MONSTER MASKARADE READY TO THRILL ALL 

Check out the all-new Monster MASKarade at The Children’s Museum Fridays and Saturdays in October. Held outdoors in the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, enjoy spooky, silly and socially-distanced fun. Friday evening events are 6 – 8 p.m. and include a boxed dinner. Saturday morning events are 8 – 10 a.m. and include a boxed breakfast.

EXPLORE HARVEST NIGHTS AT NEWFIELDS
Harvest Nights is a new event featuring thousands of glowing pumpkins along a never-before-seen path at Newfields. Explore twists and turns on the spooky (not scary) outdoor walking experience of the enchanted forest, an eerie ghost train and Mischief Manor at the Lilly House mansion. Advance tickets are required; runs through Oct. 25.

ZOOBOO OFFERS HALLOWEEN FUN

ZooBoo is always a fun family experience for little ghouls and goblins, as well as the bigger kids. Visit active animals, engaging activities, spooktacular costumes and trick-or-treating and you’ve got an unforgettable family tradition. Activities run Wednesday – Sunday, Oct. 7 – Nov. 1.

HEARTLAND FILM FEST HAS FULL FILM SPECTRUM

The Heartland International Film Festival will feature 76 films, 23 premieres, live virtual filmmaker Q&As and special events Oct. 8 – 18. The theme is The Full Spectrum of Film to celebrate the diverse film genres, stories and perspectives showcased throughout the festival. Whether you’re looking for an investigative documentary, a quirky comedy or a frightening horror, you can be sure to find the perfect film. (Most films are available virtually to watch at home.)

Visit #BackDowntownIndy before and after the race to patronize your favorite restaurants and shops. 

THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN INDY, INC.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The nonprofit Downtown Indy Inc. and the Indiana War Memorials Commission shared details Tuesday about Shining a Light, a $7.6 million project funded by the Lilly Endowment.

Bob Schultz is senior vice president of marketing with Downtown Indy, which promotes Downtown as a great place to live, learn, work, and play. He said the project will tell the story of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument on Monument Circle.

“We have the beautiful monument behind us and we have this incredible Circle that is well under-lit during the evening hours and we wanted to infuse arts and culture and more experiences of that on this most iconic landmark,” Schultz said.

The 5-minute program will feature the monument in red, white and blue. LED lights are being placed on top of surrounding buildings and around the Circle.

“The old Anthem Building has video-projection pods that will illuminate and project 4D digital video onto these buildings that will tell the story of freedom,” Schultz said.

The program starting daily after dusk is expected to bring a new experience to the downtown Circle. Music from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will be heard as well.

Chris Gahl is senior vice president of Visit Indy, which promotes city tourism. He said, “It will give us another opportunity to invite our visitors to see Indianapolis in a very meaningful way, a very patriotic way, a very visually stimulating and tech-savvy way.”

Many people told News 8 that they’re looking forward to it all coming together starting Nov. 9.

“I think it sounds exciting honestly. I mean the Circle is like the stable of Indianapolis and something to live it up here would be cool, especially if it was every day,” said local resident Clayton Regnier.

Another person, Molly Tompkins, said, “It has a good cause with it, too. (I’m) military so we get it — veteran — it’s a good cause. It’s a good thing to remember everyone in the state.”

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – Obscene language and a swastika were spray-painted over the weekend near the top of a building in downtown Noblesville.

The Noblesville Police Department said it was reported Monday and occurred over the Labor Day weekend. Officers said they contacted the owner of the building and it was removed hours after it was reported.

“They either had a really tall ladder or they know somebody that lives in the apartments above and they got access that way,” said Jill Janusiewicz, manager at Noblesville Antique Mall.

Many people didn’t want to share their thoughts with News 8 on camera about the incident but said it was shocking to see. Some people even drove by to view it up close. Local businesses said they’re glad it’s now removed as the graffiti, which was shared on social media before being reported to police, brought a lot of negative attention.

People in the downtown square believe someone spray-painted the building at night when businesses are closed. A lot of them questioned how they were able to get up there in the first place.

“I think it’s kids. I think it’s for attention,” Janusiewicz said. ” I think they’re like, ‘Hey let’s do this and see what kind of attention we can get.'”

However, many people told News 8 they’re confident Noblesville is not a racist town.

“It’s (Noblesville), kind of a small-knit community still. Everybody knows everybody. People typically are not afraid to walk on the streets at night or dine or shop or walk. It’s fairly a safe community,” added Janusiewicz.

Police on Monday did not have any potential suspect information.

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Westfield city officials and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) representatives held a public meeting for the first time Thursday to share details of a multimillion-dollar construction project that will be transforming parts of Westfield.

The project will cost $15 million to help ease traffic through Westfield’s downtown area. INDOT says they’re providing $7.5 million and Westfield is matching that amount to fund the project.

The construction isn’t slated to start until spring 2023 with a scheduled completion in the summer of 2024.

“The biggest thing is it’s going to continue to get worse over the next 10 to 20 years with the growth Westfield is seeing, so really now is the time to correct the issue and to be able to do it in a way that works with INDOT is a win-win for everyone,” said city engineer John Nail.

Three alternatives were presented for constructing State Road 32.

The first option would add a lane for eastbound and westbound traffic, while also adding a roundabout on the corner of East Street.

Making State Road 32 one-way going eastbound and rerouting westbound traffic onto Penn Street is another option.

The other option would be to make State Road 32 one-way going westbound and rerouting eastbound traffic onto Jersey Street.

“It’s a combination of what the citizens want to see, what the city wants to see, what INDOT wants to see, but importantly Federal Highway has to approve these alternatives,” Nail said.

Public input, traffic and environmental information is being gathered to make sure construction is done safely and efficiently.

The project is something Westfield resident Judy Stanley-Shuck is mindful of.

“I live right on State Road 32,” said Stanley-Shuck. “It’s off West Main Street, I live what looks like a bungalow. It was actually built in the 1800s.”

Many residents said congestion on the road is not only impacting drivers, but it’s slowing down commute times for school buses and emergency vehicles. They hope the project will help alleviate those problems.

“There were two emergency vehicles trying to get through,” Stanley-Shuck said. “They eventually got through because people had to pull over, but people are not paying attention and is just headed home just like anybody.”

Nail said the city hears from concerned citizens often about the issues getting to school.

“This project is going to do wonders to really mitigate those issues going forward,” he said.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The largest gaming convention in the country is back in the Circle City attracting thousands of people.

Visit Indy says they’re anticipating close to 70,000 people for the 16th annual event.

Senior Vice President Chris Gahl said Gen Con brings in about $70 million every year. It helps boosts the entire hospitality workforce.

“81,600 men and women. They’re busy at work this week for Gen Con then they’ll go back to their townships with their paychecks and help support their families,” said Gahl.

Security has been a top priority at the gaming convention. You can find IMPD in patrol cars and on foot directing traffic and making sure everyone stays safe.

Gahl mentioned particularly on Georgia Street. “It’s a three block street between Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the front door of the Indiana Convention Center, so we’ve closed the West block of Georgia Street again for Gen Con.”

Many locals and visitors from across the country have said Gen Con has been busier than ever with nonstop crowds filling every block around the convention center.

Andy Park, a gamer from Minnesota said, “I think it’s pretty decent considering how much money that this generates for all the businesses, the bars and food trucks around here.”

Some businesses are giving back to local charities by giving their tips away, making it a win-win for everyone in town.

“Gen Con picks a gaming charity and then they also pick a gaming charity so that’s the Special Olympics,” said Erin O’Rourke, events manager at Sunking Brewery. “Sun King really likes giving back to the community and this is a nice way for us to support Gen Con and also being able to do that still.

Gen Con ends Sunday.