It’s beginning to look a lot like winter at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis! From icy slides and furry friends to epic snowball fights and a little festive magic, The Children’s Museum is packed with snow much fun – it’s the place to be this season!  

“This special season is a time for families to connect, recharge, and make memories that last a lifetime,” said Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO. “At The Children’s Museum, we love turning everyday moments into something magical. So whether you’re whooshing down the WinterSlide, joining in on Santa’s BIG Snowball Fight, or playing in our winter wonderland in WinterFaire, there’s something here for everyone to spark joy and wonder all season long.” 

Here’s a look at some of our special events coming up:  

WinterFaire: Nov. 15 – Feb. 22, 2026
Back for its third season, WinterFaire brings you into a winter wonderland of family fun and creating lasting memories with engaging interactives, programs, and an immersive wintery environment.  In WinterFaire, you’ll discover a magical indoor world featuring a festive, carnival-like atmosphere led by a group of lovable, curious critters! Play carnival games such as Skee-ball and ring toss, solve frozen puzzles, ice skate on your socks, slide down in the frozen lake, discover art inspired by world holiday celebrations, and so much more when you experience the magic of WinterFaire.  

Santa regularly visits the WinterFaire village! Visit our web pages for dates of Santa’s arrival and who will be Santa that day to help prepare for your upcoming visit. Santa has his own dedicated space on the other side of the Mezzanine Level. Santa’s final day at the museum will be Christmas Eve, which is also a FREE admission day!  

WinterSlide: Nov. 15 – Jan. 11, 2026
Returning this year is the fan favorite and iconic WinterSlide! The stairs in the Sunburst Atrium turn into the beloved icy 47-foot long WinterSlide from Nov. 15 to Jan. 11. You must be 37 inches tall to ride alone; children can ride on an adult’s lap. The slide line closes daily at 4:45 p.m. 

Santa’s BIG Snowball Fight: Nov. 15
On Nov. 15 from 9:40-10 a.m., gather in the Sunburst Atrium for Indy’s biggest indoor snowball fight, free with admission! It will be a flurry of festive fun as we welcome Santa to The Children’s Museum for the first time this season. Thousands of soft, fluffy “snowballs” will fill the air as families laugh, play, and kick off the start of the most magical time of the year.  

Black Friday Weekend: Nov. 28 – Dec. 1
Santa’s elves have been busy filling The Museum Store with the perfect gifts! From Black Friday, Nov. 28 through Cyber Monday, Dec.1, enjoy a 25% discount on all purchases, both in-store and online! Peek inside the magical Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved collection to find this year’s most anticipated toys, selected by kids themselves! Don't forget, the gift of a museum membership is good for a full year – the perfect stocking stuffer for families wanting memories to last a lifetime.  

Birthday Bash: Dec. 6
It's our 100th birthday and we can’t celebrate without you! Join us for a party that only comes around once a century! We're packing 100 years of memories, wonder, and dreams into one legendary party with games, giveaways, birthday fun and activities, and the debut of our first item in our second century collection – a one-of-a-kind art mural by Hoosier artist Ashley Nora. The Birthday Bash is free with museum admission; birthday activities will conclude at 3 p.m. 

Aesop’s Fables and Tales: Nov. 28 – Jan. 4, 2026 
Stop by Lilly Theater for a fun, family-friendly play during your museum trip. Aesop the Mouse is known by all other mice far and wide as the greatest storyteller in the land. So, when Aesop invites everyone to come hear her latest tale “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse” they go! Show times vary by date; ASL and sensory-friendly performances are also available. Click here for dates and details.  

Countdown to Noon: Dec. 31
Celebrate the final day of 2025 with activities, live music, and an epic countdown at noon and 1 p.m. that will allow families to experience the excitement of a New Year’s Eve countdown at a reasonable hour for the youngsters! 

Visit www.childrensmuseum.org for more information on all of the exhibits, special events, and daily experiences The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has to offer this magical season. **The Children’s Museum is closed on Christmas Day.  

WinterFaire is presented by Riley Children’s Health. 
WinterFaire is supported by F.A. Wilhelm Construction, Indiana 529, and Delta Dental. 
WinterSlide is presented by Corteva Agriscience.

About The Children's Museum of Indianapolis      

We ignite joy, wonder and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org and follow us on social media @childrensmuseum.   The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is proud to partner with Riley Children’s Health, Old National Bank, Ice Miller LLP, and The Heritage Group.