A Handy Field Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Entertainment Outside the Convention Center
Gen Con Indy is just under two weeks away, and we know that gamers enjoy the entertainment and the epicurious adventures that take place just outside the convention center as much as they do the gaming and shopping inside. With music, food trucks, cold beer, pizza, and more, Gen Con’s outdoor experiences will rock Indy all weekend long. Here we’ve rounded up everything you need to know to make your trip to Gen Con’s Block Party a savory and sensory delight.
What New for 2021?
Gen Con has expanded our Block Party from Georgia Street to the neighboring Pan Am Plaza, just steps away. Check out outdoor performances from local artists, food and beverages, and more on the Plaza all weekend long.
We’ll have tables for eating and mask breaks on the Plaza to enjoy your food and drink!
Party on the Plaza – a Fan Appreciation Event
We know it’s been too long since we’ve been able to gather, and we are excited to show our appreciation for Gen Con Indy attendees and fans! Join us at the Party on the Plaza on Friday, September 17 at 7:30 pm for an evening you won’t want to miss, including a dance party with DJ Q, a message from Gen Con Chairman Peter Adkison and President David Hoppe, and a chance to score some special giveaways and swag.
And to really dial it up, we’ve got a special live concert performance from hip-hop artist Nur-D on the Plaza at 8:30 pm during our Fan Appreciation party! One of the fastest-rising stars in Minnesota’s music scene, Nur-D burst onto the stage in 2018 and has been making headlines ever since. Performing on stages alongside national acts like Migos, Logic, Tyler The Creator, and The Wu-Tang Clan, Nur-D is well on his way to becoming a household name.
Nur-D first delighted Gen Con attendees in 2020 during his charity concert for Gen Con Online. Relive the moment on our YouTube channel, and get ready to experience Nur-D live and in person at Gen Con 2021!
Sun King Brewery Beer Garden & Genevieve Release Party
Every summer, thousands of gamers from all over the globe flock to Indianapolis to take part in Gen Con. And every summer, Sun King brews a beer in tribute to the event!
Sun King Brewery will offer a variety of award-winning craft beers, including Genevieve, the Official Beer of Gen Con 2021, as well as Sun King Hard Seltzers at both their Beer Garden on Georgia Street and on the Pan Am Plaza during Block Party.
Join us Wednesday evening at 5 pm on Georgia Street for the release of Genevieve, the official beer of Gen Con 2021! Genevieve is a Belgian/Abbey-Style Amber Ale with malty sweetness and a fruity, sweet, and spicy character. And if you find yourself near one of Sun King’s taprooms in the Indy area, check out Genevieve on tap starting September 15.
Beer Garden Schedule
Wednesday: 5 pm – 9 pm
Thursday – Saturday: noon – 9 pm
New this year, attendees 21+ can purchase beer to-go from the Sun King Brewery Beer Garden on Georgia Street.
Note: To-go purchases may not be consumed in the Beer Garden. Alcohol that is purchased on the Plaza must be consumed on the Plaza, and alcohol purchased on Georgia Street must stay on Georgia Street (Except for to-go cans, which go home with you). We know this sounds confusing, it’s a permit thing.
Good Eats on Indy Streets
Food trucks are the cornerstone of Block Party! We know long hours of gaming and browsing the exhibit hall can leave attendees hungry for flavor and fuel, and this year’s lineup of food trucks and vendors will take your taste buds on a culinary adventure all weekend long.
In addition to the rotating food trucks on Georgia Street and vendors on the Pan Am Plaza, our permanent vendors at Block Party will be Island Noodles, Harry & Izzy’s, HotBox Pizza, Wild Bill’s Soda, and Sun King Brewery.
We recommend trying the Dragon’s Breath featured burger from Harry & Izzy’s – this one is bringing the heat! It’s topped with American cheese, ancho chili sauce, and FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETOS. But fear not, if spicy foods aren’t for you — crispy tater tots, refreshing beverages, and classic cheeseburgers will also be served.
And when you want to tickle your taste buds, try this year’s official pizza – L.A.R.P. — Live Action Ranch Pickle! HotBox’s official pizza for Gen Con 2021 features mozzarella, bacon, dill pickles, and red pepper flakes over a ranch sauce base. This out-of-this-world-good pickle pie, concocted by contest winner Carrie Hawkins of Temperance, Michigan, will be available exclusively from HotBox Pizza during Gen Con.
Wild Bill’s western-themed saloon on Georgia Street is always a fan favorite for a cold soda to wash down spicy and savory meals. Don’t forget to bring your mug or purchase one of the new 2021 Gen Con mugs for easy refills all week.
Food Truck Schedule
| Company | Shifts | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Boar BBQ, LLC | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ, LLC | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ, LLC | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ, LLC | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Union Jack | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Union Jack | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Union Jack | Friday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Union Jack | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Union Jack | Saturday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Union Jack | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Union Jack | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Treats By Fee LLC | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Treats By Fee LLC | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Travelin' Tom's Coffee | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Wicked Lobstah | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Wicked Lobstah | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The Wicked Lobstah | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Whole Cow | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The Whole Cow | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Sweet Potato LLC | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The LK | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Hook Up LLC | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| The Hook Up LLC | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The Hook Up LLC | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The grub house | Thursday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| The grub house | Friday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| The grub house | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake Bakery | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake Bakery | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake Bakery | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 11 pm |
| Tha Corn Man | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Tha Corn Man | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Tha Corn Man | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 11 pm |
| Taste of the caribbean | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Taste of the caribbean | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Taste of the caribbean | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Sweet Tooth Ice Cream | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| SouthPaw Catering | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| SouthPaw Catering | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Serendipity | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Serendipity | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Serendipity | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Scouts Treat Truck | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Scouts Treat Truck | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Scouts Treat Truck | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Samano’s Mexican Food | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Samano’s Mexican Food | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Royal Sno | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Royal Sno | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Ponchitos Mexican Food Truck | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Ponchitos Mexican Food Truck | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Ponchitos Mexican Food Truck | Saturday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Ponchitos Mexican Food Truck | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Pierogi love Indy | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Pierogi love Indy | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Pierogi love Indy | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Pi | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Off the Hook | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Muay Thai Kitchen | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Muay Thai Kitchen | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Muay Thai Kitchen | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Moo & Lou Frozen Treats | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Moo & Lou Frozen Treats | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Moo & Lou Frozen Treats | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| MAC GENIE 2.0 | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| MAC GENIE 2.0 | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| MAC GENIE 2.0 | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Lucky's Street Food | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Lucky's Street Food | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Lucky's Street Food | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Las Tortugas | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Las Tortugas | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Las Tortugas | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Kona Ice | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Kona Ice | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Kona Ice | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Kona Ice | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Karma Kitchen llc | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Karma Kitchen llc | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Johnsons BBQ Shack - Little Smokey | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Johnsons BBQ Shack - BIG Smokey | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Johnsons BBQ Shack - BIG Smokey | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Johnsons BBQ - BIG Smokey | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ - Little Smokey | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ - BIG Smokey | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ - BIG Smokey | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| J’s Lobster Truck | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| J’s Lobster Truck | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| J’s Lobster Truck | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| J’s Lobster Truck | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Iqui's Chicken and Tacos | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Porkopolis | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Porkopolis | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Huge Impact llc | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Huge Impact llc | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Hoosier Que | Wednesday | 5 - 10 pm |
| Hoosier Que | Thursday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Hoosier Que | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Hoosier Que | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Grieners Mac Genie | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Grieners Mac Genie | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Grieners Mac Genie | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| El Venezolano LLC | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| El Venezolano LLC | Friday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| El Venezolano LLC | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| El Venezolano LLC | Saturday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| El Venezolano LLC | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Der Pretzel Wagon | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Der Pretzel Wagon | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Chompz TRuck | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chompz TRuck | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chompz TRuck | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Chef dans | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chef dans | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chef dans | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Books Bourbon & Bacon BB&B Bread Truck | Thursday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Books Bourbon & Bacon BB&B Bread Truck | Friday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Books Bourbon & Bacon BB&B Bread Truck | Saturday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Black Leaf Vegan LLC | Friday Dinner | 5 - 10 pm |
| Black Leaf Vegan LLC | Sunday | 10 am - 4 pm |
| Belly Up Food Truck | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| beardedburger | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| beardedburger | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| beardedburger | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Bearded Bagel | Thursday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Bearded Bagel | Friday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| Bearded Bagel | Saturday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
| A taste of home catering | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| A taste of home catering | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| A taste of home catering | Saturday Breakfast | 8 - 10 am |
What are you most looking forward to seeing, eating, or sipping on a Block Party this year? Tag us on social media with #gencon and tell us!
