Harvest Nights

An autumn gem in Indianapolis

Words by Ashley Locke

On October nights, when the sun sinks below the Indianapolis horizon, tens of thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns begin to glow. The spooky-not-scary annual event features a path lined with locally grown pumpkins from farmers across Indiana—but that’s just the beginning of the month-long, family-friendly Harvest Nights at Newfields.

Newfields, which houses an art museum, nature park, beer garden, and more, spends weeks preparing for Harvest Nights. The pumpkins, which come in all shapes, sizes, and colors—orange, white, green, and blue—arrive in mid-September. The staff and volunteers immediately get to work creating a winding trail through the grounds, leaving no spot untouched by pumpkins. 

Upon arrival, guests will take a self-guided tour through the enchanted forest, past an eerie ghost train, and right by the Lilly House mansion, dubbed Mischief Manor. A short film is projected onto the manor—a light-hearted ghost story featuring time period references and animated routines from the Indianapolis Ballet. Along the way, there are stops for food and drink, as well as photo-ready scenes. 

Folks of all ages enjoy the outdoor adventure, and the stroll through the pumpkin trail is a sight to behold. Learn more about Harvest Nights at discovernewfields.org.