Free family-friendly activities at Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest
October 2, 2025Storytimes, reading to therapy dogs, word-focused games and family write-in part of the fun Indiana Humanities will celebrate the power of writing that grows in the Midwest during its second edition of Proof: A Midwest…
Storytimes, reading to therapy dogs, word-focused games and family write-in part of the fun
Indiana Humanities will celebrate the power of writing that grows in the Midwest during its second edition of Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct 11.
Proof is free and open to all writers, readers and lovers of all things literary. Register at events.humanitix.com/proof2025 to get exciting festival updates.
Expect a book fair with local booksellers, conversations about the literary Midwest, local and regional author readings, opportunities to connect with publishers and literary magazines, and a local writer mixer.
Most of Proof activities take place at The Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St., but a few will happen within walking distance at Indiana Humanities, Loudmouth Books, the Indianapolis Propylaeum and Foundry Provisions.
Some of the family-friendly fun includes:
Mapping Memories: A Family Write-In with Katherine Higgs-Coulthard
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Underground at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Join author Katherine Higgs-Coulthard for this fun writing session for the whole family. Families will collaborate to write a story about a specific experience using guided prompts, including making neighborhood maps and labeling the site of important memories.
Katherine has taught kindergarten, third grade and fifth grade. Now she trains teachers at Saint Mary’s College and offers writing camps and classes for children and teens through the Michiana Writers’ Center. She lives in Michigan and loves spending time with her family.
A Zine-Making Workshop for kids with Listen to Our Future
1-2:30 p.m.
Indianapolis Propylaeum, 1410 N. Delaware St.
During this workshop, children are invited to engage in storytelling and creative expression by reading Listen to Our Future: Toy Drive, discussing key themes and character actions and creating their own zine to craft a personal story.
Listen to Our Future Inc. is a youth empowerment organization dedicated to equipping young people with the tools, confidence and opportunities they need to succeed. Founded by Lillian Barkes and Brandon Street, LTOF is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspired by social movements and rooted in the belief that youth voices must be at the center of change.
1 p.m.
Lawn at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Janna Matthies’s early years consisted of inventing stories on her cassette recorder, practicing piano and violin (preferably by moonlight) and searching the garden for additions to her bug collection. Today she’s a picture book author and early-elementary music teacher in Indianapolis.
Forthcoming titles include Baby, Let’s Go to the Orchestra (Creative Editions, 2025). Other titles are Over in the Garden; My Towering Tree; Here We Come!, which earned a 2024 Indiana Authors Award, a Horn Book starred review, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection; God’s Always Loving You; Two Is Enough, which made the Bank Street list and New York Times Book Review; The Goodbye Cancer Garden, which earned a School Library Journalstarred review, Best Foreign Children’s Book at the Sharjah International Book Fair, and inclusion in the CCBC Choices list; Peter, The Knight With Asthma; and Monster Trucks.
3 p.m.
Lawn at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Annie Sullivan is the author of three young adult fantasy novels (A Touch of Gold, A Curse of Gold, and Tiger Queen) published by an imprint of HarperCollins, a middle grade book in partnership with the Indiana Soybean Alliance, two books in the For Dummies series, and a newly released picture book from Penguin Random House titled Ghouldilocks and the Three Ghosts. She grew up in Indianapolis and received her master’s degree in creative writing from Butler University. She loves fairytales, everything Jane Austen, and traveling.
Paws to Read (where children read to trained therapy dogs!)
11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Lawn at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Young readers (and attendees of all ages) are invited to practice their reading skills with canine companions. Paws to Read volunteers and their trained therapy dogs will be onsite and ready to hear your stories!
Paws to Read programs, an initiative of Paws & Think, are held at schools and libraries in central Indiana and offer young people the opportunity to connect with therapy dogs while practicing their reading skills. The organization also takes part in literacy fairs and community events to inspire a love of reading beyond the classroom. Research shows that therapy dogs can help to reduce anxiety as well as improve focus and attention span. Therapy dogs serve as a calm presence and allow children to work to improve literacy, comprehension, and communication with a nonjudgmental listener.
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Gym at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Browse a variety of books by Midwestern authors from bookstores The Book Fairy, Each Other’s Books, Golden Hour Books, Indy Reads, Kids Ink Children’s Bookstore, Loudmouth Books, Tomorrow Bookstore and Ujamaa Community Bookstore.
In addition, connect with the following literary organizations Booth, Brick Street Poetry, Butler MFA, Dogwood Alchemy, Hamilton East Public Library, Indiana FREADOM to Read, Indiana Writers Center, Indy Type Shop, Kismet Magazine, Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, Midwest Writers Workshop, The New Territory Magazine, Ray Bradbury Center, River Teeth and Sarabande Books.
Letters to Dead Authors activity with Kelcey Ervick
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Loudmouth Books, 212 E 16th St.
Ever wish you had the opportunity to talk with literary legends no longer with us? Stop by Loudmouth Books during Proof to participate in a Letters to Dead Authors activity, imagined by Indiana author Kelcey Ervick. Pick up your postcard, write a note, and send it to the beyond!
Kelcey will be available to chat about the activity and sign books from 3 to 4 p.m. at Loudmouth. Kelcey is the author of four award-winning books, including the graphic memoir The Keeper. She writes and draws stories about the creative life in her illustrated newsletter, The Habit of Art, and has recently launched a new publication, Letters to Dead Authors & Artists. She is a professor of creative writing at Indiana University South Bend and lives on the banks of the St. Joseph River.
A room full of word-focused board and card games
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
City Gallery at the Harrison Center, 1501 N. Delaware St.
The City Gallery will include a free-to-borrow-and-play library of literary- and word-focused board and card games. Not familiar with these? Lou Harry, game concierge of the weekly Game Night Social at the Garage Food Hall (and others), will be happy to teach you.
A station to create your own found poetry
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lawn at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
Unleash your imagination and create your own found poetry out of magazines, letters, photographs, newspapers, markers, stickers, and more at this hands-on station!
Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest is supported by the Poetry Foundation, the Herbert Simon Family Foundation, Indiana University Health, the Harrison Center, the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards, the Penrod Society, The National Bank of Indianapolis, hello & handshake, and partners at the Indianapolis Propylaeum, Tomorrow Bookstore, Loudmouth Books, Paws & Think, Silent Book Club Indy, Foundry Provisions and Tea’s Me.
