THINGS TO DO

WED 01 Animal Folklore and the Groundhog Can our best weather equipment outsmart Mother Nature? Let’s celebrate this soothsayer of weather. Test your nature knowledge, discover what animals do during the winter and make your own prediction the day before the groundhog comes out. • Location: Cool Creek Nature Center, Time: 3:30-4:30 pm, hamiltoncounty.in.gov FREE

Valentine Bingo Enjoy Valentine’s Day-themed bingo, light refreshments, fun prizes and lots of love. All ages welcome. $2. Registration required. • Location: Chuck Klein Sports Complex, Time: 5:30-7 pm, indyparks.com

THURS 02 First Thursday Night @

The Children’s Museum On the first Thursday of every month, it's just $6 admission per person! • Location: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Time: 4-8 pm, childrensmuseum.org

FRI 03 Pacers Family Night Tickets start at $20 and include a Pacers hat, hot dog, chips and small Pepsi product. • Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Time: 7 pm, pacers.com/family

FRI 03–SUN 12 The Mountaintop

A deeply moving re-imagination of events that takes place the night before the assassination of America’s most renowned civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. • Location: The Center for the Performing Arts, atistage.org

SAT 04 The Legend of the Groundhog Join a naturalist and go on a search for groundhogs! We’ll discuss their habits and learn about the science of the groundhog seeing its shadow. • Location: W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, Time: 10-11 am, hendrickscountyparks.org FREE

Pre-K Prom Enjoy a night of dancing with a DJ, a themed photo booth, light refreshments and a take-home craft. Ages 3-6 with an adult. • Location: Fishers Parks & Recreation Dept. Office, Time: 4:30-6 pm, playfishers.com

SAT 04–SUN 05 Monster Jam 2023

The most action-packed motorsports event on four wheels! See world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions of speed and skill. • Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Time: 7 pm, lucasoilstadium.com

SAT 04–FRI 17 My Punny Valentine

Trail Do you like long walks in the woods and chuckling at a good pun? Pin Oak Trail has been lined with more than 30 nature Valentine puns, quips and play on words to help you celebrate! • Location: Eagle Creek Park, Time: 7 am-6:30 pm, indyparks.org

SUN 05 Family Fun Day @ Indy

Fuel Wear your best PJs and come out for a great afternoon with the family that ends with a post-game skate with the team, all while supporting a great cause! Did we mention kids eat free? • Location: Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Time: 3 pm, indyfuelhockey.com

MON 06 Homeschool Monday: Trip Around the U.S.A. Take a trip around the United States without leaving Indianapolis! Learn about the history and culture of surrounding states and others farther away during this two-hour class. Ages 6-13. • Location: Indiana State Museum, Time: 10:30 am-12:30 pm, indianamuseum.org

TUES 07 Small Wonders Learn easy ways to engage your preschooler in nature and scientific exploration. Each class introduces a new topic through hands-on activities, hikes and crafts, and provides ideas for exploring at home. $7; ages 3-5. • Location: Holliday Park, Time: 10-11 am, indyparks.org

Tot Tunes This program incorporates songs and dance that will help get you ready for your busy day. Encourages the development of gross motor skills and language skills. For toddlers and preschoolers and their caregiver. Registration is required. • Location: Noblesville Library, Time: 9:30-10 am, hepl.lib.in.us FREE

WED 08 Small Wonders: Geology

Explore rocks, minerals and more, plus get ready to see what you’ll discover at our dig site. Use real science tools while conducting experiments and create your own rock-inspired art project. • Location: Indiana State Museum, Time: 10-11 am, indianamuseum.org

WED 08–SUN 12 Butler Ballet: Midwinter Dances Featuring the premiere of a new work by Jennifer Archibald, whose work evolves from investigations of human behavior utilizing the hard edge of street dance melded with the fluidity of classical technique. • Location: Schrott Center for the Arts, butlerartscenter.org

THURS 09 Cooking with Kids

Youth will learn to prepare food using simple and fun methods that can be useful at home. Healthy food preparation will also be stressed. • Location: Riverside Park, Time: 6-7 pm, indyparks.org FREE

Daddy Daughter Dance Dads! Spend a quality night with your little girl and dance the night away. Refreshments, music, crafts and games will be on the agenda for a fun-filled night. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. • Location: Cool Creek Nature Center, Time: 6-8 pm, hamiltoncounty.in.gov

FRI 10 The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic. • Location: Clowes Memorial Hall, Time: 6:30 pm, butlerartscenter.org

Tykes Fun Night Designed for individuals with disabilities, this program includes playing group games, eating dinner and watching a movie. Each child will receive individualized attention. $15.

• Location: Jill Perelman Pavilion West Park, Time: 5-6:30 pm, carmelclayparks.com *SN

FRI 10–SAT 11 Carmel Winter

Games Watch on-ice, non-skating competitive games like ice trike relays, human curling and human Hungry Hippo, all while supporting Carmel-area food pantries. Also cheer on your favorite hometown heroes during the competitive Hero-Olympic games between the Carmel Fire Dept. and Carmel Police Dept. • Location: The Ice at Carter Green, theiceatcartergreen.com

FRI 10–SUN 12 Bedtime Stories

(As Told By Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up) It's Dad's turn to tell his three rambunctious kids their bedtime stories, but when he gets fuzzy on the details, the classics get creative: a prince with a snoring problem spices up The Princess and The Pea, The Boy Who Cried Wolf cries dinosaur instead, and Rumpelstiltskin helps turn all that pesky gold into straw. You may think you know your fairy tales, but not the way Dad tells them. • Location: The Cat Theatre, Time: 2 & 7 pm, cytindy.org

Suburban Indy Home & Outdoor Living Show Find inspiration from outdoor and indoor living displays and over 200 exhibitors. Show features include inspiration spaces, the spring marketplace, daily prize giveaways, bounce houses and Kids’ Day on Sunday! • Location: Grand Park in Westfield, suburbanindyshows.com

FRI 10–SUN 19 Around the World in 80 Days Join fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant as they race to beat the clock! • Location: Theatre at the Fort, thebelfrytheatre.com

SAT 11 Daddy/Daughter Date Night

Girls ages 4-12 and their dad, grandpa, uncle or another significant man can dance the night away! Girls will receive a corsage upon entering and a gift when they leave. A live DJ will entertain the group. • Location: Mooresville High School, Time: 6:30-8 pm, mooresvillepark.com

Recycled Valentines Valentine's Day is 3 days away! Have your kids made all their cards yet? Sign up for this fun program where you’ll use recycled materials to create Valentine's Day cards. Registration required. $5; ages 4-10. • Location: Garfield Park Conservatory, Time: 2-3 pm, garfieldgardensconservatory.org

SUN 12 Sensory-friendly Sundays

@ Conner Prairie The second Sunday of every month, exhibit components that make noise will be turned off. All quiet spaces can be utilized and staff trained in Sensory Friendly Practices will be on hand in case anyone needs assistance. • Location: Conner Prairie, Time: 10 am-Noon, connerprairie.org *SN

Valentine’s Day @ Pecar Nature Center

Join a naturalist and show some love to the animals! We’ll have a treat making station for our animals and a card making station. Children under 5 are free. $5. • Location: Pecar Nature Center, Time: 2-3 pm, washingtontwpparks.org

MON 13 Book Buddies Bring a buddy for a storytime playdate at the library! Enjoy stories, activities and crafts based on each week's special theme. For kids ages 4-6 on their own. • Location: Carmel Clay Library, Time: 10:30-11 am, carmelclaylibrary.org FREE

Love Your Trails! Cleanup Project

Celebrate Valentine's Day by showing some love to our trails! Help keep it clean for our trail users, community members and resident critters, and receive a birdseed cake for your backyard. • Location: Monon Central Trailhead, Time: 2-3 pm, carmelclayparks.com FREE

TUES 14 Bird Valentines Celebrate Valentine's Day with crafts and coloring all day in the Ornithology Center classroom. Free with park admission. • Location: Eagle Creek Park, Time: 10 am-4 pm, indyparks.org

Sweets for Your Sweetie Celebrate Valentine's Day with treats from the tropics, including chocolate and coffee, all while enjoying the candlelit romantic atmosphere of the Conservatory. Adults only; registration required. • Location: Garfield Park Conservatory, garfieldgardensconservatory.org

WED 15 Little Ones Storytime Enjoy an active storytime and lively songs for ages 12-14 months. Free tickets are required and will be available—first come, first served—at the Kids Desk thirty minutes prior to the scheduled program start time. • Location: Carmel Clay Library, Time: 10:30-10:50 am, carmelclaylibrary.org FREE

STEAMon! Students in preschool-1st grade can interact with play invitations representing each of the letters in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), including building bridges, exploring mathematical concepts with loose parts, representing learning through art and more. • Location: Conner Prairie, Time: 9, 10:30 & Noon, connerprairie.org

THURS 16 Pre-K Explorers This program incorporates stories, songs, hands-on projects, and interactive activities that focus on helping preschoolers learn school-readiness skills, develop social skills, and explore more challenging concepts. Ages 3-5. Registration required. • Location: Noblesville Library, Time: 1-1:30 pm, hepl.lib.in.us FREE

Tadpole Time: Happy Healthy

Hearts Do you know how fast a bird’s heart beats per minute? Or what kind of animal raises their tail in fear? We’ll get our heart rates up while imitating animal behaviors. Ages 2-7; $3. • Location: McCloud Nature Park, Time: 10-11:30 am, hendrickscountyparks.org

FRI 17 Family Sweetheart Dance

Dance the night away with your loved ones! There will be crafts, music and light refreshments. Formal attire is encouraged so come dressed to impress! Registration required. • Location: Chuck Klein Sports Complex, Time: 6-8 pm, indyparks.org FREE

FRI 17–SUN 19 20th Annual Geofest

Three days and three floors of rocks, minerals and fossil specimens to explore! Whether you are a rockhound, a fossil enthusiast, or you just love crystals and gems, there is something exciting for you to discover. Plus, hands-on activities for all visitors to enjoy. • Location: Indiana State Museum, Time: 10 am-5 pm, indianamuseum.org

SAT 18 41st Annual Polar Bear

Winter Classic

One of the oldest races in Indianapolis! With its unique format of offering a 5K, 10K or The Bear (both), runners get to choose from three race distances. • Location: Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay, indypolarbear.com

Pancakes, Pajamas and Piggies

Are you ready for a cozy story time? Wear your favorite pajamas and join us for some pancakes while listening to If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Geared towards families with kids ages 2-5. • Location: Noblesville Library, Time: 10-11 am, hepl.lib.in.us FREE

SUN 19 Family Concert Series: Growing Up Baroque Join the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra for a free family concert! • Location: Central Library, Time: 3-4 pm, indypl.org FREE

MON 20 Free Admission @ The Children’s Museum

Uncover historical and contemporary political trailblazers and explore monumental presidential initiatives with special activities to commemorate the lives of our nation’s presidents. • Location: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Time: 10 am-3 pm, childrensmuseum.org FREE

Free Admission @ Conner Prairie

Celebrate and explore the history of the presidency. Have a conversation with past presidents and first ladies, play presidential games, enjoy engaging shows and sing patriotic songs as we celebrate our Nation’s presidents. Dress up as your favorite president or first lady! • Location: Conner Prairie, Time: 10 am-5 pm, connerprairie.org FREE

Free Admission @ Indiana State Museum

Celebrate Presidents Day and explore Indiana’s presidential and vice presidential past with free admission. • Location: Indiana State Museum, Time: 10 am-5 pm, indianamuseum.org FREE

Free Admission @ NCAA Hall of Champions

In celebration of Presidents Day, admission is free to the museum. • Location: NCAA Hall of Champions, Time: 10 am-3 pm, ncaahallofchampions.org FREE

TUES 21 National Geographic

Live: T. Rex Rises How did Tyrannosaurus rex become the iconic apex predator of North America 67 million years ago? Join paleontologist Dr. Zanno for a fascinating look at how a global climate crisis during the Cretaceous Period changed the course of evolution for this prehistoric tyrant and its ancestors. • Location: The Palladium, Time: 7:30 pm, thecenterpresents.org

TUES 21–SUN 26 Hairspray

Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour! Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. • Location: Murat Theatre, indianapolis.broadway.com

WED 22 Tot Tunes This program incorporates songs and dance that will help get you ready for your busy day. Encourages the development of gross motor skills and language skills. For toddlers and preschoolers and their caregiver. Registration required. • Location: Noblesville Library, Time: 9:30-10 am, hepl.lib.in.us FREE

THURS 23 Toddler Time: Under Construction Caution: It’s a construction zone! Dig in to messy sensory play, design and engineer your own projects and create your own dirt-inspired art. • Location: Indiana State Museum, Time: 10-11 am, indianamuseum.org

FRI 24 Music at Butler: Butler University Choirs Enjoy music at this student production. No tickets required. • Location: Schrott Center for the Arts, Time: 7:30 pm, butlerartscenter.org FREE

SAT 25 8th Annual Winter Blast

Embrace the chilly temps of winter with complimentary carriage rides, train rides, face painters, a hot chocolate trail and even guaranteed snow! • Location: Clay Terrace in Carmel, Time: 11 am-2 pm, clayterrace.com FREE

Maple Syrup Event Participants will explore the sugar bush, learn how maple syrup was made in the past, see it being made at the park and receive a tasty treat! Dress to be outside. Meet at the Activity Center. Ages 4+; $6. • Location: Southeastway Park, Time: 1-2:30 pm, indyparks.org

Peanut Butter & Jam: Feller Express

Dinosaurs Kids can help the rangers feed adorable baby dinosaurs, enjoy interactive songs and stories, and dance with their adolescent Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. • Location: The Center for the Performing Arts, Time: 10:30 am & 1 pm, thecenterpresents.org

SUN 26 Sensory Skate Day A sensoryfriendly event for families, especially designed for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder or any type of special need. • Location: The Ice at Carter Green, Time: 5-7 pm, theiceatcartergreen.com *SN

MON 27 Messy Munchkins Listen to a story, then squish and smush your way into the benefits of messy play. Dress for mess! Ages 2-5. Registration required. • Location: Noblesville Library, Time: 10-11 am, hepl.lib.in.us FREE

TUES 28 Education Day @ Indy

Fuel Gear up for the coolest field trip ever! Students will receive an educational workbook that incorporates hockey education throughout the entire game. • Location: Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Time: 10:30 am, indyfuelhockey.com

Ongoing

Flyin’ West Jan. 11-Feb. 5

Four brave female African American homesteaders and pioneers settle together in the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas. Fighting a harsh and unforgiving wilderness, they work hard to till the soil and build better lives for themselves. Their courage is tested when an unexpected and deadly threat invades their home in this surprising story set in the Old West. • Location: Indiana Repertory Theatre, irtlive.com

Inspired by the Dunes Through June 25 Frank Dudley’s artwork – inspired by the beauty of the Indiana Dunes – helped to preserve the rare ecosystem where people visit to explore, study, enjoy and create. • Location: Indiana State Museum, indianamuseum.org

Footloose Feb. 8-17 It’s time to cut loose for the explosive movie musical bursting onto the stage featuring the powerhouse hits of the Oscarnominated score, including “Footloose,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Somebody’s Eyes,” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” • Location: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, beefandboards.com

The Diary of Anne Frank Feb. 10-25 In this transcendently powerful new adaptation, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit and determination. • Location: The Center for the Performing Arts, civictheatre.org

Dinosaur Train: The Traveling Exhibit Through July 30 Based on the popular PBS KIDS TV series, Dinosaur Train, this exhibit explores the basics of science through fun, hands-on activities. • Location: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, childrensmuseum.org

Clue Through Feb. 5 A hilarious farce-meetsmurder mystery based on the classic Hasbro board game and 1985 film. Six mysterious guests assemble at a remote mansion for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. This comedy whodunit will leave you in stitches as you figure out who did it, where and with what! • Location: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, beefandboards.com

Second Through June 4 This exhibit honors the 43 drivers who finished second in the Indianapolis 500 but never won the race, featuring six themes: accomplishment, controversy, determination, heartbreak, mechanical and redemption. • Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, imsmuseum.org

PLEASE NOTE We work hard to ensure our calendar and guide information is accurate. Occasionally, event specifics change after we go to press. Therefore, we encourage our readers to call locations or visit them on the web to verify information.

SAT 25

PEANUT BUTTER & JAM: FELLER EXPRESS DINOSAURS AT THE CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

CALENDAR INDY'S CHILD