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Conner Prairie is one of the top attractions in Hamilton County for good reason. I have been a Hamilton County resident for almost two years and have visited Conner Prairie approximately 70 times. My biggest reason to advocate for Conner Prairie is that there's something special for every type of person. Here are five top tips you'll need to know before you go:
1. Check the Conner Prairie website. The Conner Prairie website is easy to navigate exactly what you're looking for. You can search Things to Do for specific people (families, kids, adults, teens etc.), during each of the four seasons and with classes and workshops. The calendar shows what is going on during given months, but I love the Big Events page that shows all the major events for the year. I can easily see what each event is and schedule it in my calendar. Tip: Follow Conner Prairie on your favorite social media outlet. They keep you up to date on all the latest happenings and what's coming ahead.
2. If you're a first time visitor, give yourself plenty of time or multiple days. Conner Prairie features five historic areas, a modern museum and more than 1400 acres. Check out the map ahead of time and ask each member of your family what they are most interested in visiting. From there you can decide if you'll be able to visit each area in one day. Keep in mind, little Johnny might want to go to the splash pad first thing and the kids are having so much fun, they end up spending two hours there. That's OK - you now know to leave more time for that activity the next time you visit. Tip: Visit the splash pad first thing on hot days to keep cool throughout your visit.
3. There is always something new to try out with Conner Prairie's full calendar. Events range from summertime Symphony on the Prairie concerts to Hearthside Suppers throughout the winter. Two of our favorite events are The Headless Horseman and Curiosity Fair. Tip: Be early to both events as they are very popular. Ask the staff ahead of time for the best time to arrive.
4. Don't forget about special programming. Did you know Conner Prairie has a pre-school aged program? Prairie Tykes is custom made each month for children ages 3-6 and their parents or grandparents. Conner Prairie also hosts various camps throughout the year. Lenape Camp, Maker Camp, Science Camp, Adventure Camp and Summer Camp are a handful of the camps they host each year. Tip: Stay up to date on when the first sign-up date is for each camp. The camps fill up at lightening speed!
5. Consider a membership. For us, the Conner Prairie membership was the first thing we bought when we moved into our Fishers home. 2016 resulted in the highest number of memberships purchased since opening in 1974. They've added so much over the past few years and have big goals for the years ahead. Conner Prairie is putting $1.4 million into renovating the private venue Chinese House as well as making plans for a permanent Makers Space.
Now that you've got the low down on your first trip to Conner Prairie, check out one of their upcoming events. The outdoor grounds open March 28 for you to be a participant of the nationally acclaimed living history museum. Let us know if there are additional tips you would share with a first timer at Conner Prairie! Tag us on social using #VisitHC / @VisitHamiltonCo and #DiscoverCP / @ConnerPrairie to share how you spend your time at Conner Prairie.
