Back-to-School Festival Offers Free Fun for All Students

July 14, 2017

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) and Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) are teaming up to make sure thousands of students have a positive start to the new school year.

On Tuesday, July 25, the Back-to-School Festival will take place at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St. IHS will offer free admission to all guests, while students and their families will find some fun school resources and important medical services and screenings.

A school fair will be the highlight of the festival, providing resources on topics ranging from after-school activities and mentoring to scholarships and tutoring. The fair will also feature a booth by Enroll Indy, an organization affiliated with IPS, focused on helping families with school selection and registration.

Medical services will include required back-to-school vaccines, available through Franciscan Health. Vaccines will be $10 each or free with proof of Medicaid. There will be no out-of-pocket costs for families in the Franciscan Health Network. In addition, a licensed dentist, with the mobile group Dental Safari Company, will provide student exams complete with cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, as needed.

Performances by Traci’s Urban Jamm Dance Studio will take place inside the Frank and Katrina Basile Theater. Guests can also check out a demonstration booth by Strings and Jazzy Things. Outside the History Center, the Pacers Fan Van will feature games, prizes and the chance for fans to measure their hand and foot sizes against those of a Pacers player.

Back-to-School Festival guests are also encouraged to take full advantage of admission to IHS’s award-winning Indiana Experience, featuring interactive You Are There exhibits and the virtual time-travel technology of Destination Indiana.

“Indianapolis Public Schools is excited that our students will get free access to the wonderful offerings at the Indiana Historical Society,” said Carrie Cline Black, IPS spokesperson. “Add to that medical services and information to prepare children to head back to school—and you have an awesome, power-packed day!”

While the Back-to-School Festival is the first event of its kind hosted in partnership with IHS and IPS, the organizations have long shared the same goal.

“The Indiana Historical Society is proud to partner with Indianapolis Public Schools on the Back-to-School Festival, because both organizations think year-round learning is important,” said Becky Schlomann, IHS education coordinator. “At the Indiana Historical Society, we do history. In our hands-on exhibits, IPS families will learn lots of great Hoosier stories while also having fun.”

Back-to-School Festival events will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with IHS continuing to offer free admission until its regular closing time of 5 p.m. Parking is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The History Center is also located along several IndyGo bus routes.

More information on the festival is available online at www.indianahistory.org and myips.org. For social media updates, follow IHS (@IndianaHistory) and IPS (@IPSSchools) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Eli Lilly Hall

Back-to-School Fair

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Frank and Katrina Basile Theater

Musical and theatrical performances

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Canal Level

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Dental Safari Company

Student dental exams

Franciscan Health

Back-to-school immunizations

Parking Lot

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Pacers Fan Van

Prize wheel with free giveaways, photo booth, corn hole and interactive activity allowing fans to measure their hand and foot against that of a Pacers player