Things to do in Indianapolis during the Month of May

In this year’s “Month of May” series, on each day leading up to the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, a different topic about the race or about Indianapolis will be discussed. Each of these topics will be ranked to create special “fields of 33” regarding the Indy 500. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you learn something about Indianapolis and the Indy 500, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

The Indy 500 isn’t just about race day. The entire Month of May is full of activity on and off of the track in Indianapolis. There is so much more to do during the month than just go to the race. Enjoy our Field of 33 Things to do During the Month of May.

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33. Listen to the hum. You can hear the hum of the engines even if you are far away from the track. My family lived ten miles away from the track and could hear cars practicing while they were doing yard work outside.

32. Eat Lunch at the Track. During your lunch break one day, go take your lunch to the Speedway. It costs just $5 to get in for the day and gives you the most exciting lunch hour you’ll ever have!

31. Walk Around Downtown. Especially after the 500 Festival Parade, there are so many activities going on in Downtown Indianapolis. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities in America. Enjoy it!

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30. Farm. Well…am I wrong?

29. Racing to Recovery.  Sam Schmidt and the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation hosts this gala every year in Indianapolis. The Foundation gives great recognition to the Holmatro Safety Team and holds the gala to raise money for paralysis research and rehab. Guests can mingle with Indy greats and current drivers/owners.

28. Hall of Fame Induction. It used to be a tough, invitation-only ticket to see the inductions, but there is now a public induction ceremony on Carb Day! Included in this year’s inductee list: Tom Carnegie.

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27. Celebration of Automobiles. Opening day of practice features the Celebration of Automobiles at the Brickyard. Stop by to see cars, LOTS AND LOTS OF CARS!

26. Festival on Main. Main Street in Speedway, IN, becomes a big celebration the week before the track opens for practice. Live music, street vendors, car-and-bike shows, and a special KidZone for the family are on the agenda. It’s the perfect way to kick off the Month of May!

25. Golf Outing. Get out to the Brickyard Crossing at least once during the Month of May.

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24. Bump Day. The haven’t been as many bump opportunities over the past few years, but the excitement of Bump Day will never go away! Combine that with Armed Forces Day activities at the track…you can’t miss it!

23. Pole Day. Especially with the Fast 9 Shootout, Pole Day has become even more exciting than Bump Day! Hearing the speed as a car goes by, and the crowd goes wild! Come join the excitement!

22. Fast Friday. Cars get an extra boost and speeds drastically increase on Fast Friday! A full day of practice on the fastest day of the year, so skip school or work on Friday and get your Pole Day Weekend started early!

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21. Breakfast at the Brickyard. Enjoy breakfast the morning of Pole Day, take a lap around the Brickyard, tour the garages, and then stick around for qualifying!

20. Rookie Run. Kids are invited to participate in a non-competitive fun run the weekend before qualifying. The run helps promote kids being physically fit!

19. Kids Day. It is Indiana’s largest free outdoor festival for kids. What more do you need to know?

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18. Mini-Marathon. Take part in the world’s largest half-marathon on the first Saturday in May. The course for the mini-marathon includes a complete lap around the 2.5-mile oval!

17. Pacers Game. Hey, they’re still in the playoffs right?

16. Public Drivers Meeting. Before heading downtown for the 500 Festival Parade, stop at the Speedway and witness the final Drivers Meeting with the entire field before the biggest race in the world. It’s open to the public. Hear what drivers are thinking and what to be watching for.

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15. Memorial Service. Don’t forget that this is Memorial Day weekend. Honor fallen soldiers at this free service.

14. FANtasy 500. There are numerous parties, such as the FANtasy 500 Race Party, over the days leading up to the race. Go find one and have a good time!

13. Georgetown Road. The craziest (and possibly the most fun) pre-race party is an impromptu one along Georgetown Road the night before the race. Don’t have too much fun though…you need to get to the race! Though If you’re staying along Georgetown, that’s not a long walk to get to the Speedway the next day, is it?

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12. Autographs. Come and get autographs from all of your favorite Indy drivers. Can’t beat that!

11. Tour Pit Lane. You can get up close and personal with the most action-packed area of the race track. And maybe you can catch the Media Pit Stop Competition while you are there!  

10. Drive around the Track. That’s right, you can drive your own car around the Brickyard on Community Day! Can’t afford (or simply don’t trust yourself) to drive an IndyCar around the trick? Drive your own and feel like Ed Carpenter!

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9. Night before the 500. Lucas Oil Raceway (O’Reilly Raceway Park) will give you some exciting racing to whet your appetite just hours before the green flag flies over the Field of 33!

8. Hoosier Hundred. More racing for you! Come to the dirt track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on the Thursday before the 500. We’ve seen great racers like Tony Stewart, Al Unser, and Mario Andretti participate in the Hoosier Hundred!

7. Snake Pit Ball. Foreigner is coming this year to provide the musical entertainment to this race-eve tradition in the Indiana Roof Ballroom. This is one of the more expensive Month of May events (tickets cost nearly $300), but it’s the premier party to attend. Black tie required!

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6. Carb Day Concert.  It costs just the $20 to get into the track on Carb Day, and you can go watch a concert that would normally cost at least three times that much. Rock on! Poison rocks Carb Day this year.

5. Firestone Freedom 100. The up-and-coming IndyCar drivers participate in the Indy Lights Firestone Freedom 100 on Carb Day. It’s cool seeing a bit of a different race style mixed in with the practices of the big series.

4. Pit Stop Competition.  It’s cool to watch the crew get their chance to shine! Get a pit pass to get up close and personal. Otherwise, get up high to look down on the entire scene.

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3. Museum. You cannot attend the Indy 500 or any practice/qualifying day without stopping at the Speedway Museum. Check out cars dating all the way back to the inaugural 1911 Indy 500, sit in a replica car, and just enjoy the tradition sitting in front of you.

2. 500 Festival Parade. Watch Indianapolis come to life the day before the 500 in the 500 Festival Parade. Among the floats and the cars, 33 honorary grand marshals participate in the parade. All 11 rows of drivers make an appearance and provide even more opportunities for the fans to see the drivers they love.

1. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Once you go, you’ll itch to go back each and every year afterward. All of the other events in May are simply opening acts for the main event, our pole sitter, the Indianapolis 500. Put it on your bucket list. Thank me later.

The Field of 33 – Things to Do During the Month of May

Row 1	1. Greatest Spectacle in Racing	2. 500 Festival Parade	3. Speedway Museum
Row 2	4. Pit Stop Competition	5. Firestone Freedom 100	6. Carb Day Concert
Row 3	7. Snake Pit Ball	8. Hoosier Hundred	9. Night Before the 500
Row 4	10. Drive around the Track	11. Tour Pit Lane	12. Driver Autographs
Row 5	13. Georgetown Craziness	14. FANtasy 500	15. Memorial SErvice
Row 6	16. Public Drivers Meeting	17. Pacers Game	18. Mini-Marathon
Row 7	19. Kids’ Day	20. Rookie Run	21. Breakfast at the Brickyard
Row 8	22. Fast Friday	23. Pole Day	24. Bump Day
Row 9	25. Golf Outing	26. Festival on Main	27. Celebration of Automobiles
Row 10	28. Hall of Fame Induction	29. Racing to Recovery	30. Farm
Row 11	31. Walk around Downtown Indianapolis	32. Lunch at the Track	33. Listen to the hummm