Whether you’re seeking shelter from the elements, or you’re looking to experience the local arts, when you head indoors in Southern Indiana, you get to bring the fun with you. These SoIN attractions give you plenty of options for indoor entertainment throughout all four seasons.
HANDS-ON FUN
Wimsatt Soap & Soy Candle Bar
Wimsatt offers a fun candle-making experience where you can pick your own scents and votives. Reserve spots at an upcoming candle bar session at the shop or try them out during monthly collaborations with Baer's City Winery & Our Lady of Perpetual Hops. Wimsatt also hosts occasional Make-N-Take soap workshops for kids.
Big 4 Escape & Smash Room
You’re in for a night (or day) of puzzle-solving fun at SoIN’s only escape room. Choose from four experiences, including the family-friendly Train Heist or the spookier Witch’s Cabin. If puzzles aren’t your thing, individuals and couples can check out Big 4 Smash where you can suit up in protective gear to crush 20-40 smashable items.
Viva Art
Sip and snack while you paint at Viva Art where artists of all skill levels are welcome to paint seasonal images, artisan pieces and even fun projects on wood! Keep an eye out for occasional special events in the studio’s black light splatter room.
Fostered Up Art
Paint some happy little trees with a Certified Bob Ross instructor at Fostered Up Art. Kids classes are offered a few times each month.
MESA, A Live Dining Show
A popular live dining experience featuring four-course meals from the region’s top chefs, this attraction has expanded to offer hands-on classes in bread making, cookie decorating and more. If you have little ones, check out Mesa Kids Cooking Class’s full calendar of cooking and baking classes for ages 5-15.
GRUB & GAMES
RecBar 812
Revisit the good old days at RecBar 812, a two-story restaurant and arcade in Downtown New Albany. RecBar features more than 200 retro arcade video games, pinball machines and more. The space also includes air hockey, skee ball, ping pong, shuffleboard and basketball games. Hot menu items include the famous “totchos”—tater tot nachos—which are served up six different ways.
Union Restaurant & GameYard
This restaurant and game haven in Downtown Jeffersonville offers indoor and outdoor games. Challenge your friends to a game of foosball, corn hole or giant beer pong, to name a few. The menu offers imaginative and delicious burgers, sandwiches, and fun cocktails.
Pearl Street Game and Coffee House
Order up a house brew, smoothie, or a yummy seasonal drink before settling in for a board or card game with friends. You’ll go bananas for the Teka Chai, a cold drink with spiced chai, milk, banana and honey.
Hoopsters Sports Grill
Catch your favorite team while you’re on the road at Hoopsters Sports Grill. The surround sound system and flat screens lining the walls ensure you won’t miss a second of play. The 21+ restaurant and bar serves up plenty of fan favorites, including a Frisco Melt and Philly Cheese Steak.
DINNER & A SHOW
Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville
A true one-stop shop for an evening out, Derby Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville is one of the oldest and most well-known dinner theaters in the country. Not only will you leave humming your favorite musical, but your appetite will be satisfied with a homestyle buffet and delicious desserts!
The New Albany Performing Arts Center & Downtown New Albany
Enjoy an amazing meal in downtown New Albany at restaurants like Brooklyn & The Butcher, La Catrina, or Pints&union. Then stroll on over to The New Albany Performing Arts Center to catch top-notch performances from TheatreWorks, the venue’s resident theatre company.
The Jefferson Venue & Downtown Jeffersonville
From rock to rap to country and everything in between, you’re sure to find something you like on The Jefferson Venue’s calendar, including billboard charting acts! The venue’s prime location is near great dining options, including Upland Jeffersonville, Harry’s Taphouse, and Town, a casual Italian restaurant.
More music and theatre venues in SoIN.
Clarksville Little Theatre
This theatre may have little in the name, but it packs a ton of heart and talent on stage. With support from the local community, the Clarksville Little Theatre has been putting on quality performances since 1947. A great stage to catch local talent on the rise.
The Ogle Center at IU Southeast
The Ogle Center hosts internationally known orchestras, instrumentalists, and performers throughout their season. Not only can you catch amazing guest artists inside this beautiful venue but be sure to check out the programming from the resident IUS Fine Arts program. A hidden gem!
ARTS & CULTURE
Carnegie Center for Art & History
Built in 1904 as New Albany’s original library, the Carnegie Center now offers the public free admission to rotating and permanent exhibits. “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage: Men and Women of the Underground Railroad” illustrate the stories and impact of Southern Indiana residents—free and enslaved—who helped fugitive slaves on their journey to freedom. “Remembered: The Life of Lucy Higgs Nichols,” follows the life of this former slave and Civil War nurse.
Howard Steamboat Museum
A must-see for fans of history and architecture, the 22-room mansion was built in the late 19th century for the Howard family, who made their name and fortune by building steamboats. Interior woodwork and décor were constructed by the shipyard’s master craftsmen. The museum’s newest exhibit, “A Gilded Age,” highlights clothing of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site
This Second Empire-style mansion built in the mid-1800s covers 20,000 square feet and includes 25 rooms decorated with intricate paintings and woodwork. It sits among other historic homes in New Albany’s Mansion Row, giving a window into life in Victorian-era Indiana. You can view the restored interior during timed tours several times a week. The mansion also hosts special events throughout the year, including teas, murder mysteries and a haunted house.
