NBA All-Star Weekend 2024: Your guide to Indianapolis entertainment, concerts and free events

Update: The NBA 2K League Indy Showdown, originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, has been moved to Friday afternoon. This story has been updated to reflect the change.

NBA All-Star Weekend will bring a lot more than just basketball to downtown Indianapolis.

Big-name concerts, a brand-new film festival, art installations and a loaded fan zone are just a few of the entertainment options available to Hoosiers and visitors alike.

Here are more than 15 things to do during All-Star Weekend, all of which do not require a ticket to any actual basketball game. Many of these organizers request that you reserve tickets in advance, so make sure you check before heading out.

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Fan events

NBA Crossover 2024

Feb 16-18 at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave. Tickets are $20 for kids, $35 for adults. Children 2 years old and under are free.

All-Star weekend's primary fan event is open to all. It includes multiple basketball courts to get a few shots up, more than 50 NBA player and legend appearances, live music, selfie spots and art installations.

Most of the weekend's festivities will take place at or around Crossover.

Crossover runs from 2-9 p.m. on Feb. 16, and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Feb. 17 and 18.

NBA Drone Show

Feb. 17 at Lucas Oil Stadium immediately following All-Star Saturday Night activities. Free.

As soon as All-Star Saturday Night festivities are wrapped, turn your eyes to the skies for a light show featuring more than 1,500 drones. Spectators are encouraged to gather along West South Street for the best views.

Concerts

Annual All-Star Gospel Celebration

7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave. $55-$150. Tickets at allstargospelcelebration.com/asgc-2024.

The concert celebrates NBA players, legends, community leaders and those who uplift others and their communities. Look for performers who include Dante Bowe, Kelontae Gavin, Angella Christie and Evvie McKinney. Mike Epps, Kyra Epps and the Pacers' Oscar Tshiebwe are set to receive awards.

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Zedd, T-Pain

9 p.m. Feb. 16 at Crossover 2024, Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave. Tickets start at $75 through nbaevents.nba.com.

DJ Zedd and rapper, singer-songwriter and producer T-Pain will perform at Crossover on Friday as one of several concerts hosted by the NBA.

Keith Urban, Walker Hayes

3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Crossover 2024, Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave. Tickets start at $75 through Ticketmaster at bit.ly/41PFN4B.

Country star Keith Urban will take over Crossover on Saturday. Urban will make his second visit to Indianapolis in as many years. Fellow country singer Walker Hayes will also perform.

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Lil Wayne

3 p.m. Feb. 18 at Crossover 2024, Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave. Tickets start at $75 through nbaevents.nba.com.

Rapper Lil Wayne was a late addition to the weekend's festivities. With Wayne in the fold, a three-day concert pass is also being offered for $200.

More: Your guide to NBA All-Star Weekend concerts, including Jelly Roll, Lil Wayne, T-Pain and more

2 Chainz

11 p.m. at The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave. Tickets are $150 through thevogue.com/events. 21+

Rapper 2 Chainz will perform at the Vogue late Saturday evening. Celebrity and NBA guest appearances were teased on the event's flyer.

Mike Epps All-Star Throwback

7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave., Suite 320. Tickets start at $75 through madamwalkerlegacycenter.com.

Actor, comedian and Indianapolis native Mike Epps will host a old-school hip-hop concert featuring Rakim, Kwamé, Monie Love, Greg Nice, Dana Dane and Chubb Rock.

The Suite, with music curated by Chreece Presents

Feb. 16-18 at 10 W. Washington St. Free with RSVP at tinyurl.com/nhdbtnzz.

It's inside the former Rock Bottom site near Washington and Meridian streets in the Cultural Corridor. Inside, you'll find Nap City: The Basement, where a lineup of local and national stars includes Parris LaDame, Sirius Blvck and Drayco McCoy, and Native Sun.

Arts and history events

Butter fine art fair

Open all weekend at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, 110 W. Washington St. Free with RSVP at tinyurl.com/5e3h8sy4.

"Butter," Ganggang's Indianapolis fine art fair, will host a pop-up expansion featuring the works of 30+ Black artists. The event will also include businesses along its cultural corridor, which extends from Meridian to Illinois streets along Washington.

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Giant basketball sculptures and more art

Around downtown Indianapolis. Free

Projection-mapped art, video art, glowing orbs and six-foot basketball sculptures painted with Hoosier basketball stories, murals and sidewalk galleries are among the works that will be everywhere you look, telling Indiana stories.

Slam Film Festival

Feb 16-18 at Living Room Theaters, 745 E. 9th St. Suite 810. Tickets are available at tickets.slamonline.com/schedule.

Production studio RTG Features, which specializes in basketball-centric documentary films, has partnered with local Heartland Film to host a first-of-its-kind film festival at Living Room Theaters.

The festival will show 15 basketball-themed documentaries, and several filmmakers/subjects will be on hand to host Q&As. All-Star and former Indiana Pacer Paul George will host a discussion following a screening of "Amongst the Trees" on Feb. 16, for example.

Several of the films have local ties, including "Perfect in '76," delving into Indiana University's undefeated 1976 run, and "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks."

Through2Eyes Walk & Talk

Feb. 16-18. Free but registration required. through2eyes.com/allstar.

These popular history tours center around 24 moments that explain how the sport is rooted in Hoosier culture and Indianapolis. Sampson Levingston and his team will lead about five half-hour walks each day.

All-Starry Night

Feb. 17 at Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road. $185 public and $175 members. Tickets at discovernewfields.org.

NBA star George Hill and Common will be attending the swanky nighttime party with plenty of performances, organized by Amp Harris Production. Look for signature cocktails and Chef Patrick Russ' creations.

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The Index

Feb. 16-18 at Pan Am Tower, 201 S. Capitol St. Free.

Take a look back through the history of Indiana's massive impact on the sport, including its early pro teams, personalities and archival shoes from Converse in this exhibit by the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana Historical Society.

'A Touch of Glory'

Feb. 16-18 at Crispus Attucks High School, 1140 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. $20 advance, $30 door. atouchofgloryplay.com

The play explores the 1955 Crispus Attucks team, which became the nation's first Black team to win a state championship, and the legacy it has left.

Hennessy Arena

2-6 p.m. Feb. 17. Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. Ages 21+. Free.

Look for a live taping of the 520 Club Podcast hosted by Jeff Teague, interactive cocktails, a live DJ, basketball court installation, celebrities and more.

Family-friendly events

NBA mascot breakfast

8 a.m. Feb. 17 at Crossover. Tickets are $159.

Kids Benny the Bull, Buster Bear, Rumble the Bison and more NBA team mascots will join kids for a themed breakfast. Note: The ticket price does not include access to any of the All-Star games.

NBA 2K League Alley

Noon until 8 p.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 in the Wabash Room at the Indiana Convention Center. Free and open to the public.

Popular video game franchise "NBA 2K" will host an interactive event at the convention center that's open to the public and does not require Crossover admission. Fans can play the game, meet special guests, eat food and buy customized merchandise.

Experienced players can even challenge Ronnie 2K, the face of the franchise, and professional "NBA 2K" players.

At 3 p.m. on Feb. 16, the Wabash Room will also host the NBA 2K League Indy Showdown, which will feature Indiana Pacers guard and all-star Tyrese Haliburton and content creators Dom2K and Pikaaa.

Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and [email protected], or follow him on Twitter at @RoryEHAppleton.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NBA All-Star Weekend 2024: Your guide to entertainment, free events