Tim’s Picks: Get Out
OUTFest in downtown Saturday. And plenty more after that.
Support for this edition comes from Lafayette Rotary, presenting its ninth annual Ice Cream Crawl, a cross-river adventure, inviting participants to sample frozen favorites while supporting important community initiatives. An Ice Cream Crawl passport gets you samples from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 22 from 12 Greater Lafayette locations are slated: Every’s Ice Cream, Igloo Frozen Custard, The Original Frozen Custard, Budges Drive In, Culver’s East, The Silver Dipper (two locations), Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers (two locations), Westside Scoops and Kurtoskalacs Chimney Cakes. Proceeds this year will go to two community initiatives: Homestead Resources and the Greater Lafayette Family Shelter. Get tickets and more information here.
What’s up this weekend and well beyond? We’ve got you with …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
OUTFest, 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, downtown Lafayette — Pride Lafayette’s biggest bash of the year will “Unapologetically” take over downtown in the name of equality, diversity and love. OUTFest 2026 will welcome more than 70 local and area LGBTQ+ organizations and allies for a day of live music, DJs, eats and drinks — all leading up to the area’s biggest and most bodacious drag show. Also on hand will be Artists’ Alley, an area that will feature about 30 local artists and their latest works. Almost 10 food trucks will satiate all hunger and be sure to practice your scales for the karaoke stage outside Knickerbocker Saloon. Local bands and talents from Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette will also contribute to the live entertainment. OUTFest’s theme of “Unapologetically Proud” is perfect in the face of federal and state politics. Thankfully OUTFest keeps growing and has been a late summer highlight in our community for almost 20 years. $10 in advance, $15 at the gate; $5 in advance, $7 at the gate for children ages 13-17; kids 12 and under are free. Tickets.
“Imperfectly/Perfect” and “Body English” opening reception, 6 p.m. Aug. 21, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, 102 S. 10th St., Lafayette — Two Indiana artists that have an impressive portfolio of eye-catching work will open their newest exhibits this weekend. Sculptor Mary Pat Wallen has had an impressive run of shows featuring her stylized female figures in clay, plaster and other materials. The expressive pieces often feature long skinny legs and blank faces. It’s the postures of the figures that do the talking, which viewers will experience in her “Imperfectly/Perfect” show. Bloomington’s Caleb Weintraub will introduce his newest paintings full of vibrant colors, motion and expression. Most of his pieces feature cartoonish, almost abstract human subjects in mid stride. His “Body English” exhibit will be a fine compliment to Wallen’s. And mark your calendars for a sort of closing reception for the shows: Members of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at the museum.
Summer Movie Night, 9 p.m. Aug. 21, Tippecanoe County Amphitheater, 4449 Indiana 43 North, West Lafayette — See Woody and the gang under the night sky at the Tippecanoe County Amphitheater and help your community at the same time. “Toy Story” (1995) started it all in terms of computer animated feature film excellence, and that Pixar formula still works today — spectacular animation, loveable characters, talented voice actors, laughs and usually some tears. With “Toy Story 5” earning more than $1 billion in worldwide box office, it’s time to see the original “Story” like you’ve never seen it before. The screening is free, but movie fans are encouraged to bring clothing, baby items and nonperishable food to benefit local charities Food Finders Food Bank, Bravely Women’s Health and The HIVE Recovery Hub.
“Heroes Versus Villains” drag competition, 9 p.m. Aug. 22, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — It’s good vs. evil, babyface vs. heel, and the fierce vs. the less fierce at the “Heroes Versus Villains” drag competition where the audience chooses the victors. Hosted by Alexapro, the event will feature top drag performers from Greater Lafayette and beyond. The show will also mark the People’s debut of Grapefruit, an Indianapolis clown and magician for hire. Just give Grapefruit a stage and a microphone and strap in. Tickets.
Lafayette Comic Con, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 22, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette — The fifth annual Lafayette Comic Con will draw comic book collectors young and old, new and those that have their basement filled with long boxes containing a billion meticulously bagged and boarded back issues. Of course, comic books transcend paper. Just look at the money “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has made since its July 31 release — a cool $1.15 billion worldwide so far. The Lafayette Comic Con will welcome all, and it will showcase comics, toys and card games. Comic book artists will be on hand and there will be a cosplay contest. $10.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Bonus cuts
Curated Treasures, A Benefit Sale at the Haan, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15 – The Haan Museum of Indiana Art, 920 State St. in Lafayette, will hold a sale of fine China, crystal, ceramics, art objects and what the museum is calling “curated surprises.” Tickets are $25 for the early bird entry, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Admission is free 9-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. Proceeds will fund art acquisition; new music programming, featuring a recently donated, fully restored 1874 Steinway piano; and arts programming that centers largely on school age children. Get tickets here.
East End Block Party, Aug. 21 – A block of Upper Main will host the next in a series of East End Block Party events from 5-10 p.m. Aug. 21, at 10th and Main streets. Music starts at 6 p.m., featuring Rain on the Rocks followed by the Mudhounds at 7:30 p.m. (This is a bit of a do-over, after the acts got rained out June 6 at this year’s first East End Block Party.) Drinks and food available to carry out into the party in the block’s DORA district setup. Admission the block party hosted by East End Grill, Ripple & Company, The Celler and others: Free.
Beers and More Along the Wabash, Aug. 29 – With work continuing on the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, Beers Across the Wabash moves to Riehle Plaza and Second Street in downtown Lafayette for Beers and More Along the Wabash, an annual celebration of Indiana’s craft brews, wines, distilled spirits, ciders and non-alcoholic drinks. Early VIP admission is at 1 p.m. General admission starts at 2 p.m., with the last pour at 4:45 p.m. There will be live entertainment, games and food trucks in an event benefiting Food Finders Food Bank. The lineup: Teays River Brewing, People’s Brewing, Thieme & Wagner Brewing, Shake Up, Broad Ripple Brewpub, Fontana Farms Brewing, Crasian Brewing, Quaff On! Brewing, Tip A Canoe Brewing, Brokerage Brewing, Half Moon Brewery, St Benedict’s Brewing, Grand Junction Brewing, Evil Czech Brewery, Ash & Elm Ciders, Science Project Brewing, Moontown Brewery, Field Brewing, Klooz Brewing, Wildcat Winery, Mad Anthony Brewing, Generation NA, Wizard Wines and Vines Winery. Tickets are $45 for advance general admission, $65 for VIP entry. Designated driver pricing available, too. For tickets.
Thanks, again, for support for this edition from Lafayette Rotary, presenting its ninth annual Ice Cream Crawl, from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 22 from 12 Greater Lafayette shops. Get tickets and more information here.
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