This winter, embrace the magic of the season with a variety of festive events along the White River! Experience cherished traditions like Christmas at the Zoo, A Merry Prairie Holiday, and Winterlights at Newfields. But don’t forget to add the seasonal holiday markets to your list to get your unique gifts and delicious treats. From breakfasts with Santa at the Indiana State Museum to winter nature hikes, there’s fun for the whole family this holiday season!
Season’s Best: Fan Favorites
Experience the magic of Christmas at the Zoo, a cherished holiday tradition in Central Indiana since 1967. This year marks the 57th anniversary of the event, featuring new decor and experiences included with regular admission. Highlights include Santa’s Village and the new Santa’s Magic Cottage where families will journey to the North Pole, meet Santa in his study, and enjoy memorable photo opportunities. Don’t miss this magical experience at the Indianapolis Zoo from November 23 – January 6th!
Join us for A Merry Prairie Holiday, where you can immerse yourself in thousands of twinkling lights and celebrate in historic Prairietown. Experience 1800s holiday traditions, enjoy the “Holidays from Around the World” crankie show, and marvel at the magical 3D projection mapping of “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.” Take a spin at Frosty’s Skating Rink, explore dazzling LED displays, and visit the North Pole Village for selfies with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Check in with Trinket Puddingmoon to see if you’ve been naughty or nice and enjoy local performances at Blitzen’s Bandstand. Don’t miss Kringle’s Carousel and the thrilling 150-foot Polar Bear Plunge tubing hill. With festive fun for everyone, create lasting holiday memories from November 29 – December 22nd!
Newfields Winter Wonderland
Experience the magic of Winterlights, presented by Bank of America at Newfields! This annual holiday tradition features nearly three million dazzling lights in The Garden, with displays dancing beneath 100-year-old trees. Enjoy the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s performances, including The Nutcracker, synchronized to 300,000 LED bulbs, and stroll through the Twinkling Trail with festive ornaments. Step inside the decorated Lilly House and warm up at the Culinary Campsite with s’mores and holiday drinks. Don’t miss this enchanting experience showcased from November 23 – January 5th!
Celebrate the season with LGBTQIA+ friends and family at Indy Pride Night during Winterlights! Don’t miss electric performances by local drag entertainers and embrace the warmth of our diverse community during an evening of holiday cheer on December 1st.
Celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa at Winterlights on December 5th! Grab a warm refreshment and enjoy live performances that honor the rich traditions of Kwanzaa and immerse yourself in this joyous holiday celebration. Gather your loved ones and embrace the warm holiday spirit of African heritage and unity.
Join us for Las Posadas at Winterlights, in partnership with Arte Mexicano en Indiana. This seasonal celebration will honor the tradition of Las Posadas, which represents Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before Jesus’s birth. Enjoy cultural themes and special live performances in the path of two million twinkling lights and the stunning illuminated art installation, Big Piñata, by the Mexican art collective Happy Rebels, shining brightly this holiday season on December 19th!
Celebrate with Newfields and the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis at Latkes and Lights, a special Chanukah celebration during Winterlights. For the eight days of Chanukah, Landscape of Light will dance and dazzle to Judith Clurman’s arrangement of Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah. Admire the windows of Lilly House illuminated with menorahs and Stars of David and enjoy latkes at the festive Winter Market under the lights on December 29th.
Harmonies & Holiday Arts
Noblesville First Friday makes historic Downtown Noblesville your evening destination with fun-filled themed experiences and special deals at shops and restaurants. Stop by the first Friday of any month throughout the winter (and beyond)!
Join us for Celebration Crossing: Holiday Sounds at the Indiana State Museum, where you can revel in the festive spirit as community choirs, bands, ensembles, and soloists perform holiday music in the Governor Frank & Judy O’Bannon Great Hall. Celebrate the season with friends and family through the joy of live music from December 4 – 19th!
Come enjoy the Indianapolis Symphonic Band Holiday Performance where you’ll hear beautiful holiday tunes. This magical performance will be at the Indiana State Museum on December 8th and included with your admission to the museum!
The Indy Art Center’s annual Winter Art Sale is back! Check out artwork and wares from local artists and artisans up-close on December 7th. The Art Center will be a flurry with artists showcasing one-of-a-kind work, refreshments, and the holiday spirit! Support the Indy Art Center students, staff, and faculty, as well as artists in our community and those gifts will feel twice as good to give!
Join Noblesville Main Street and the City of Noblesville Parks & Recreation for the Holiday Market at Federal Hill Commons. Artisans, makers, bakers and more will help fulfill your holiday gift needs on December 7th! Make it a day of festivities by sticking around to enjoy ice skating in the plaza and holiday carriage rides at Holidays at the Hill this winter!
Sippin with Santa is the newest adults-only holiday event to indulge your inner child at our Indiana State Museum while enjoying festive food, drinks, DJ entertainment, a 360-degree photo booth, games, activities, dancing and holiday shopping with multiple vendors. Make it a date night, girls’ night out or a fun excuse to check off some holiday shopping. VIP attendees will enjoy a private lounge with additional food and a private bar, this inaugural winter wonderland event is one not to be missed on December 7th!
Winter Wilderness
Even as temperatures drop, the river offers a unique charm that captivates nature lovers. Join us for exciting river and nature-related events that celebrate the season, from winter hikes along the frosty banks to RAFT sampling events.
Two riverfront parks offer outdoor ice skating (regardless of temps!). Check out Federal Hill Commons in Noblesville and Holliday Park in Indy (which also offers skating and hockey lessons!).
Take a seasonal Hike with a Naturalist at Holliday Park with a staff naturalist. You never know what you’ll find, but you’ll always find beauty and hopefully learn something new about your local environment!
Looking to get active in nature during these chilly months? The 2024 Jingle Bell Run will take place in White River State Park on December 7th. This holiday FUNdraiser for a great cause helps fund the Arthritis Foundation’s mission and helps to find a cure!
Can’t get enough of the river? Check out White River Alliance and Friends of White River for their river-friendly events like habitat evaluations and RAFT samplings.
Festive Family Fun
Celebrate a magical day of festive fun as we kick off the holiday season and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to Indiana State Museum on November 29th! Watch Santa’s grand entrance as he arrives by helicopter during the Celebration Crossing Opening Day.
Join us for Santa’s Holiday Breakfast in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™ at the Indiana State Museum, where you can experience an elegant buffet breakfast filled with holiday nostalgia, accompanied by live holiday music and beautiful décor. Children will receive a special gift from Santa’s helpers and can choose a surprise from the toy chest. Don’t miss these festive mornings on November 30th & December 22nd!
Can’t make those days? Santa’s Holiday Breakfast will continue in the Great Hall on December 1, 7, 8, 15 & 21st. After breakfast, you can visit with Santa for photos, explore Santa’s Front Yard and Reindeer Barn, and take a ride on the Snowfall Express!
Celebrate the season with Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends during this festive and family friendly holiday buffet on December 5th. Visit with Santa and receive a keepsake photo with Santa at Indiana State Museum during Supper with Santa and Friends.
Join your fellow Girl Scouts during the Girl Scout Celebration Crossing Fun Day for festive fun on December 7th at Indiana State Museum!
Put on your favorite pajamas for an extra-cozy visit to Celebration Crossing at the Snowflake Pajama Party! Enjoy a ride on the Snowfall Express, capture a fun photo with Santa, and watch a special animal show featuring Hedgehog Hannah at the Indiana State Museum on December 10th!
Ring in the New Year at our Family New Year’s Eve party! Enjoy a DJ and dance party, face painting, glitter tattoos, photo opportunities, and fun activities throughout the Indiana State Museum. Cap off the night with a balloon drop and countdown celebration on December 31st!
Snowy Scholars: Magical Learning
Chill with us as we explore the science of wintertime. We’ll conduct fun experiments, create icy art, engage in snowy sensory play, and more at Small Wonders: Science of Wintry Weather! BRRRR into the science on December 3, 4, & 7th. Young Explorers will take on Frozen Science conducting wintry experiments and create icy artwork on December 7th. Toddler Time: Snow Cool will discover wintertime projects and motor skills on December 18, 19, & 21st!
Visit with Santa, enjoy interactive story times with North Pole elves, play in Santa’s Front Yard, and feed a (stuffed) reindeer at the Reindeer Barn during this hour of festive fun! Magical Mornings at the Indiana State Museum offer fewer light shows, limited sounds, and smaller crowd sizes to create a safe and inclusive environment for our littlest visitors. Join us during these magical times on December 6, 13, 20, 27th and January 3rd.
Winter Wonderland Workshop takes you into a winter wonderland where you can build your own cardboard gingerbread house during this STEAM-inspired workshop at Indiana State Museum on December 12th & 14th!
