Best entertainment in Indy this October from Adam Sandler to Eric Church

October is chock-full of concerts, shows, events and entertainment headed to the Indy area — and the list doesn’t end at Halloween happenings. Big-name musicians and comedians, a handful of tribute bands, a chance to permanently etch a broody vampire onto your body and more are on deck this month.

The calendar is so packed that we couldn’t fit everything here, but we’ve compiled the highlights. Check out the best entertainment, pop culture and more Indianapolis has to offer in October:

Sandler, Gaffigan among comedians headed to Indianapolis in October

Jim Gaffigan: The Hoosier comedian is set for a five-show run at Butler University’s Clowes Memorial Hall on his Everything is Wonderful tour. The stop comes after Gaffigan postponed his scheduled shows at Clowes last year. Oct. 2-5 (two shows Oct. 4). Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave. Find more info here and get tickets here.

Adam Sandler: The comedy star will head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on his You’re My Best Friend tour. The show is recommended for audiences 16 and older. Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. Find more info here and get tickets here.

Steve Martin and Martin Short: The duo will perform matinee and evening shows in Old National Centre’s Murat Theater on their Dukes of Funnytown tour. Oct. 25. Murat Theater at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Find more info here and get tickets here.
Social media stars at Helium: Helium Comedy Club will host a slate of viral online personalities like Gigi LeFlair, Kevin James Thornton, Educator Andrea and more for live shows throughout October. Helium Comedy Club, 10 W. Georgia St. Find more info here.

Brandy and Monica, Franz Ferdinand and more: top October concerts in Indianapolis

Brandy and Monica: The R&B stars will head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse as part of their The Boy is Mine tour, where they’ll perform that chart-topping collaboration and more hits. Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. Find more info here and get tickets here.

Franz Ferdinand: One of the defining alt rock groups of the early aughts is ready to take you out. The group will stop in Indianapolis as part of the group’s world tour supporting its latest album “The Human Fear.”Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. The Vogue Theater 6259 N. College Ave. Ages 21 and older only. Find more info here and get tickets here.

Magdalena Bay: Too many concerts to include here are headed to Old National Centre this month (alt rock staples The Revivalists and Elvis Costello, rappers Lecrae and J.I.D., rockers Everclear and Yes on the same night), but if we had to pick one to highlight, it’d be this stop from electropop duo Magdalena Bay. The duo is fresh off one of the best albums of 2024 in “Imaginal Disk” and on a run of shows for their Imaginal Mystery tour. Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Find more info here and get tickets here.
Eric Church: Country fans are in for a fun one with Church’s The Free Machine Tour stopping in Indianapolis. Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. Find more info here and get tickets here.

Pierce the Veil: The Noblesville venue’s last listed event of 2025 will feature the pop-punk screamo outfit on their I Can’t Hear You world tour. Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, 12880 E. 146th St. Find more info here and get tickets here

Tribute bands playing in Indianapolis in October

Jammy Buffet: Everywhere is Margaritaville with this Jimmy Buffet tribute band, which will hit the Vogue as part of its cross-country Back to School tour. Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. The Vogue Theater 6259 N. College Ave. Ages 21 and older only. Find more info here and get tickets here.
Sabbath: The Ozzy Osbourne tribute band will celebrate the Prince of Darkness at Hi-Fi Annex. Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. Hi-Fi Annex, 1043 Virginia Ave. Find more info here and get tickets here.
Killer Queen: Don’t stop them now — the Queen tribute group is on its way to Old National Centre’s Murat Theater to perform all the hits from the band’s catalog. Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Murat Theater at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Find more info here and get tickets here.
Grateful Shred: The Dead are alive with this tribute group, who say they channel the original band’s spirit with a classic impromptu jam session approach. Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. Turntable, 6281 N. College Ave. Find more info here and get tickets here.

October movie events in Indianapolis

Taylor Swift’s “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl”: The accompanying film to Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” will coincide with the album’s release date and hit select AMC Theatres Oct. 3-5. The feature event will include a music video for lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” and behind-the-scenes footage of making the album. Oct. 3-5. Find AMC locations near you here and get tickets and showtimes here.

Heartland International Film Festival: Oscar winners Brendan Fraser and Rami Malek headline the 34th iteration of Indiana’s beloved film festival, which will screen more than 100 films in total. Indianapolis venues like Alamo Draft House, Indy Art Center, Kan-Kan Cinema and Newfields will show selections across the festival’s 11 days. Oct. 9-19. Locations vary. Find more info here and get tickets here.

Halloween films at Kan-Kan Cinema and Bar: The cinema’s Halloween Shorts event in partnership with the Irvington Halloween festival isn’t the only spooky spectacle put to screen this season. Kan Kan will show October classics like “An American Werewolf in London,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation,” “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” and “The Craft” throughout October. Kan-Kan Cinema and Bar, 1258 Windsor St. Find more info and showtimes here.

Indianapolis pop culture events happening in October

Twilight Flash Tattoo Day: Team Edward, Team Jacob or Team Charlie (if you know, you know) — there’s no wrong answer at Golden Goose Tattoo Company. Twi-hards from every corner of the fandom can seal their love of the franchise with some ink at the store’s Twilight flash tattoo event, where they’ll also screen the movie and play the soundtrack. Oct. 5. Golden Goose Tattoo Company, 5329 W. 10th St.
Mean Girls Trivia: Do you have ESPN or something? Put your Mean Girls knowledge to the test at Metazoa Brewing Company. Oct. 7 at 5:45 p.m. Metazoa Brewing Company, 140 S. College Ave. Ages 21 and older only. $5 to reserve a team table, six players max. Find more info here and reserve a table here.
Masterchef All-Stars Live: The high-stakes cooking show comes to life with fan-favorites crafting culinary creations and answering behind-the-scenes questions at the Murat Theater. Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. Murat Theater at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Find more info here and get tickets here.
It’s a 2000s Party: Bust out the apple bottom jeans and throw it back with jams from Rihanna, Britney Spears, Nelly and more. Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. The Vogue Theater 6259 N. College Ave. Ages 21 and older only. Find more info here and get tickets here.