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 |
|---|---|---|
| A Taste of Home | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| A Taste of Home | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| A Taste of Home | Saturday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| A Taste of Home | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Bearded Bagel | Thursday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Bearded Bagel | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Bearded Bagel | Friday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Bearded Bagel | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Bearded Bagel | Saturday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Bearded Bagel | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Bearded Burger | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Bearded Burger | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Bearded Burger | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Bearded Burger | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Bearded Burger | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Black Leaf | Thursday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Books, Bourbon and Bacon | Thursday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Books, Bourbon and Bacon | Friday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Books, Bourbon and Bacon | Saturday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Books, Bourbon and Bacon | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Books, Bourbon and Bacon | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Box Burger | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Box Burger | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Box Burger | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chef Dan's | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Chef Dan's | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Chef Dan's | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Chef Dan's | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Chef TLC | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chompz Truck | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chompz Truck | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Chompz Truck | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #1 | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #1 | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #1 | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #1 | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #2 | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #2 | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Da Blue Lagoon #2 | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Der Pretzel Wagen | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Der Pretzel Wagen | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Der Pretzel Wagen | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| El Venezolano | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| El Venezolano | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| El Venezolano | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| El Venezolano | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Flying Cupcake | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Flying Cupcake | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Flying Cupcake | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Flying Cupcake | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Forking Pierogi | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Forking Pierogi | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Forking Pierogi | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| GALS Fish | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| GALS Fish | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Garnacha Spot | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Garnacha Spot | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Garnacha Spot | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Garnacha Spot | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Grumpy Gringo | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Grumpy Gringo | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Grumpy Gringo | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Hometown Donuts | Thursday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Hometown Donuts | Friday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Hometown Donuts | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Hoosier Q | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Hoosier Q | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Hoosier Q | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Lil Smokey | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Big Smokey | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Big smokey | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Lil Smokey | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Lil Smokey | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Lil Smokey | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Johnson's BBQ Lil Smokey | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| J's Lobster Truck | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| J's Lobster Truck | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| J's Lobster Truck | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Jug's Catering | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Jug's Catering | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Karma Kitchen | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Karma Kitchen | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Karma Kitchen | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Karma Kitchen | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Knoughty Lobsta | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Knoughty Lobsta | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Knoughty Lobsta | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Knoughty Lobsta | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Las Tortugas | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Las Tortugas | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Las Tortugas | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Legends Golf Club | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Lick Ice Cream | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Mac Genie | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Mac Genie | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Mauy Thai | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Moo Loo-Dessert | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Moo Loo-Dessert | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Moo Loo-Dessert | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Muay Thai | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Muay Thai | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Nacho Mama's | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Pastabilitiez | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Pi | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Pi | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Pi | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Pi | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Pierogi Love | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Pierogi Love | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Pierogi Love | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Pierogi Love | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Pierogi Love | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Pronto Taco | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Pronto Taco | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Pronto Taco | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Samano's Mexican | Saturday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| Serendipity | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Serendipity | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Serendipity | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Sweet Tooth | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Sweet Tooth | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Taste Budz Indy | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| Taste of the Caribbean | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Taste of the Caribbean | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Taste of the Caribbean | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Corn Man | Wednesday | 5-10 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Flying Cupcake | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Grub House | Thursday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| The Grub House | Friday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| The Grub House | Saturday Breakfast | 8-10 am |
| The Grub House | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| The Sweet Potato | Thursday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Sweet Potato | Friday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Sweet Potato | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| The Whole Cow | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| The Whole Cow | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| The Whole Cow | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Treats by Fee | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Union Jack | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Union Jack | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Union Jack | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ | Thursday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wild Boar BBQ | Saturday Dinner | 5-10 pm |
| Wylie Truck | Friday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wylie Truck | Saturday Lunch | 11 am - 4 pm |
| Wylie Truck | Sunday | 10 am - 5 pm |
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!
