Holiday Happenings In and Around Indianapolis

When you think of amazing cities to visit for the holidays, Indianapolis may not be at the top of your list. But it should be!

Whether you live in central Indiana or plan to travel to Indy during Christmas time, there are many holiday happenings for you to experience in the Greater Indianapolis area.

In fact, there are so many festive activities in and around Indianapolis that you will need to return year after year to experience all of them. Having lived in central Indiana nearly all my life, I’m still finding new ways to enjoy the holidays, and my family has a few favorite activities that we never miss.

Here is just a sampling of the holiday happenings taking place in and around Indianapolis that fill my family with the Christmas spirit.

Seeing the Lights

One of the best things about this time of year is the magnificent Christmas light displays. Since I was a little girl I can remember my dad driving around for hours to show us all the sparkling lights around town.

This year the Indiana State Fairgrounds is hosting its inaugural Christmas Nights of Lights. And it is spectacular!

On a Friday night, we waited almost 45 minutes to get into the drive-through display, but it was so worth the wait. And we were impressed with the efficiency of the process and all the workers shuttling cars through the streets of the fairgrounds.

For this light display, you get to stay in the comfort of your warm car as you navigate your way through more than 1 million lights. All synchronized to your favorite songs of the season.

The light show itself took nearly 30 minutes to drive through and captivated us from beginning to end.

Christmas Nights of Lights costs $7 per head or $30 for a carload. Judging by the huge line of cars waiting to get in I have a feeling this light display will be returning to Indianapolis for years to come!

Special thanks to Christmas Nights of Light for providing a free pass so Traveling Tanya could experience the inaugural light show and provide this review to my followers. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Another holiday light display worth checking out is Winterlights at Newfields. You must buy tickets online, and this one sells out early. Bundle up as you get to walk through this spectacular illumination display.

The Winterland Light Show in Danville is another one of our favorites. Drive through the park’s dazzling display of holiday lights and then venture over to the town square to see how this Hendricks County town celebrates the season.

In Indy, even the animals get in on the seasonal fun! The Indianapolis Zoo has been celebrating Christmas at the Zoo since the 1960’s, making it the very first zoo to ever hold a holiday lights event.

Of course, if you are looking for free options, many private homes put on some pretty impressive light displays in just about every neighborhood in central Indiana. Many town halls are also decked for the holidays.

We love watching the light show synchronized to music at Brownsburg’s town hall. And don’t miss driving through Arbuckle Park’s animated lights. It’s free and there’s never a line to get in, which is great for the little ones who don’t have a lot of patience this time of year!

Catching a Show

Taking in a holiday performance is another way to get into the Christmas spirit, and Greater Indianapolis provides so many great options.

This year my family experienced local community theater with an afternoon at the Hendricks County Civic Theater. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” took us back in time to experience family life during the holidays in the 1940’s. It was both funny and heartwarming, reminding us what the holidays are all about…spending time together. And attending a live performance with loved ones is a great way to achieve that.

Additional venues to take in inspiring holiday performances include the Indiana Repertory Theater and the Civic Theater. At the Hilbert Circle Theater, the holiday season means the return of Yuletide Celebration. And if you want to enjoy a meal AND a holiday performance, Beef and Boards may be the ticket for you!

Consider an out-of-the-box gift for someone on your holiday shopping list, and give tickets to a live performance!

Touring World-Class Museums

Indianapolis has numerous quality museums that are worth visiting at any time of the year. But many of these museums pull out all the stops for the holidays.

Each December my family makes an annual visit to the Festival of Trees at the Indiana Historical Society. With 92 uniquely decorated trees, the Christmas Spirit is everywhere and provides holiday fun for all ages. This is one holiday activity that my parents and well as my teenage daughters look forward to every year. As we each try to decide which tree is our favorite, we also learn a bit of Indiana history with the museum’s engaging exhibits.

For those with small children, a visit to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum’s Jolly Holidays is an absolute must. The Eiteljorg Museum, which features Western and Native American art, hosts Jingle Rails, which is a big hit for train enthusiasts of all ages. Right next door is the Indiana State Museum where you can experience even more holiday fun at Celebration Crossing.

In between touring Indianapolis’ world-class museums, don’t miss the opportunity to take a wintery stroll along downtown’s scenic canal. Then pop over to Monument Circle to snap a selfie with what the locals have dubbed “the world’s largest Christmas tree” (even though it technically isn’t a tree at all)!

Be sure to top off your day in Indianapolis with Traveling Tanya’s favorite hot chocolate from South Bend Chocolate Company.

Visiting the Suburbs

Indianapolis has plenty of holiday activities to fill up your December calendar, but make time to venture into the suburbs as well. Central Indiana’s suburbs host a variety of seasonal events and festivities for locals and tourists of diverse interests.

Carmel Indiana’s Christkindlmarkt was just named the country’s #1 Holiday Market by USA Today. With plenty of authentic German-inspired food, drinks, and Christmas decor, this is a must-visit holiday attraction. While you are there, slip on some skates and take a spin around the outdoor rink. Then warm up with a glass of Gluhwein!

Venture west of the city to one of my favorite small towns in Indiana, Danville. Home of the Mayberry Cafe and plenty of other eateries as well as unique shops and an old fashioned theater, this town serves up a heaping dose of Hoosier Hospitality for the holidays.

Zionsville, Fishers, Greenwood, and Greenfield are just a few of the other suburbs offering their own version of holiday fun. And if candy canes are your weakness, put the Martinsville Candy Kitchen, and McCord’s Candies in Lafayette on your holiday agenda to witness how this famous holiday treat is made.