Water slides, ice cream sundaes, mini bowling, go-karting and more await in Festival Country Indiana, where summer fun abounds.
Family Adventures
You can't have summer without a day (or several) by the pool. Make a splash at Freedom Springs Aquatics Park in Greenwood, home of a 205-foot water slide, a lazy river, a lap pool, cabanas and more. Also, check out the aquatic centers in Franklin and Edinburgh.
Enjoy indoor and outdoor go-kart tracks (with options for big and little kids), mini bowling, an arcade, bumper boats, mini golf and more at Rascal's Fun Zone in Whiteland. And, for an even more adventurous experience, check out K1 Circuit, also in Whiteland, to race high-performance go-karts that reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
Located in Greenwood, Otte Golf & Family Fun Center is home to mini golf, a driving range, indoor golf simulators, indoor batting cages, pickleball courts, a restaurant, snow cones and an 18-hole executive golf course.
Visit 10 Pins Franklin to experience mini bowling and arcade games in the heart of downtown Franklin. If you're hungry, 10 Pins also has a bar and snack menu, or you can order pizza from Greek's Pizzeria & Tapp Room to enjoy while you bowl.
Coming soon to Greenwood, Slick City Action Park will be a huge indoor play park with giant slides, air courts and more. Another fun indoor place for kids to play is Urban Air Adventure Park in Franklin, which features trampolines, a warrior obstacle course, climbing walls and more.
Festival Country Indiana isn't named Festival Country for no reason; it's the home of more than 1,000 festivals, concerts and events every year. Families love the live music and food trucks at more than 65 concerts, the vendors and activities at festivals and fairs, and the special traditions like Johnson County Fair's demolition derby or Strawberries on the Square's strawberry shortcakes.
Fun Food
Who doesn't love a refreshing ice cream cone on a warm summer day? Festival Country is home to a dozen ice cream shops, an old fashioned candy store and several bakeries. Hop on the Sweets Trail to try the best treats just south of Indy and find your new favorite homemade ice cream, donut, cheesecake and more.
Unique Experiences
Step into 1920s history and experience a classic film at The Historic Artcraft Theatre. Named best theater in Indiana, this award-winning pillar of Franklin showcases favorite movies from a variety of decades (often on 35 millimeter film) as well as live events. There are also giveaways before the show, staff members frequently dressed up as movie characters and fun concessions.
Paint your own clay masterpiece at uPaint Pottery Studio. Choose from dozens of pre-made pieces, then paint your own custom design and pick it up later once the helpful staff have finished it in the kiln. Or, try your hand at pottery making with WaddleWorks, where attendees learn to create their own masterpieces from scratch.
Head to The Grove Collective for a variety of hands-on activities like designing your own potted plant, creating an embellished hat, crafting a keychain or piece of jewelry at the charm bar, or pouring your own custom candle. Small Town Girl Boutique is another great spot to find a trucker hat bar or charm bar.
Experience a traditional English tea setting (the perfect activity for any tea party fans), complete with finger sandwiches, mini pastries and fancy teapots at Sassafras Tea Room. Click the link for times and reservation information.
Commemorate your visit to Festival Country with a fun photo at one of the reimagined alleys or selfie spots. Visit Artcraft Alley to see colorful kites floating overhead; Kuji Alley for koi murals, lanterns overhead and a red footbridge; or Veterans Alley for metal vignettes honoring those who have served in the military. The Festival Country Indiana visitor center (66 S. Water St., Franklin) is another great spot for photos, thanks to its 11-foot apple, DJ booth, patriotic display in honor of America's 250th and more.
Ready to plan your trip? Click here for our list of hotels and other lodging.
