How to Spend a Weekend in Carmel, IN

Sally Norton

Guest Blogger

If you decide to spend a weekend in Carmel, IN, rest assured that there is no shortage of things to do. Fashionistas will get a chance to shop for the latest in fashion. There are hot spots for music, theatre, and dance performances just waiting for you. Golfers can tee off at one of the premium golf courses. And the list goes on! Stay with us to find out the best activities that will make your weekend in Carmel one for the books.

Suggestions for your weekend in Carmel, IN

The Center for the Performing Arts
One of the best things to do in Carmel, especially for anyone who wants to add a cultural element to their trip, is visiting The Center for the Performing Arts. This non-profit organization gathers cultural mavens and holds a score of events each year. The facilities include:
●       The Palladium - a 1,600-seat state-of-the-art music hall
●       The Tarkington - 500-seat proscenium theater
●       The Studio Theater - a multipurpose black box with a capacity of 200
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The Palladium
The Palladium performance hall, which opened in 2011, offers cutting-edge acoustic equipment housed in European Renaissance-style architecture.
The Carmel Symphony Orchestra is situated here, with the annual Center Presents concerts and other events from the realms of classical, pop, rock, jazz, and country music being held at the 1,600-seat facility. 

Classical music fans can also get an opportunity to experience a symphony orchestra concert.

​Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Merle Haggard, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, and many other musical legends have performed here in the past. Make sure to check and see if there are any concerts scheduled for the weekend of your visit.

Carmel City Center
The Center for the Performing Arts, the Carmel Farmers' Market, and the Carmel Christkindlmarkt are all a short walk away from the Carmel City Center. This is a shopping and dining hotspot, where you can browse through lovely boutiques and have a delicious meal at one of the many restaurant options. From high-end bakeries and amazing brunch spots to local breweries and small plate eateries - there is something for everyone's taste buds.

Carmel Arts and Design District
The Carmel Arts & Design District, located in Old Town Carmel, IN, is a prominent arts district. In addition to interior designers and art galleries, you can also stumble upon design showrooms, restaurants, antique shops, and specialized retail stores. You can spend your weekend here, enjoying activities such as the Carmel International Arts Festival, Art of Wine, Second Saturday Gallery Walks, and more!

Meet me on Main - Second Saturday of every month
Carmel's Arts and Design District's Meet me on the Main is open every other Saturday to enjoy unique art, entertainment, culture, and shopping. Each month, the galleries will include new artists and exhibits, guest appearances by worldwide and local artists, as well as prizes, raffles, and other unique activities. Maybe you even get ideas for your next DIY project. Make sure to check it out!

The Monon Trail
The Monon Trail is a paved path running across Central Indiana and connecting to downtown Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. It begins at 96th Street in Carmel and continues north for over 20 miles to Sheridan.

If you are in a mood for something active and fun, make sure to check out this trail.

The trail, which opened in 1999, rapidly became a national model for rail-to-trail conversions. Today, the route connects you to the area's most popular sites, and it represents a fantastic exercise or simply a nice weekend excursion. For many, the chance to get some fresh air and try new things is what motivates them. Bisectional and interconnected, the Monon Trail offers cyclists the opportunity to stop and explore.

Monon Community Center's Waterpark
The waterpark is, without a doubt, one of the best Carmel locations to visit throughout the summer. The Monon Community Center houses Central Indiana's best waterpark. 
Its park-like environment is one of the distinguishing elements. Trees and natural flora are flourishing as butterflies flutter around. There are so many things to do in addition to the lovely scenery. You can enjoy the pools and the slides, bringing a bit of excitement into your weekend, as well.

Midtown Plaza
Carmel Midtown is located along Monon Boulevard, between the Carmel Arts & Design District and Carmel City Center. There are many great local businesses to check out in this neighborhood. If you decide to stop by, what awaits you is an area with a green lawn and a big TV screen to watch games and movies. There are also many live music events hosted here. You can grab a beer and take it outside to play ping pong and mingle.
We have to admit - this is only one of the many entertaining weekend options Carmel, IN has to offer. You might even get a desire to turn a weekend visit into a full-time living situation. If you decide to move here from another part of Indiana, you should probably look into hiring long-distance movers as the best solution for your move. We can guarantee that you won't regret making Carmel your new hometown.

Golf courses
​Golf lovers don't need to think further on to spend a weekend in Carmel, IN. You will surely enjoy the premium golf courses located here.

Brookshire Golf Club
Brookshire is an 18-hole golf course with a beautiful landscape, as cool Creek meanders its way across the course. Season passes and individual games are both available for beginners and experts.
For those in their golden years - golfers of all levels can join Brookshire's Senior League (60 and older), which plays every Monday. Brookshire Golf Club also offers Golf Instructional Videos at no charge.

Try your luck at one of the courses this weekend.

Plum Creek Country Club
Pete Dye, a nationally renowned golf course architect, constructed Plum Creek. It contains several water elements, carefully placed sand, and tree-protected greens. There are also memberships and daily fees both available.

Final thoughts
As you could gather from this carefully curated list - with an abundance of activities, the decision to spend a weekend in Carmel, IN is the right one. You might even love it so much and decide to buy a home and settle down in this fast-growing community. We hope you have fun either way. Good luck!