INDIANAPOLIS – White River State Park is offering free admission and accepting monetary donations for Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana on Monday, January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“We’re proud to partner together as a park and offer guests the opportunity to experience the cultural and artistic experiences White River State Park has to offer at no charge,” White River State Park Executive Director Jake Oakman said. “And, by supporting the important work of Gleaners Food Bank, park guests will contribute to the important community service Gleaners provides every day.”
For over 20 years, White River State Park and Gleaners have partnered on this one-day annual event to raise raise money and build awareness for Gleaners’ fight against hunger in central Indiana. Park visitors are encouraged to make monetary donations to Gleaners via donation Dip Jars will be located throughout the park at each attraction. Donations can also be accepted online here.
“This annual event is a great opportunity for families to visit our great museums and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service to others,” Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana President Fred Glass said. “We’re grateful to White River State Park for their ongoing support for Gleaners and those we serve.”
The following White River State Park attractions will have free admission on January 15:
- Indiana State Museum: Join the Indiana State Museum as they honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a day of celebration and reflection—partaking in multicultural performances and community-focused activities such as creating a mural, speeches, and more. Interact with community members and learn more about the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equity through artifact investigation, chats with our curators, and videos highlighting King’s most iconic speeches.
- Indianapolis Zoo: Visitors can experience their favorite animals being more active and playful during these cooler temperatures. This includes the dolphin show at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The zoo will also offer a $5 meal deal, which includes a hot dog, a bag of chips, and a canned soda. Dolphin Meet and Greets are available at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are paid experiences.
- IMAX Theater: The IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum will play Deep Sky multiple times throughout the day. This documentary brings the awe-inspiring images captured by NASA’s Webb Telescope to IMAX® — taking audiences on a journey to the beginning of time and space, to never-before-seen cosmic landscapes, and to recently discovered exoplanets, planets around other stars. Guests can pick up free tickets for the film at the ticket desk in the Indiana State Museum when they arrive. Tickets cannot be ordered online before this date.
- Eiteljorg Museum: Visit the Eiteljorg to explore the art, history, diverse cultures, and amazing stories of Native Americans and the American West. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, participate in a drumming circle, watch a film screening, and create art as part of a community art project. Activities support Dr. King’s message of service. Also, experience the last day of the enchanting model train wonderland, Fifth Third Bank Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure.
- NCAA Hall of Champions: Visit the new Mascot exhibit, which features some of NCAA’s most notable and unique mascots, along with Indianapolis’ member schools and their mascots! Guests can also immerse themselves in fully interactive exhibits to compete virtually and hands-on through sports simulators, a 1930s retro gymnasium, a ski simulator, and more.
The park also offers complimentary parking on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Visitors may park in the underground garage off Washington Street in front of the Indiana State Museum and the surface parking lot next to the Park’s Visitor’s Center. Parking is not guaranteed and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
About Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc.
Gleaners was founded in 1980 and is a respected leader within Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. Since then, Gleaners has distributed over 900 million pounds of food and critical grocery products through nearly 250 hunger relief agencies, schools, and community partners serving needy Hoosiers. In addition to food distribution to agencies, Gleaners serves the most vulnerable populations, seniors and children, through specialty programs such as Gleaners2Go, Home Delivery, School-Based Pantries, Mobile Pantries, Summer Meals for Kids, and Senior Hunger Initiative programs. Charity Navigator has recognized Gleaners as a 4-Star organization, the highest rating for charity demonstrating fiscal management and accountability. In addition, Gleaners is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau and has earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. To learn more, visit Gleaners.org.
About White River State Park
White River State Park, located in downtown Indianapolis, welcomes nearly 4 million visitors each year to its world-class attractions. Greenspaces, trails, trees, and waterways co-mingle alongside cultural, educational, and recreational attractions across 250 beautiful acres. Attractions at White River State Park include Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, IMAX Theater, Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, Central Canal, and Indians Baseball at Victory Field. To learn more about the Park and stay up to date on events, visit WhiteRiverStatePark.org.
