🎄2025 Holiday Hot List
November and December on the west side of Indy are pure magic. Twinkling lights, small-town celebrations, cozy shops, hometown parades, and all the festive traditions that make Hendricks County feel like the warmest place to spend the holidays.
But with so many holiday happenings popping up every single week it can be tough to figure out what to put on your must-do list. That’s where the 2025 KUIB Holiday Hot List comes in.
This is your curated guide to the season: the events I personally recommend, the experiences this community loves most, and the local traditions worth building into your family calendar year after year.
Consider this your roadmap to the most magical holiday season on the west side (and a little beyond). Save it, bookmark it, or screenshot it for quick reference all season long! 🎄✨
Winterland Holiday Light Show
đź“ŤEllis Park, 450 Leedy St., Danville, IN 46122
This is a must-do drive-through in Hendricks County. More than a million lights, a 30-foot Christmas tree, and the light show is synchronized with music via your car radio. Santa visits the train station on certain weekends. Runs from Nov 21- Dec 28th from Sundays-Thursdays 6-9pm and Fridays & Saturdays 6-10pm. More info here.
Christmas on the Square
đź“ŤDowntown Danville | 4-7pm | Free Event
Happening Nov 28th from 4-7pm. Kick off the season with lights, a live nativity scene, carolers, letters to Santa, a snowball fight, sweet treats and so much more! The big tree lights up at 6:30 PM (across from Danville Dips) and local vendors make this a fun start for the whole family. Head there early to grab dinner before the fun starts. More Info.
Trees of Plainfield
đź“ŤAl & Jan Barker Sports Complex, Plainfield
A free trail of beautifully decorated trees with nightly activities like crafts, Santa visits, cookie decorating, food vendors, snowball fights, and more. Runs Dec 5th-7th and 12th-14th from 6-9pm. This is a free event. More info
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Yuletide Celebration
đź“ŤHilbert Circle Theater, Indianapolis
A broadway style holiday production with singers, dancers, tap dancing Santas, and a magical Christmas atmosphere. Runs Dec 5-23rd. More info & tickets.
Christmas Under the Stars
đź“ŤBrownsburg Town Hall Green
Dec 6th. Parade at 6 PM, tree lighting + Santa photos at 7:15 PM, plus a winter market and Santa’s Workshop. We like to park at the Arbuckle and sit in front of the apartments there. More info
The Nutcracker Ballet
đź“ŤHendricks Live!, Plainfield
A classic family-friendly holiday performance featuring The Children’s Ballet and the Hendricks Symphony Orchestra.
More info and tickets here.
Winterlights at Newfields
đź“Ť4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
Walk through Newfields and see their incredible light display! Over 1,000,000 Christmas lights make this a sight to see. It can be cold so bundle up and bring a stroller for kiddos who may get tired of walking. There are bonfires throughout as well as vendors to buy hot chocolate from or adult beverages. Dates & times tend to sell out quickly, so grab your tickets early!
Carmel Christkindlmarkt
đź“Ť10 Carter Green, Carmel
Step into a holiday scene straight out of a Christmas Hallmark movie! This outdoor German market is packed with traditional eats, festive drinks, unique vendors, and more. Try your hand at ice skating, and don’t miss the Kinderecke, where kids can enjoy crafts and holiday activities. Visit on a weekday evening for less crowds. See the schedule and more info here.
WinterFaire at the Children’s Museum
📍The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis — 3000 North Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208
WinterFaire at the Children’s Museum is seriously magical. Indoor carnival vibes, the giant WinterSlide, hands-on activities and more. Perfect for dodging the cold and go on a weekday to beat the crowds! Included in museum admission. More info here.
Christmas Lights
There are multiple, great Christmas light displays across Hendricks County. These are the ones worth checking out.
Brownsburg Town Hall has a really good synchronized light show (tune your radio to 88.5). Then, drive across the street to Arbuckle Acres Park for the drive through lights. Starts Dec 6th. More info here.
Kaufmann Family Home: a classic family-style synchronized light display. Tune your car radio to FM 98.1 to hear the music the lights are synchronized to. You’ll drive down their long driveway and park on a large open field in front of the house. 5185 N County Rd 600 E, Brownsburg.
Lights On Lancaster (Avon): this private residence does a computer controlled, animated light show. You can even vote on which Christmas song plays next on their website. More Info.
🌟 Tips for Enjoying Your West Side Holiday Season
You don’t have to do it all: The Holidays are busy and stressful. I get it. Pick one event or pick none, whatever you can handle in this season!
Plan ahead: Many events have limited parking or are ticketed events that sell out quickly.
Bundle up: December nights are chilly, especially at outdoor markets and light displays. Rechargeable hand warmers from Amazon are a game changer. These are our go-to’s.
Support local: Shop at local boutiques, cafés, and markets whenever you can.
Capture the memories: Take the pictures and videos. And mom’s make sure you get in them, too!
What did I miss? Leave me a comment if you think there’s something I’m missing that needs to be included. And as always, thank you for being here! I hope you have a magical Holiday season!
