Summer is just around the corner, and the White Riverway is calling — inviting you to explore, unwind, and connect through events that bring music, nature, movement, and community together. Whether you prefer paddling a kayak, swaying to live music, or volunteering with your hands in the soil, there’s something for everyone along this vibrant and ever-evolving river.
Warming Up: Summer Starts Here on the Riverway
Dig In and Grow
At Holliday Park, the Garden and Grow Workshop invites nature lovers of all skill levels to connect with the soil — and each other. This hands-on gardening series focuses on native plants, pollinator support, and sustainable growing techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just learning to tell a trowel from a tomato, it’s a rewarding way to cultivate something meaningful, all while surrounded by the park’s lush riverside setting.
Ride The Rails
History and adventure come together on the Caboose Rides at Hobbs Station, where families can step back in time aboard the Nickel Plate Express. These open-air rides are the perfect blend of nostalgia and excitement — especially for kids and train enthusiasts. With the rhythm of the rails and the White River landscape rolling by, it’s a summertime memory in the making.
Walk, Breathe, Restore
For those looking to recharge in rhythm with nature, the Wellness Walks in the Park at the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at Newfields offer a calm and reflective way to move your body and clear your mind. Each session begins with a short wellness activity and continues with a peaceful group walk under the sculpture Align, alongside meadows and river-adjacent trails. These free walks invite participants to slow down, tune in, and connect — rain or shine.
From rail rides to riverside gardens to mindful movement, early summer in the White Riverway sets the tone for a season filled with joy, connection, and outdoor discovery. And this is just the beginning — the rhythm of the river keeps things flowing all summer long.
Birdsong & Binoculars: Spring Birdwatching in the Riverway
Before the full summer season takes hold, spring offers a quieter — and often overlooked — invitation to connect with the riverway through birdwatching. From great blue herons and bald eagles to the return of bright songbirds like cardinals and warblers, the White Riverway is a seasonal flyway for incredible avian life.
Summer in the White Riverway: Music, Movement & Community
As summer settles in, the White Riverway becomes a soundtrack in motion — where the rhythms of water, music, and community blend into something unforgettable. Live music lights up the White Riverway at multiple iconic venues, each offering its own unique riverside charm. From big-name acts to indie favorites, summer evenings are made for open skies and great sound.
- Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park remains a summer staple, drawing national touring acts to a downtown setting with skyline views and a big-stage feel.
- Over at Holliday Park, the beloved Rock the Ruins concert series blends natural beauty with unforgettable performances — including The Wallflowers with special guest The Wild Flowers on June 14.
- For a more laid-back neighborhood vibe, Broad Ripple Park transforms into a lively concert lawn with shows like Shakey Graves and Hovvdy on July 20, and a nostalgic triple bill of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Sixpence None the Richer, and The Jayhawks on August 8.
From amphitheaters to park stages, the riverway’s music scene offers a little something for everyone — whether you’re dancing on the lawn, lounging on a picnic blanket, or discovering your next favorite band.
Art, Paddling & Purpose in the White Riverway
The White Riverway pulses with creativity, culture, and connection — and nowhere is that more evident than in the experiences that combine natural beauty with artistic expression and hands-on exploration. This summer, whether you’re admiring beadwork, paddling a kayak, or crafting your own masterpiece, there’s a way to dive into something meaningful along the river.
Art Comes Alive Along the River
Seasonal art fairs and maker markets bring bursts of color and creativity to riverfront parks and trails, creating walkable community spaces where you can listen to live music, browse handcrafted goods, meet local artists, and grab a bite of something fresh. But the White Riverway also connects some of the city’s most cherished cultural institutions — where art and nature come together in deeper ways.
At Newfields, right near the river’s flow:
- Free First Thursdays offer a monthly dose of inspiration. On the first Thursday of each month, visitors enjoy free admission to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, The Garden, and select exhibitions, along with live music, gallery conversations, and open studios that invite creativity at every turn.
- Senior Stay Creative: Reawakening the Rococo, held on the second Tuesday of each month, are guided, welcoming art classes that offer older adults a joyful way to connect, create, and grow their imagination in a relaxed studio setting.
Just downstream, the Eiteljorg Museum hosts one of the summer’s most treasured events: the Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival. This annual celebration brings together 150 Native American and First Nations artists from across the U.S. and Canada. Visitors can shop for jewelry, pottery, beadwork, paintings, and more — all while enjoying live music, traditional dance, storytelling, and family-friendly art-making activities. And of course, no visit is complete without a taste of fry bread and other offerings from local food vendors. It’s a vibrant cultural experience that honors heritage, community, and creativity.
Paddle, Float, or Glide Your Way into Summer
And then there’s the river itself — always flowing, always inviting. Getting on the water is one of the most powerful ways to engage with the White Riverway, offering a unique view of its scenic corridors, wildlife, and cityscape.
- At Frank’s Paddlesport Livery, you’ll find canoes and kayaks, plus the popular Glide O2 Retro — a 10’6″ inflatable stand-up paddleboard (SUP) perfect for paddlers of any experience level. It’s an ideal choice for exploring calm, tree-lined stretches or simply trying something new and refreshing under the sun.
- White River Canoe Company also offers canoe and kayak rentals, but is uniquely known for its tubing trips — a relaxed, leisurely float that’s perfect for groups, families, or anyone wanting to unwind on the water at their own pace.
Whether you’re gliding over the water, connecting with indigenous artists, or sketching under the shade of a riverside tree, summer in the White Riverway is a rich, immersive blend of nature, art, and purpose — just waiting to be discovered.
Take Action for the River: RAFT Citizen Science
For those looking to do more than just enjoy the river — for those who want to protect and study it — the White River Alliance offers a powerful way to get involved through its River Assessment Field Team (RAFT). This advanced citizen science program trains volunteers to collect water quality samples across the White River watershed. RAFT helps:
- Fill critical data gaps for environmental agencies
- Identify pollution hotspots
- Track changes in local streams over time
Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a student, or simply a concerned resident, participating in RAFT is an empowering way to take action for cleaner, healthier waterways.
Your Summer, Your White Riverway
From concerts and creekside gardens to yoga mats, kayaks, birding walks, and water samples, the White Riverway is full of opportunities to engage deeply this summer — with nature, with your neighbors, and with the river itself.
Find your next adventure along the White River!
Our Events Calendar makes it easy to discover local events. Use the filters and start exploring today.
And remember, visiting all of these locations in the Riverway earns you points redeemable for park stickers, a Riverway tshirt, and on-water experiences through our exclusive White Riverway Rewards Pass!
Don’t forget to share your summer moments and tag us @inwhiteriver — we’ll be following along and celebrating your connection to the White Riverway all summer long.
