Latest news with #2025SummerCelebration
Axios
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Indy leaders urge peace as WNBA All-Star weekend approaches
Local civic and law enforcement leaders want everyone to know that downtown Indianapolis is a safe place. Why it matters: Tens of thousands of people are about to descend upon the Circle City this weekend for arguably the biggest WNBA All-Star celebration of all time and the final weekend of Indiana Black Expo's 2025 Summer Celebration. The big picture: The message that multiple agencies will be working overtime in an effort to keep downtown safe follows consecutive weekends of violence that have cast a deadly shadow over the start of summer and reignited conversations on how to protect — and police — the city's youth. What they're saying: "I'm asking people to come downtown, or into any of our neighborhoods, and have a peaceful heart," IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said during a Monday press conference. "Continue to be that example and the guiding light for our youth as we move into a very busy weekend in our city." Zoom in: Bailey said there will be more police in every part of the county thanks to partnerships with the Indiana State Police and federal partners. Along with increased foot, car, bike, horse and ATV patrols, public safety drones will keep an eye on things from above. Privately owned drones of any kind, regardless of size, are prohibited in venues and the immediately surrounding area. A complete breakdown of what is and isn't allowed can be found here. Mel Raines, Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO, said security inside Gainbridge will be similar to what we see during regular Fever games, with all the same registrations and bag policies in place. She added that the ticketed checkpoints used during the Pacers' NBA Finals run are making a comeback. That means starting four hours before tip-off, fans must show their tickets to gain access to the different parts of Gainbridge, including the Morris Bicentennial Plaza public space outside the arena. Zoom out: Outdoor activities will pack fans into Monument Circle and Georgia Street as well, prompting a series of closures that start as early as Wednesday. A full list of WNBA All-Star road closures and recommended travel routes can be found here. Downtown parking info can be found here. To make getting around with all those fans less painful, IndyGo buses will be free for all riders on Friday and Saturday. Pacers Bikeshare will also be free to check out with a promo code. State of play: To keep fans in the loop, an emergency mass text service is being established specifically for All-Star Weekend. To receive real-time public safety updates, text ALLSTAR25 to 67283. When the weekend ends, registered numbers will be cleared from the system. What's next: Though the immediate focus is this weekend's celebrations, Mayor Joe Hogsett said leaders will be taking steps during the rest of the summer to make our weekends peaceful.
Axios
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
IBE Summer Celebration season returns to Indianapolis
The marquee event of Indiana Black Expo's programming is back to celebrate the summer and promote unity within the Circle City. Why it matters: IBE's Summer Celebration is the largest annual fundraiser for the statewide nonprofit and an Indianapolis staple that has welcomed crowds for more than five decades. How it works: Proceeds generated by the event pay for year-round initiatives related to education, business development, community learning, performing arts, college scholarships and more. Since 1983, IBE has provided more than $5 million in college scholarships. The big picture: The gathering arrives just one weekend after a mass shooting occurred in downtown Indianapolis, hours after the city's Fourth of July fireworks. Two were killed and five were wounded in the shooting, sparking public safety changes and a proposal to extend the youth curfew in Marion County to get kids off the street two hours earlier each night. The Summer Celebration suffered its own gun violence when 10 people were hurt in separate downtown shootings during the 2010 festivities. What they're saying: Organizers and police are focused on making IBE's 2025 Summer Celebration safe. "It will take every sector — families, faith leaders, businesses, schools, elected officials and grassroots organizations — working side by side to rebuild the village it takes to raise and protect our children," IBE president and CEO Alice Watson said in a statement. Flashback: The first Indiana Black Expo gathering took place in 1971 and was inspired by the Rev. Jesse Jackson-led Operation PUSH exposition held in Chicago in 1969. Donny Hathaway, an NBA-ABA game and crowning the first Indiana Black Expo Queen were highlights of the inaugural Summer Celebration. If you go: The 2025 IBE Summer Celebration runs through July 20. The full list of events can be found here. Here are a few can't-miss standouts. 📽️ The Black Film Festival in IBE's Black Box Theater on Saturday will feature the premiere of IBE's "Telling Our Story: A Month Is Not Enough" documentary. 💼 Monday and Tuesday's Business Conference at the Indiana Convention Center will offer free workshops for small businesses on topics like preparation strategies for commercial loans and economic trends. 📚 Thursday's Education Conference is headlined by keynote speeches from Veritas Schools founder Brandon P. Fleming and Shaun Woodly, creator of the "Teach Hustle Inspire" movement. 🏆 The Pacers Sports & Entertainment luncheon on July 18 will honor people like Deniece Williams, Wendell Pierce, Chiney Ogwumike and Alfre Woodard. 🎵 outdoor concert returns to Carroll Stadium July 18 with Keith Sweat, SWV, Cameo, Deniece Williams and Christopher Williams taking the stage. 🩺 The Indiana Health Fair takes place from July 18-20 in the Indiana Convention Center, offering more than $4,000 worth of free health screenings. 🎤 DJ Kid Capri, Da Brat and Larenze Tate will be in the house for IBE's All White Affair Concert July 19 at the Indiana Convention Center.
