Muncie, the home of Ball State University, is a charming and stunning city filled with local art and music scenes, major sporting events, large convention centers, and restaurants.
Muncie, which is named after “Munsee,” meaning a member of the Lenape people, is the county seat of Delaware and a city in Center Township of East Indiana.
The cultural shift in economic empowerment and local businesses saw the town’s growth, which attracted many people who are looking for more opportunities.
Many people enjoy going to Muncie due to its outdoor recreation, public gatherings, art and science museums, civic theaters, historic sites, shopping and dining, and other attractions.
Indeed, there are many fun things to do in Muncie.
Now let’s look at the 20 best things in Muncie, Indiana.
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Minnetrista is the best place for you, as this forty-acre gathering place has varieties of educational programs, community events, and workshops all throughout the year.
People go here to enjoy walking and strolling, to have play areas for children, check many sculpture works, know local history, visit historic homes, and just relax in the beautiful gardens and nature area.
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The Ball family founded Minnetrista in the 19th century to create a greater impact on the Muncie community.
The place is called Minnetrista, which means “a gathering place by the water,” as the site is along the White River.
Now, this place is known for public gatherings, museums, and cultural centers in Indiana.
Have a good time and conversation with your friends by going to the Tonne Winery, which produces the best and award-winning wines, chocolates, and hard ciders.
Go to the winery’s tasting room, browse the wine bottles, and see the local artists’ work in the gallery.
You can choose from their variety of wines, such as the dry, sweet, and semi-dry wines.
You can also rent the party room with a bar area, fireplace, tables, and chairs that can accommodate up to 60 people, which is perfect for your birthday party, social gathering, baby showers, and other special events.
Kevin Tonne and Larry Simmons opened the winery in 2009 and began producing different wines as they have backgrounds in Food Science and Horticulture.
There is no greater joy than staying in a park where there are green spaces and a place for you to relax or play with the kids.
Tuhey Park has picnic facilities and benches, too, so you can spend the day with your family and friends eating together or biking on the paved paths in the park.
The best thing about the park is that it has a 50-meter pool with slides and splash pads.
You need to wear proper swim attire when you go to the Tuhey Pool, and it is also a smoke-free and tobacco-free facility.
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You should not miss going to Muncie Civic Theatre, the oldest civic theatre in the state founded in 1931.
It is now on its 90th season in giving the best quality entertainment and theatre performance to the community.
What is also great about Muncie Civic Theatre is that there are sensory-friendly performances that cater to people with sensory disabilities and sensitivities.
The people behind the civic theatre believed that theatre is for every age.
This is why they have youth programs with a goal to empower young people in expressing themselves, gain self-esteem, and celebrate art.
The youth programs are divided into four levels: preludes, which is for kindergarten to grade 4; Act One from Grade 3 to 6; Act two from Grade 7 to 12; and Encore, which is audition-based.
What are you waiting for?
Buy your tickets now and watch different musicals and plays.
If you are looking for a place where you can find antiques, collectible items, or something out of the ordinary, you must go to this Antique Mall and Flea Market.
There is great customer service, the prices are low, and you can have a great deal of furniture, clothes, glassware, musical instruments, toys, household items and decoration, pieces of jewelry, memorabilia, and many more.
Just drop by at 5600 N. Wheeling Avenue, where you can see this 19,000-square-foot building full of vendors selling different kinds of merchandise.
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David Owsley Museum of Art, also known as DOMA, was named to honor Owsley’s generous contribution to the museum, and it is one of the finest art museums in the state, as it is the home of great artworks from different cultures of the world.
The best thing about the museum is that the admission is free, which means you can see about 11,000 artworks, such as prehistoric hand tools and Renaissance paintings.
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If you are interested in joining some activities and events at the David Owsley Museum of Art, you can check out their Art in Bloom, Meditation in the Museum, Sketching in the Museum, Final Friday, and many more.
If you would like to request group tours, you must give a three-week notice, and the administration will consider it on a case-to-case basis.
Aside from indoor activities in Muncie, you can also have outdoor activities in Prairie Creek Reservoir and Campground, covering about 2,000 acres of water and land.
This is one of the major sites for camping, and you can see the beautiful view of the place and witness the sunset.
If you don’t have any tent, there are overnight cabins and rentable shelters, which are suited if you want to stay much longer, and in the RV North Shore campground, there are dump stations, water, and electricity hook-ups available.
The place is so beautiful too, and you can enjoy seeing the natural landscapes or try aquatic recreation such as swimming, boating, and fishing.
Other activities you can do are biking and hiking, horseback riding, and walking in the ATV trails.
There are also different spectacular events in Prairie Creek Reservoir and Campground, such as festivals, concerts, triathlons, and many more.
One of the best places to create memories that last is to go on Made in Muncie Pottery, where you can paint your own pottery or make art gallery exhibits.
Do not worry if you don’t know anything about painting, as this place is perfect for beginners and professionals alike.
If you are up for the painting session, you just need to select your piece in a wide variety of pottery, choose the painting colors, and get the appropriate brushes, stencils, and sponges.
The staff will apply a final clear glaze once you have already completed the pottery, and once it is dry, you can put the piece in the kilns.
You can just pick up the finished product in about seven to ten days after your visit, so wait for the call when your pottery is ready for pick-up.
If you want some fun, you should go to Escape Muncie together with your family or friends, where you will be locked in a specific room for an hour and solve a series of riddles, puzzles, and clues to open the door.
The participants in the Escape Room may vary from two to eight people who need to communicate and collaborate together to escape.
For fun and challenge, you can choose the rooms depending on the theme, the levels of difficulty, and the escape rate percentage.
If you have your kids with you during the trip, there are exciting places to go for the whole family, such as the Muncie Children’s Museum, which offers many interactive exhibits.
One of which is Discovery Park, where children will know anything about science and technology.
Another hand-on activity in the museum is the Top Spot, where children ages five years old and below learn about this world.
The children can also go to the Five Senses Garden and go to the treehouse.
There are also simulated dinosaur-bone dig sites, animal education, waterworks, veterinarian offices, recycling centers, and railroad passing through Muncie’s miniature city.
photo by Sean Lamb (Slambo), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you are up for an adventure, go to the longest and multi-use recreational trail in Indiana, which has a combination of rail trail and on-street route, which spans about 62 miles.
The trail route starts from Marion to Muncie until Richmond in the East-Central part of Indiana, and it passes many cities and towns which will give you many sightseeing activities.
There are many recreational opportunities if you are a bicyclist, hiker, equestrian, or pedestrian.
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You can also check out their annual events, such as National Trails Day in June, Bike Fest in July, Walk Indiana in September, and BikeTOURberfest in October, the largest fundraising activity.
Other yearly events are Cardinal 5k Run/Walk, which you can opt for a competitive race in Muncie Depot or non-competitive race in Marion Depot, and Cardinal Win, which is a walking event for people of all ages.
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Make the most out of your trail experience by joining different programs and hiking in a variety of equestrian trails on the west side of the reservoir, such as Prairie Creek Horse Trail with gravel lot and mounting blocks, or Cardinal Greenways Horse Trail with water crossing and wooded hills.
In East Centennial Avenue and the corner of North Broadway, you will find McCulloch Park, which is a good site for boating and fishing.
The park features baseball and basketball fields, a disc golf course, playground, soapbox derby, picnic shelters, and a rental cabin.
There are many recreational activities you can do here, or you can just stay here to relax in this large outdoor space and the largest community park in Muncie, named after George McCulloch.
You’ll surely have fun here!
If you are interested in the local history of Muncie and the genealogy, you can find much of the information in Carnegie Library, located in downtown Muncie.
There are Carnegie videos that explore the town’s history, and you can check the genealogy databases, which contain census and vital information of people such as birth, deeds, marriage, and death.
You can see the Muncie and Delaware County Digital Collections, featuring artifacts and historical records, and explore digital exhibits curated by the library staff.
Carnegie Library is also giving education programs about historic preservation, local history, and genealogy with the help of different partner organizations.
At 313 S Walnut Street, there’s an art gallery, studio, and party space, enabling people to do their own artwork.
The Artist Within is the best place to hone your skills in pottery or just to try to be creative in making new crafts.
Going to The Artist Within is the best place to spend your time with your family and friends, as you will enjoy making your own pot and painting them with different styles and colors.
If you can’t finish painting the pot, you can bring the item back any time without additional charges.
If you are in East Central Indiana, one of the to-go indoor family fun centers is the Escapade, made of a three-story indoor playground with an arcade and restaurant.
You and your family will surely enjoy splashing into the ball pit, climbing through the tubes and tunnels, and sliding down on different slides.
If you are lucky enough, you can also win some prizes in the arcade with over 20 games.
Hartmeyer Stables is a must-visit if you’ve never been horseback riding before.
It’s the ideal place to take horseback riding instruction and welcomes riders of all skill levels.
In addition to its services for horses and their owners, the company also sells various accessories, clothing, and complete riding outfits for the animals.
The vast green grassy field at Hartmeyer Stables is available for individual and group turnout.
It’s a great place to learn about horses and have fun, whether you’re interested in pleasure riding, saddle seat equitation, or Western English.
Overcome several obstacles, such as poles and barrels.
Visit Boulder Falls Mini Golf and BatZone in Muncie if you’re interested in learning how to play golf or honing your existing talents.
It’s worth your time to check out Boulder Falls Mini Golf and BatZone, and you shouldn’t wait until summer.
Locals regard it as one of Indiana’s most thrilling golf courses.
Anyone, from complete beginners to seasoned pros, may benefit from playing on their 18-hole mini-golf course.
The BatZone at Boulder Falls Mini Golf and BatZone is the perfect place to show off your hitting prowess.
You may also sample a variety of shaved ice, ice creams, and shakes in a wide range of flavors.
Clancy’s Village Bowl is a must-see if you’re looking for a great bowling experience in Muncie.
For almost 30 years, bowlers have enjoyed Clancy’s Village Bowl’s 56 lanes and 12 VIP bar side lanes.
You and your pals may join a bowling league and compete against other groups to see who has the best bowling abilities.
The snack bar at Clancy’s Village Bowl features various tasty treats and a complete bar with rotating taps.
You may rent the spacious dining hall for different purposes, including business gatherings.
Aside from bowling, try laser tag, college night, and more at Clancy’s Village Bowl.
Be Here Now is an excellent option to have a great time with your pals in Muncie.
Be Here Now is a popular neighborhood hangout that serves some of the best “underdog” beers in Indiana and has a relaxing atmosphere.
Local punk, hippy, indie, and other traveling bands perform in the beer garden and patio’s intimate outdoor setting.
On top of its three or four weekly music concerts, Be Here Now also has open mic and comedy evenings.
It’s the social hub of the neighborhood, where people congregate to listen to live music while sipping specialty cocktails and sampling locally crafted beers.
The Guardian Brewing Co. is a local craft brewery in Muncie that prioritizes community involvement and producing fresh, tasty, unfiltered artisan beers.
You can get a beer and some quick bites, making it a perfect hangout.
In November of 2015, two friends with a shared love of excellent beer launched what would become The Guardian Brewery Co.
Having expanded gently over the previous few years, it now serves a wide variety of delicious flatbread pizzas and a wide array of beers.
The brewers and wait staff are extremely helpful and willing to answer any queries you may have.
Muncie should definitely be on your list to visit, as it gives you a wide variety of places to go and things to do.
This city is dynamic and will cater to your most-awaited adventures, long-lasting memories of going to the museums, theaters, markets, family fun centers, and many more.
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