Dye Plants from our garden

August 27

Learn more about the dye plants that we grow in our Heirloom Garden. We might dye with marigold, coreopsis, Japanese indigo or other plants from our garden. Stop by the loom house to learn more about the dying process.

This program is free with general admission.

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History on Tap

June 2, 2023

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Conner Prairie’s Horizon Council invites you an evening of craft beer at Conner Prairie, featuring tastings from dozens of local craft brewers with more being added regularly.

Wander wooded gravel roads through our historical areas, check out some 1830s entertainment, meet the Temperance women of the 1860s, all while sampling the best from local breweries. Food options available (at an additional cost) range from soft pretzels, burgers, grilled brats, BBQ, and tacos to ice cream and donuts.