Feast of Lanterns

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Feast of Lanterns Feast of Lanterns—annual neighborhood festival in Near Eastside of Indianapolis with music & artists and it has continued to its current incarnation.
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The Feast of Lanterns is a festival with a long history and personal connections for many Near Eastside neighbors and neighborhoods. It is also a marketing opportunity both to and for the area, its residents, and organizations. Its earliest incarnations in the late 1800s were of small gatherings and decorated front porches in nearby neighborhoods like Woodruff Place. By 1909 these neighborhood events had morphed in to a single, larger festival that took place in Spades Park. Neighbors came out to hang paper lanterns—lit first by candles and later by electric lights. The park, historic bandstand, and numerous bridges were illuminated by the colorful lantern lights. Nearby homes would participate by decorating their porches. The event continued until around WWII when it ceased to be put on, but In the early 2000s local neighbors from Windsor Park and Springdale, looking to begin an outdoor music festival, re-discovered the event.

✨ The Rivoli Theatre Indianapolis is on the cover of Urban Times this month, and we couldn't be prouder. Our own Liz She...
10/03/2026

✨ The Rivoli Theatre Indianapolis is on the cover of Urban Times this month, and we couldn't be prouder. Our own Liz Sheldon has been leading the work to bring this near east side landmark back to life. In September the restored marquee went up on 10th Street, and for anyone who has driven past that dark sign for the last 30-plus years, it's a sight. Join the community for a celebration on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. at 3155 E. 10th St. they’ll light the marquee around sundown and open the building for tours so you can get a peek inside. Details: https://rivolitheatre.org/latest-news/2026-rivoli-marquee-unveiling

Got old Rivoli tickets or posters stashed in a drawer somewhere? Bring them! Liz and her crew have been collecting memories from neighbors who grew up with this place.

Our team is full of neighbors doing work like this for the near east side all year long. This one feels extra special ♥️

09/05/2026

Join us for an evening of bird watching at the Pogue’s Run Art & Nature Park.

Local ornithologist Wes Homoya will teach us how to spot and identify the wild birds that populate the area along the Pogue’s Run.

The event is FREE but please register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-birding-event-tickets-1999301235816?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

The event is open to all ages. We will provide snacks and drinks.

When: Sunday September 13, 2026
Time: 6:30p
Where: Pogue’s Run Art & Nature Park, 2300 Dequincy St.

Join FoPR and Indy-based international birding guide Wes Homoya for a casual stroll through Pogue's Run Art & Nature Park (PRaNP) as we seek to observe, study, and be inspired by the birds and natural world in our city.

PRANP features open parkland habitat amongst a large wetland complex and serves as the north/easternmost terminus of the Pogue's Run Trail. We'll gather at 6:30 PM at the main parking lot of the park, coordinates 39.800216, -86.089140. During our jaunt, we'll explore roughly 1-1.5 miles of urban greenspace on flat and rolling gravel surfaces, all the while enjoying and discussing any birds (or other flora and fauna) we encounter.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for the weather, and bring water and binoculars if you have them (don't worry if you don't, Wes will still help you to appreciate the birds without them). There are no restroom breaks planned for this hike.

💫🏮✨ If the Feast of Lanterns lit something up in you this year, help us keep it going. This is a FREE neighborhood celeb...
08/24/2026

💫🏮✨ If the Feast of Lanterns lit something up in you this year, help us keep it going. This is a FREE neighborhood celebration, made possible entirely by the community. Donate here: https://indyfol.org/give

Now, the thank yous, because there are a lot of people to thank. To our vendors, artists, and makers who packed Spades Park with color, flavor, and things you couldn’t find anywhere else. To the musicians who gave the night its soundtrack. To the community groups and neighborhood associations who show up for the Near Eastside all year, not just festival weekend. To our sponsors who put their names behind a free event because they believe in this place. To the 150+ volunteers who set up, tore down, cleaned, and stayed long after dark so every lantern could glow. And to our volunteer board, who plans this thing year round so one night can feel like something out of a storybook.

That’s the real magic, and the whimsy too. It doesn’t come from the lanterns. It comes from you. See you next year. 🏮✨

08/24/2026
👒 Lost something at Feast of Lanterns? We’ve got a small lost and found from the event. So far we’ve got a couple of wat...
08/24/2026

👒 Lost something at Feast of Lanterns? We’ve got a small lost and found from the event. So far we’ve got a couple of water bottles and a sun hat waiting to be claimed. Swing by Stomping Ground to grab your stuff.

08/23/2026

Feast of Lanterns never disappoints! Great seeing everyone. You’re the reason why I do these events.

🏮 Happy Feast day, Indy! The weather is looking clear for the best day of the year 🎶 🍕 🍻 ☀️ Big thanks to everyone who c...
08/22/2026

🏮 Happy Feast day, Indy! The weather is looking clear for the best day of the year 🎶 🍕 🍻 ☀️ Big thanks to everyone who came to help us get the park ready yesterday. This festival literally takes a village: invaluable sponsors like Heath Outdoor Heath Hurst DIGS Garden Center who donate their hard working teams! Hundreds of neighborhood volunteers (all ages!). And a dedicated volunteer board doing months of behind the scenes work to get us ready. Help us keep this thing going & donate today: https://indyfol.org/give

08/21/2026

We're just two weeks out from one of the Near Eastside's best events. Feast of Lanterns is a magical evening and a chance to connect with many community organizers and shop with local artists and vendors.

08/21/2026

✨🏮 Get creative with us at Feast of Lanterns this Saturday - August 22nd! 🏮🎨
Come find Arts for Learning Indiana at the Gazebo in Spades Park and jump into some hands-on creativity with our incredible Teaching Artists Beatriz Vasquez and Matt DeLoughery! 🎨✨
While you’re there, stop by and say hello to our President & CEO, Anya Aslanova, and some of our amazing board members who will be hanging out, sharing more about Arts for Learning, and soaking up all the festival fun.

📍 Spades Park — find us at the Gazebo!
📅 Saturday, August 22
⏰ 4PM
🎟️ FREE + family friendly!

Grab the family, bring your creative energy, and come celebrate with us. We can’t wait to see you! 🧡

Feast of Lanterns

08/21/2026

Indianapolis's premiere summer multicultural event.

Address

1800 Nowland Avenue
Indianapolis, IN
46201

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