Good Wednesday Morning. May is the best time of year in Indy - it’s Indy 500 season, peonies are about to pop, and local events are endless.

This issue is 1,253 words, a 6-minute read.

I pulled together a full lineup of everything Indianapolis 500 because living in Indiana means you’ve got to experience “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at least once.

Maybe race day—the world’s largest single-day sporting event with over 300,000 fans—isn’t your scene, but there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the track and all the family-friendly events happening throughout May.

May 9 is The 500 Festival Kids’ Day. It’s the largest free outdoor kids festival with a rookie race and so many activities on Monument Circle. It’s also the day of the Grand Prix, which is a road course race that isn’t as crowded as the Indy 500, and kids ages 15 and under are free.

May 12 – 15 & 18 are practice days. These are perfect for taking the family when you want that track atmosphere but without all the crowds and traffic.

May 17 is Bump Day and a great day to pack a cooler and lunch and take the kids to the track. The crowds are smaller and it’s a little quieter because all the cars are not racing at once. If you have little ones that like Monster Jam, they will have some on display before the world record speed attempt. 

May 22 the Counting Crows are headlining the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert. You can also see the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 and the Pit Stop Competition.

May 23 is Legends Day where you can get autographs from the full field of drivers and meet Indy 500 veteran drivers. The 500 Festival Parade is also at noon in downtown Indianapolis.

May 24 is race day as well as the ultimate party in motorsports, the Snake Pit.

The Indianapolis AlleyCats season is underway and we are sending one Get Indiana reader to a game. Win a four pack of tickets for Friday, May 15!

Experience ultimate frisbee live with America’s Ultimate Team!

Enter now for a chance to win. Winner announced May 11th.

_{*This is a paid ad}

Ladies, grab your friends—this festival was one of my favorite girls’ days out last year. Saturday, May 16 is the Indiana Peony Festival in Noblesville to celebrate our state flower.

At this free festival you can visit and shop over 150 vendors while listening to music by local artists and snapping photos in front of the "Instagrammable" floral installations.

The heart of the festival is located at Seminary Park, but as the festival continues to grow, downtown Noblesville, the courthouse lawn, and area restaurants will also be part of the celebration. 

Follow along on social media to stay up to date on all this event has to offer, plus other events happening around the festival like Brunch & Blooms, Peonies in the Park, and more.

Dr. Matt Kegley was hired to lead Hamilton Southeastern Schools as the new superintendent after a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees.

Throughout his career in HSE, Dr. Kegley has held several leadership roles across the district, including principal of Riverside Junior High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School, before moving into district administration. He also served as interim superintendent in 2023 and most recently helped support the district during its leadership transition.

Dr. Kegley’s contract will run through April 2029.

Next month SKYLAKE Adventures Park is opening in Sheridan, about 35 minutes northwest of Fishers.

📍22105 Dunbar Rd. Sheridan, Indiana 46069

This 126-acre nature based theme park, which will feature a six-acre natural lake with a water adventure area, an all-season tubing hill, and an extensive treetop ropes course will be a blend of thrilling adventure and serene relaxation for all ages.

Follow them on social media for updates and opening details.

Ready to dive in? Tickets start at $50 and are on sale here.

Just 12 miles north of Zionsville on US 421, Kirklin has antique shops, fresh baked goods at Baked, great food at Bookers, handcrafted coffee at Rise & Brew, and a craft distillery - Travelers Point - making bourbon from locally sourced grains. And this summer, Kirklin Main Street has a full event lineup worth putting on your calendar. Plan your visit at kirklin-mainstreet.org.

_{*This is a paid ad}

Mother’s Day is Sunday and I’ve rounded up some fun local events for celebrating mom.

🕯Brunch With Your Mama – Unplug Soy Candles – 5/9 Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Treat your mom to a special day filled with love, candles and delicious food & beverages. Details & Tickets

🥞Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet – Sahm’s Restaurant & Flying Horse Pub – 5/10 Sunday from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Treat mom to all her brunch favorites this year at Sahm’s. Details & Reservations

🍳Mother’s Day Brunch – FoxGardin Family – 5/10 Sunday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Spend the morning with mom at FoxGardin Family for brunch and mimosas. Details & Reservations

🥂Bubbles and Bouquets – The Yard – 5/10 Sunday from noon – 3 p.m. – Bring mom to this free event with live music, flower bouquet making, and drinks. Details

🤠Line Dancing – Fishers American Legion/VFW – 5/7 Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m. – For $5 you can come learn line dancing taught by Jason Hardy. Details

🍔World Donkey Day & Donkey Derby – Schoolhouse 7 Café – 5/8 Friday from 3 – 8 p.m. – It’s an evening of fun, food, and a little friendly competition, and donkeys. Details

🛍Fishers Farmers Market – Fishers – 5/9 Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon – It’s Sustainability Day at the market. They will highlight sustainability-focused organizations in and around Fishers, plus shop over 80 local vendors. Details

🎮Mario Kart 64 Tournament – MashCraft Fishers – 5/9 Saturday at noon – Compete for prizes in Mario Kart and enjoy samples of Hi & Mighty's Lemon Shake Ups. Details & Tickets

Quick headlines and things to know from all around 🌐

Here is your weekly construction report for the week of May 4.

Fishers High School Athletics announces the hiring of their next Head Coach of the Boys Basketball program, pending board approval. (Fishers Tigers Athletics)

McAlister’s Deli is inviting educators and healthcare professionals to stop by their local restaurant May 4 – 8, and enjoy one free tea as a small gesture of appreciation for the impact they make on their communities each and every day. (McAlister’s Deli)

Grace Gannon of Fishers was named the 13-Year-Old Female Swimmer of the Year at the ORCA Awards in Florida. (Current)

Hamilton Southeastern High School became the first school ever to win the IU Indy Math Contest team title four years in a row — a true four-peat and the school’s fifth team title in the last six years. (HSE Schools)

Want to submit an event or sponsor our newsletter? Reply to this email!

If you found something useful, please send this to someone who would also love to receive this local newsletter weekly.