Indianapolis–Carmel–Greenwood · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Indianapolis
19 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Indianapolis, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 1 are free.
Updated Oct 24. Every listing links to its organizer’s page.
Don’t miss
- Christmas
Through Jan 1
Christmas at the Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
PaidAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 26
A Christmas Carol at the Indiana Repertory Theatre
Indiana Repertory Theatre
From $27
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 21 · 9:30 AM
Santa's BIG Snowball Fight
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
With admissionAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Crafts and cookies
Fri, Nov 20 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Ornament Workshop at McCloud Nature Park
McCloud Nature Park
From $15All ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 21 · 9:30 AM
Santa's BIG Snowball Fight
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
With admissionAll ages
- Tree lightings
Sat, Nov 21 · 11:30 AM
Carmel Christkindlmarkt Opening Day and Tree Lighting
Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Carter Green
FreeAll ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 21
Visit with Santa at The Children's Museum
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
With admissionAll ages
- Santa visits
Tue, Nov 24 · 5:00 PM
Santa & Carolers at Winterlights
The Garden at Newfields
From $25All ages
- Santa visits
Fri, Nov 27 · 10:00 AM
Celebration Crossing Opening Day with Santa's Helicopter Arrival
Indiana State Museum
From $17All ages
- Christmas
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:30 PM
A Merry Prairie Holiday at Conner Prairie
Conner Prairie
From $15All ages
- Santa visits
Sun, Nov 29 · 9:00 AM
Santa's Holiday Breakfast in the Great Hall
Indiana State Museum
From $30All ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Nutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 3
Butler Ballet: Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University
Paid
- Christmas
Fri, Dec 4
AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration
Hilbert Circle Theatre
Paid
- Christmas
Tue, Dec 8 · 6:00 PM
Snowflake Pajama Party at the Indiana State Museum
Indiana State Museum
From $14
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM
Santa's Holiday Breakfast in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room
Indiana State Museum
From $35All ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 8:00 AM
Santa's Magical Morning
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
From $15All ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 17 · 7:30 PM
The Nutcracker — Indianapolis Ballet with the ISO
Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University
Paid
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Markets and festivals
Sun, Dec 27 · 10:00 AM
Kwanzaa Community Festival at the Indiana State Museum
Indiana State Museum
From $17All ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Sun, Dec 27 · 12:00 PM
Nutcracker Sweets — Indianapolis Ballet Family Series
Schrott Center for the Arts, Butler University
Paid
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 6:00 PM
Family New Year's Eve at the Indiana State Museum
Indiana State Museum
From $18All ages
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Indianapolis?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Indianapolis listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 19 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.