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From the Indiana Repertory Theatre opening a six-play virtual season to the popular Playscape® partially reopening at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis to lots of fun holiday events, this month is jam-packed with tons to see and do.
1. Indiana Repertory Theatre reopens with an exciting new line-up of shows
Lights, camera, action! The Indiana Repertory Theatre is back after its Covid-19 closure with an exciting lineup of shows. IRT will produce a six-play virtual season that will open in early December 2020 with the holiday offering, This Wonderful Life.
Image courtesy of IRT
In partnership with WFYI, each of the productions will be filmed and available to stream. And, if they are able to gather in-person in the spring, patrons will be able to view live performances at the IRT in the OneAmerica Mainstage Theatre. Other productions you can look forward to include Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years and Tuesdays with Morrie. The rest of the lineup will be announced at a later date. Learn more about the IRT’s reimagined season here.
2. Playscape® at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis Is Open!
One of your favorite exhibits at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is now partially reopen! You and your little ones can play again in Playscape® and enjoy Blockopolis, the Art Studio, and Reaction Contraption. The Water Table is undergoing maintenance and will reopen soon, but in the meantime, you can enjoy the water table in Corteva Agriscience ScienceWorks. The Children’s Museum has put new cleaning procedures in place for these areas, assuring your little ones have fun and stay safe. Learn more here.
Virtual Viewing of The Santa Clues at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
One of your member/donor and Access Pass benefits is getting access to the museum's popular Lilly Theater shows. We know not everyone is able to join us in person at the museum at this time, so we are bringing our holiday show to you at home! From Dec. 19 through Jan. 3, log in to your account to get access to a virtual, on-demand viewing of The Santa Clues available through Jan. 3 exclusively for members, donors, and Access Pass holders.
4. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Happy holidays from all the Access Pass attractions! Load up on holiday cheer and fun with these festive events:
Jingle Rails at Eiteljorg
Nov. 21, 2020–Jan. 18, 2021
$2 per person for Access Pass cardholders, advance tickets required
A family favorite year after year, Jingle Rails is back again this year open. This G-scale model train wonderland includes nine working model trains that weave through miniature versions of some of your favorite downtown landmarks like Monument Circle and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jolly Days at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Nov. 21, 2020–Jan. 3, 2021
Included with general admission, $2 per person for Access Pass cardholders
Celebrate family traditions and the holidays with Jolly Days Winter Wonderland at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Make it snow in the Giant Snow Globe, meet the Jolly Days characters, play on the sock ice skate rink, and tell Santa your wish list.
A Merry Prairie Holiday at Conner Prairie
Nov. 27–29, Dec. 4–6, 11–13, 18–20, 22, and 23 from 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Cost is $20 per person, advance tickets are required
Image courtesy of Conner Prairie
Back for its second season, A Merry Prairie Holiday at Conner Prairie is a festive, family-friendly event to get you in the holiday spirit. Activities include Reynold’s Christmas Lights displays, gift making with Santa’s elves, tubing hill, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and much more.
Festival of Trees at Indiana Historical Society
Nov. 13, 2020–Jan. 9, 2021
Included with general admission, $2 per person for Access Pass cardholders
Make the holiday season extra merry and bright at Festival of Trees at the Indiana Historical Society. The 50 trees speak to this year’s theme, “Life is a Gift”, and represent individuals, families, and organizations from around Indiana. Other activities include scavenger hunts, holiday singalongs, and virtual story time with Santa. Select Fridays will have extended hours of 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Celebration Crossing at Indiana State Museum
Nov. 27, 2020–Jan. 3, 2021
Included with general admission, $2 per person for Access Pass cardholders
Image courtesy of Indiana State Museum
Celebration Crossing is back for another year at the Indiana State Museum. Check out the redesigned Santa’s Front Yard, explore the new Reindeer Barn, and ride the Santa Claus Express train through the winter wonderland of twinkling lights and festive decorations. Visit with Santa on his sleigh on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6–8 p.m. join Daniel Tiger and his friends for Daniel Tiger’s Snowflake Pajama Party. You’ll get to meet Daniel Tiger and have fun playing in Celebration Crossing. Tickets for this event are $5 for Access Pass cardholders; call Visitor Services 317-232-1637 for tickets or reserve your spot at the museum ticket counter.
Winter Solstice Celebration at Angel Mounds
Dec. 19 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Included with general admission, $2 per person for Access Pass cardholders
Celebrate the winter solstice with Dr. William Romain, and learn how the Mississippians used the sun, moon and stars to align their major building projects. Enjoy other solstice-themed activities during the celebration.
Family Holiday Celebration at Culbertson Mansion
Dec. 5 1–4 p.m.
Included with general admission, $2 per person for Access Pass cardholders
Celebrate the season while experiencing the Culbertson Mansion all decked out for the holidays. Enjoy cookies, sip hot cider and write a letter to Santa, then see twinkling trees and seasonal décor in the mansion. Tours of the mansion will be every half hour beginning at 1 p.m. with the last tour at 3:30 p.m. Registration required by Dec. 3.
A Dream of Beauty at Gene Stratton-Porter Historic Site
Dec. 6 1–5 p.m.
Included with general admission, $2 per person for Access Pass cardholders
Image courtesy of Gene Stratton-Porter Historic Site
Explore Gene Stratton-Porter’s cabin decked out for the holidays according to her description of Christmas in the house in 1917, which she called “A Dream of Beauty.” Enjoy pre-packaged holiday goodies, crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides around the property and walking through a winter wonderland in Wildflower Woods.
Metamora Old Fashioned Christmas Walk at Whitewater Canal
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Nov. 27–Dec. 20
Free
Visit Indiana’s Canal Town during one of the prettiest times of the year. Enjoy festive decorations, live music, shopping and more. Visit the Grist Mill to see corn-grinding demonstrations and purchase freshly ground cornmeal to take home.
Winterlights at Newfields
Nov. 21, 2020–Jan. 3, 2021
$2 for Access Pass cardholders, advance tickets required
This holiday season, the magic returns to Newfields for the fourth year of Winterlights. Experience the wonder of over a million and a half lights glittering on one-hundred-year-old trees in the historic garden. This entirely outdoor experience offers a safe and socially distanced moment of togetherness this holiday season.
