Marsh Symphony on the Prairie

So much fun you almost forget you’re surrounded by the pretentiousness of the far Northside of Indy. Just kidding, just kidding.
The place is really the coolest. It just happened to be my birthday so I did it up real nice-​like. I put together my own little (ok, huge) dinner picnic complete with antipasto platter, flank steak sandwiches, salad and Heineken Light. They provide boy scouts to help carry your belongings from your car to your spot and we just happened to find a little nook in the shade. It was Elvis night so I brought my favorite people and my dancing shoes to celebrate my birthday. The sound system is top-​notch and there is a dance floor! Beautiful fireworks filled the night sky when it was over and parking was a breeze. Of course they have their own concession area with some pretty non-​traditional options. They also have a little store to purchase apple cider and on my lucky night they also had the coolest Halloween decorations for only a couple bucks. This time we took our whole family, but we will be back again (hopefully for date night) next year for sure!

One of the best ways to see the symphony. Great setting with the prairie in the background. A bonus is being able to bring in your own beverages. Later in the season the symphony brings in guest acts which is a bonus.

My summer would not be complete without a show at Symphony on the Prairie. Such a different take on a concert. Very laid back, BYOB and picnics. The atmosphere is great and there is something magical about watching the sunset over the pasture behind the amphitheater while watching show. Over the years I’ve seen many shows there and none disappoint. It’s one of my favorite things to do!

The symphony is fantastic. However, if you really like to enjoy the music, this may not be the event for you. We had a table for the music of John Williams. Unfortunately, the table next to us was a corporate party who talked loudly over the music. I think I’ll just listen to our great symphony downtown.

So I’ve lived in the Indy metro area most of my life. This is only my second visit to Symphony on the Prarie, at rustic Conner Prairie.
Tonight is a tribute to Frank Sinatra by a Grammy nominee, on a amazing 80° Friday in late August. And yes dear friends, this is whitest thing you could do on a summer Friday evening. But coming across some Comped tickets made it an easy decision.
Some cheese, crackers, apples, a Gewürztraminer from Oliver, and a Geuze Iambic; not only supports my wannabe foodie and beer snob cred, but also helps me blend in with the natives.
Laying in the grass on a blanket and listening to the homage to a great crooner; with the crimson sun setting behind the oaks and maples is admittingly a great way to unwind after a long work week.
Fellas, if you would would like to earn some brownie points on a 3^rd date or so, pack a picnic, a bottle of wine, and a blanket.
Some sweet treats such as elephant ears and beignets, standard concession fare are available. And more beer and wine if you are having too good of a time or have planned poorly, as I had this evening.
The democratic of the crowd ranges from couples celebrating their 60^th wedding anniversary to Yuppies with a gaggle of kids swarming around.

One of my FAVORITE and I mean favorite things to do in the summer. I love how laid back you can be or how you can fancy it up! We usually bring chairs and sit on grass. It’s a large place, but it can fill up most nights. I have also sat at the tables and they are super nice. If having a special event or a larger party the tables are well worth it! People bring candles, flowers, and baskets full of food. And the wine, there is so much wine! I love they let you cater your own night and make it what you want. I have seen people with homemade items and even buckets of fried chicken. People even bring small tables and wagons to bring items in. Boy scouts help you inside if you don’t have a wagon, just tip them, it goes to a great cause! It can be a long hike from your car. There is a wagon to haul people too who end up way out in the lot. .
Bring bug spray and bottles of water. It can be hot in the summer. But don’t drink too much because the restroom lines can be brutal. That’s my only complaint. I wish they had more restrooms.
Other than that pack up the whole family and make sure you attend at least one concert.

I attended my first concert here on a beautiful Saturday evening and couldn’t be more impressed. The fact that you can bring in your own drinks and food (yes, that means alcohol) is awesome. Everyone walked in with blankets, lawn chairs, beer and wine, and picnic baskets full of food. I even spotted some people with pizza or take out meals… plus, romantic table settings with tablecloths, candles, and flowers.
Just in case you forget something, there are several food offerings, in addition to a Sun King beer truck, and a Gigi’s Cupcake truck.
There is plenty of parking, restrooms, shaded grassy areas to sit, and speakers placed around the grass to hear the music. There are plenty of trash and recycle bins. The staff are friendly and eager to help. When leaving the concert, paths are well lit and very organized, with security helping everyone get out quickly.
Come early for a good spot. The show starts at 8pm but the gates open at 6 and there is already a crowd waiting. I had a great time and feel privileged to have this great event so close to home.

We typically come about 45 minutes before show time to avoid the parking rush. Since we don’t mind sitting further away, we typically sit closer to the back, easier for a quick bathroom break. We usually find a speaker and sit somewhere close. Speaking of bathroom breaks, so many people spend half the show waiting in line for the restroom, there is hardly any line at the port o let’s and they are usually clean. Be patient with exiting as traffic is unavoidable unless you leave bit early.
They allow you to bring in alcohol and don’t have a lot of restrictions on what you can and can’t bring.
I suggest bringing a book, Uno or something to occupy your time (especially if you have kids) as there can be down time leading up to the concern and during intermission and especailly if you sit in the waaaaaay back.

Symphony on the Prairie is the place to be in the summer. Bring your chair, food, wine, or sit on a blanket in the grass. It’s the perfect date night. They always have a great lineup and we have so much fun every time we go.
Parking can be crazy, but it’s always a fun night!

This was such a fun thing to do on a Saturday night! This was a surprise date for me so I can’t comment on cost or logistics of getting tickets, but I can tell you that this was a 5-​star event/​venue for sure.
–Expect amazingly well-​coordinated parking and entrance/​exit to the facility. On the night we were there, there were 7000 other people, and I was absolutely floored at how easy it was to park and how easy it was to get out of there. Completely painless.
–You can bring in whatever you want! Food, drinks (including alcohol), candles, blankets, chairs, umbrellas, etc. There were a few food vendors (lemon shake ups, burgers, etc.) but I was actually impressed at how little of an effort there was to make money off of me as a customer. There were unobtrusive trash and recycling stations everywhere, so clean up is easy too!
–The symphony is, as always, the
. We heard the music of John Williams, but they put on several other shows. Each act was about 45 – 60 minutes with a 20 minute intermission.
–The facilities are top notch. Clean and well maintained grounds, super friendly and helpful staff, and organized really well for crowd control and optimal viewing.
–Pleasant and polite guests. We saw people of all ages – babies to grandparents – and everyone was smiling and respectful. Clearly a good option for a family night, date night, or a gathering of friends.
I would definitely make this a regular social event in the summer!

It’s a picnic. It’s a concert. It’s both.
This is a very nice local tradition. Bring your chairs, food, drinks, and other picnic accessories and listen to some great music. Outside food and drinks are allowed and encouraged.
Get there *way* before when the music starts if you want decent seats. We usually get there 45 minutes before the music starts and sit in the nosebleed areas. There are actually no seats — the grassy areas are first come, first served. There are a bunch of nutbags who must get there two hours before the music starts.
Tip: There are mosquitoes so be prepared.

Spending the 3^rd of July out here IS THE BEST! Bring your own food, booze and friends and enjoy the live Indy Symphony play patriotic songs, shooting of the cannons and FIREWORKS!!!
The prairie fireworks are some of the best in the country as you get to sit on the hill and have them go off right above you.
Tix are like $ 25 and it goes from like 8pm-10:30pm. Doors open at 5:30pm so go early to claim a spot, have some grub and catch up with friends

Simply the best place to be on a warm summer night with a cold bottle of wine and a delicious picnic spread.
A few tips:
— Come early if you want good seats as it tends to fill quickly.
— Bring your own food and beverage. They sell some snacks and drinks, but you’re much better off with your own cooler of cold ones.
— Don’t sit too close to the port-​o-​lets. It can get a little stinky sometimes.
— Sunscreen and bug spray are highly recommended.
— You’re much better off leaving a little early if you don’t mind missing the last song. Getting out of here can be pretty tough if you try to do it when everyone else is too.
— Have lots of fun, get a little drunk, and dance along! Just try not to ruin the experience for those around you… they may not enjoy your singing and dancing as much as you think they should.

Fantastic venue!
My husband scored some tickets at work for the Classical Mystery Tour: Music of the Beatles. Having never been to a Symphony on the Prairie event, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I did experience was great. I loved that you can bring a picnic (or Jimmy Johns, in our case), chairs, blankets, wine or beer. The atmosphere was so relaxed and laid back it felt like I was sitting in my own backyard.
I can’t wait to go back!

I had to give the symphony its own business area… it’s just too good not to!
Symphony on the Prairie is completely separate from Conner Prairie in every way except the location. They share the same location and you can go up in the balloon if you want. Otherwise it is its own little area where there is a large grass bowl for picnics and lawn chairs and a night full of music!
I have been over a handful of times these past two summers and these nights are just so great for something new to do on a Friday or Saturday night. But this is so much more than the Indianapolis Symphony. There are numerous artists that play concerts like Diamond Rio, a Queen cover band, a Beatles cover band… they have everyone come down!
The ISO performs a few times and they have different themes for the music played like «Movie Music of John Williams», «Broadway Standing Ovations», and «50 Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Music of The Rolling Stones». It’s so badass.
This is a BYOB, BYOF (food), BYOC (chairs), BYOB (Blanket) affair. And they have a 3^rd of July special with awesome fireworks. It’s seriously the best… we should probably have a Unilocal area next year…
Tickets are inexpensive, parking is not bad, and it’s a blast!
Downside: Weather permitting so bring an umbrella … for the sun too and it’s only in the summer.