1. You know that summer officially begins with the Snake Pit at the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA
Every May, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500. Most young people will enjoy this loud, typically hot day from the Snake Pit, which is the grassy area in the very center of the race track. It’s considered the perfect kickoff to the summer season.
2. You always keep a growler for craft beer in your car
With Indiana liquor laws allowing you to have a brewery's growler filled up at any brewery throughout the city, there are few residents who travel without an empty one in their car’s trunk.
3. On the weekends, you’re one of two places: Broad Ripple or Mass Ave
If you’re going out on the town for a night of fun or dancing, you’re heading to Broad Ripple or downtown to Mass Ave. It’s essentially these two neighborhoods or bust.
4. We dye the Canal green for St. Patrick’s Day
Okay, so this isn’t necessary an uncommon tradition (the river in Chicago is famous for this) but it’s certainly a quirky thing to do in Indianapolis. Every St. Patrick’s Day, you can head to the Canal to experience it looking positively green for the day. It's one of those Indianapolis things we always look forward to.
5. Ending the night at Steak N’ Shake is completely normal for us
Especially for high school and college-aged kids, ending a night of hanging with friends at this chain diner is completely normal — and often an unwritten rule. Cheap burgers, fries, and milkshakes at 2 a.m. is the perfect end to any night out.
6. We’re obsessed with the Indiana tenderloin sandwich
If you’re not from Indy, you might not know what an
Indiana tenderloin is. This thin, crispy, and fried pork sandwich is a staple throughout the city and the state. Indiana actually even has a Tenderloin Trail, which features more than 30 restaurants with delicious takes on the dish.
7. We light one of the nation's largest Christmas trees every holiday season
The Friday after every Thanksgiving, more than 100,000 Hoosiers gather on downtown’s Monument Circle to celebrate the Circle of Lights. This must-see Christmas tree features more nearly 4,500 lights strung in decorative fashion from the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of the Circle.
8. During concerts, most of us would rather sit on the lawn at Ruoff than the front row
Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E 146th St, Noblesville, IN 46060, USA
At Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, you’ll find some of the city’s top concerts throughout the summer season. Featuring a giant lawn seating area, you’ll find more people eager to lay out and enjoy the music from here than up near the front rows of the normal seating area.
Life in Indianapolis comes with its unique quirks, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. What other weird things do people from Indianapolis do? Let us know in the comments section!
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