INDIANAPOLIS — The holidays are here, and several central Indiana communities are planning events to celebrate the season.
Here's a look at some of the holiday events in Indianapolis and central Indiana.
Clay County:
Students in grades K-6 are invited to a free Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 11 at the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch from 9 a.m. - noon. The event will be held at the Sheriffs’ Lodge & Conference Center, located on the ISYR property south of Brazil, 5325 N. State Road 59.
Hamilton County:
The Carmel Christkindlmart is open from November 19 until Christmas Eve.
Noblesville will have the "Home for the Holidays" tour throughout the month of December. There are six routes through neighborhoods across the city. More information is available here.
Conner Prairie is hosting "A Merry Prairie Holiday" on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 26 - Dec. 19 as well as December 21 and 22. American Sign Language Tours are available Dec. 10 and 18. Thousands of lights, selfies with Santa and a skating rink are just some of the activities you can enjoy. For more information, click here.
Nickel Plate Arts will open Gifted, an exhibit-turned-gift-market featuring locally made art and crafts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 27. The exhibit will remain until December 31 and is open Wednesday through Saturday at the Judge Stone House, 107 South Eighth Street. More information is available here.
Small Business Saturday starts at 10 a.m. on November 27 with holiday activities, entertainment in the alleyways, popup shops in the Main Street Community Room and free gift wrapping.
The Lighting of the Square in Noblesville is also taking place on November 27 at 6 p.m. For information about the tree lighting ceremony, contact the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce at (317) 773-0086.
Lights Over Seminary will run 5 to 11 p.m. nightly through December. It's a a walkable, holiday lights display in Seminary Park that focuses on history.
Ruoff Music Center is hosting the Magic of Lights for the first time from Nov. 19 - Jan. 2. Tickets are sold per vehicle and there is a 1-mile drive-through holiday lights display with various holiday light features. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
Santa's Mailbox will debut at Fishers City Hall and Fishers Parks Headquarters on November 29 outside the main entrances. Include a self-addressed envelope, and you’ll receive a reply from St. Nick! The mailboxes will be there until December 17. You can also email Santa through December 23 at santa@fishers.in.us .
The Fishers Winter Wonderland is scheduled for December 4 from 4-7 p.m. at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. A tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. and the event will have carriage and train rides, fire pits and s'mores, cookie decorating, live ice carving, a special Winter Wonderland Storywalk, the Fishers Arts Council's "Winter Wonderland of Art" exhibit inside City Hall, food, drinks, music, and more. For more information, click here.
Fishers will become Whoville on Dec. 18, 19, 20 and 21 when familes have a chance to feast with the Grinch. Families will enjoy a meal of Grinch-inspired goodies, a visit from the Grinch, and Whoville-themed activities. Registration is required by December 1.
The Shops at Carmel City Center will have a Holiday Sip & Shop Small event on Saturday, December 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. Complimentary wine tastings and Peppermint White Russians will be available at Fishman Fine Jewelers, Forever Gallery, The Imperial Spa and Linden Tree Gifts, along with some light hors d’oeuvres at select Shops.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance at Carmel City Center on Friday, December 3 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Kits & Kaboodle Classic Toys, located at 723 Hanover Place. Santa will make another appearance on Friday, December 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Hey Little Diddle, located at 730 S. Rangeline Road, Suite 170. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and Santa will bring an early present to all children after their visit with him, while supplies last.
Westfield in Lights will take place Dec. 4 from 3-7 p.m. There will be outdoor activities, food vendors and retail merchants, pictures with Santa and a gingerbread house competition. More information is available here.
Hancock/Marion County:
The town of Cumberland is hosting its 10th annual Weihnachtsmarkt on Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. It's a Christmas tradition that salutes Cumberland’s German heritage. There will be a vendor fair, entertainment, horse and carriage rides and more. For more information, click here.
Hendricks County:
Danville Parks & Recreation's Winterland Holiday Light Show is open daily at Ellis Park from Nov. 19 - Dec. 26, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The drive-thru experience features over a million lights. Winterland is open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $10 per vehicle, and if you go on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, it's only $5 per carload.
Also in Danville, the Christmas On The Square celebration runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 26 at Courthouse Square. There will be a live nativity scene, caroling and Christmas tree decorating before the tree is lit up at 6 p.m. More information is available here.
Strides to Success in Plainfield is hosting Christmas with Santa and the Ponies Dec. 10 and 11 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. each day. Tickets are $25 per family and can be purchased at the door. The event will look different this year due to COVID precautions. More information is available here.
On Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., the Christmas Under the Stars parade will take place in Brownsburg with floats, candy flying and an appearance by Santa Claus. This event is free to attend and will take place outdoors.
The Brownsburg Yuletide Festival will feature several events at Connection Pointe Christian Church. It runs from December 4-18 and more information can be found here.
Marion County:
The 59th annual Circle of Lights will welcome back Hoosiers for an in-person event on November 26. There will be live entertainment and of course, the lighting of the lights on Monument Circle. More information is available here.
The Indianapolis Zoo is having Christmas at the Zoo festivities from Nov. 20 through Dec. 30, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission to Christmas at the Zoo is free for members and included with regular admission. Tickets can be purchased online.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis will have Jolly Days Winter Wonderland open from November 20 through January 2, 2022. Santa arrives November 26, and there are several events planned. More information is available here.
Jingle Rails returns to the Eiteljorg Museum from Nov. 20 - Jan. 17. Nine working model trains wind through miniature landscapes of Indianapolis and other sites across the country. For more details, click here.
Christmas Nights of Lights returns to the Indiana State Fairgrounds this holiday season. It will be open from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Nov. 12-Jan. 2. More information is available here.
The IMAX Theater in the Indiana State Museum will host special screenings of The Polar Express. From Nov. 26 - Dec. 26 there will be "Polar Pajama Parties," where children under 12 who wear pajamas will receive a free ticket for every adult ticket purchased. To buy tickets, click here.
The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is hosting a festive Christmas tour of the Harrison family home on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tickets are available here.
Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, President Harrison's home will be decorated for Christmas and will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 3:30 p.m. Sundays. Tours start in the Welcome Center, located in the red barn behind the home.
Know of another event? Email Real-Time Editor Michelle Kaufman at michelle.kaufman@wrtv.com
