As a Hoosier native, it’s been an absolute to joy to see how much this city has evolved over the past couple of decades. Regardless of the changes and improvements Indianapolis has made, residents still have our habits that will never die. Here are 11 of them:
- Corn on the cob at every barbecue.
rachelvoorhees/Flickr Indiana sweet corn is a staple throughout the state and you’ll never find a family barbecue without it. If you do, then it’s probably not hosted by a Hoosier!
- Calling soda “pop.”
Rex Sorgatz/Flickr Okay, sure, other Midwestern cities call it pop as well, but outside of this region, you’ll get a lot of strange looks if you don’t call it soda. But since you’re an Indianapolis resident, what’s soda?
- Spending “Blackout Wednesday” in Broad Ripple.
Flickr/MCC_Indianapolis You know it’s the night before Thanksgiving when your friends from high school and college are texting you about a trip to Broad Ripple for Blackout Wednesday. I don’t think we need to spell out what this night is about.
- Keeping the ice scraper in the car year-round.
Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr Maybe not “year-round,” but from November through May, you’re keeping the ice scraper in your trunk because the chances of coming outside to a frosty car in the mornings are pretty high. I bet if you looked in most Hoosiers’ cars in the summer, that scraper is still there… you know, just in case.
- Kicking off the holiday season with the Circle of Lights.
Serge Melki/Flickr Indy has had this tradition for a long, long time. The lighting of the Christmas lights on the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument, known as “the Circle of Lights” is a major city tradition, one that sees thousands and thousands of residents and visitors head to Monument Circle for the event.
- If it’s over 40 degrees, the flip-flops are coming out.
Kevin Armstrong/Flickr You’d think Hoosiers would understand that cold weather doesn’t equate to flip-flop weather. However, we get few opportunities from December-April to expose our feet, so we’ll take advantage of those 40-plus degrees days.
- The understanding that the summer begins with the Indianapolis 500, not in the middle of June.
Joshua Cornelius/Flickr The first official day of the summer season isn’t June 19th or 20th… or whatever the “calendar” says. Hoosiers know that summer kicks off with Race Weekend — otherwise known as Memorial Day Weekend — when the majority of the city is down at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the iconic Indy 500.
- Avoiding the summer humidity at all costs.
Sandor Weisz/Flickr June’s a great month to hang outside in Indy. But once July hits, we’ll do anything to stay out of the humidity during the day. Reading books? Absolutely. Working? Sure, why not. Anything to stay away from that gross, sticky feeling and those mosquitos. Pools are a go-to as well.
- Arguing over who’s better: Indiana University or Purdue University.
Indiana Public Media/Flickr
Frank Gruber/Flickr That famous Indiana-Purdue rivalry will live on for as long as Indianapolis is a city. If you’re like this author and have family/friends who went to both schools, you’ve heard the unending arguments about which one is better.
- Finding any excuse to drink good beer.
Allison F./Yelp Anniversary? We drink beer. Birthday? We definitely drink beer. Colts or Pacers win? You guessed it: beer. It’s hard NOT to celebrate an occasion with beer when your city’s full of fantastic local breweries.
- Anytime Tom Brady’s name is said, it’s said with contempt.
Keith Allison/Flickr We’re the home of the Colts. Enough said, right?
What other Hoosier habits did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!
rachelvoorhees/Flickr
Indiana sweet corn is a staple throughout the state and you’ll never find a family barbecue without it. If you do, then it’s probably not hosted by a Hoosier!
Rex Sorgatz/Flickr
Okay, sure, other Midwestern cities call it pop as well, but outside of this region, you’ll get a lot of strange looks if you don’t call it soda. But since you’re an Indianapolis resident, what’s soda?
Flickr/MCC_Indianapolis
You know it’s the night before Thanksgiving when your friends from high school and college are texting you about a trip to Broad Ripple for Blackout Wednesday. I don’t think we need to spell out what this night is about.
Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr
Maybe not “year-round,” but from November through May, you’re keeping the ice scraper in your trunk because the chances of coming outside to a frosty car in the mornings are pretty high. I bet if you looked in most Hoosiers’ cars in the summer, that scraper is still there… you know, just in case.
Serge Melki/Flickr
Indy has had this tradition for a long, long time. The lighting of the Christmas lights on the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument, known as “the Circle of Lights” is a major city tradition, one that sees thousands and thousands of residents and visitors head to Monument Circle for the event.
Kevin Armstrong/Flickr
You’d think Hoosiers would understand that cold weather doesn’t equate to flip-flop weather. However, we get few opportunities from December-April to expose our feet, so we’ll take advantage of those 40-plus degrees days.
Joshua Cornelius/Flickr
The first official day of the summer season isn’t June 19th or 20th… or whatever the “calendar” says. Hoosiers know that summer kicks off with Race Weekend — otherwise known as Memorial Day Weekend — when the majority of the city is down at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the iconic Indy 500.
Sandor Weisz/Flickr
June’s a great month to hang outside in Indy. But once July hits, we’ll do anything to stay out of the humidity during the day. Reading books? Absolutely. Working? Sure, why not. Anything to stay away from that gross, sticky feeling and those mosquitos. Pools are a go-to as well.
Indiana Public Media/Flickr
Frank Gruber/Flickr
That famous Indiana-Purdue rivalry will live on for as long as Indianapolis is a city. If you’re like this author and have family/friends who went to both schools, you’ve heard the unending arguments about which one is better.
Allison F./Yelp
Anniversary? We drink beer. Birthday? We definitely drink beer. Colts or Pacers win? You guessed it: beer. It’s hard NOT to celebrate an occasion with beer when your city’s full of fantastic local breweries.
Keith Allison/Flickr
We’re the home of the Colts. Enough said, right?
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