7 minute read
East Region
Celebrate the Season IN INDIANA’S EAST REGION!
visiteasternindiana.org
LIGHT IT UP
Light Up the Magic in Elwood. Light displays, lighting ceremonies, and luminaries.
Cruis’n the HoliJay Lights at the Fairground in Portland I NOV. 18-DEC. 23 Miracle on 3rd and 4th Street/Downtown Marion’s Walkway of Lights I
NOV. 19 Village of Winona Tree Lighting Ceremony I NOV. 19 City of Elwood Light Up the Magic I NOV.26 New Castle Christmas Walk I DEC. 1 Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista in Muncie I DEC. 2-3 Yule Time Stroll—Holiday Lights in Charley Creek Gardens I DEC. 13-23, 6-9PM
SPECIAL EVENTS
Embassy Theater Festival of Trees. Enjoy something special for the season.
Festival of Trees at the Embassy
Theatre in Fort Wayne I NOV. 22-29 Christmas at the Seiberling Mansion in Kokomo I NOV. 26-DEC. 31 Paramount Theatre’s Festival of Trees in Anderson I NOV. 29-DEC. 4 Richmond’s Meltdown Winter Ice
Festival I JAN. 25-29, 2023
PARADES
Light Up Logansport. Sit back and watch the holidays come to life.
Downtown Auburn
Christmas Parade I
NOV. 22 Light Up Logansport
Parade I NOV. 25 Downtown Albion
Christmas in the Village and Christmas Light
Parade I DEC. 2
@visiteasternindiana
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Cirque Musica.
A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Holiday shows for everyone. Holiday shows for everyone.
HONEYWELL CENTER
WABASH
NOV. 19-20 I Cirque Musica Holiday
Wonderland
NOV. 25 I Champions of Magic—
The Worldwide Wonders Tour
DEC. 9 I The Midtown Men Holiday Hits DEC. 10 I Sidewalk Prophets—Great Big
Family Christmas
DEC. 15 I A Charlie Brown Christmas–
Live on Stage!
DEC. 18 I Mannheim Steamroller
Christmas
DEC. 20 I Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Holiday Pops PARAMOUNT THEATRE
ANDERSON
DEC. 7 I A Very Electric Christmas DEC. 8 I Ernie Haase & Signature
Sound: A Jazzy Little Christmas
DESTINATION
FFrothy hot chocolate, savory, gooey raclette cheese on perfectly crusty bread, shimmering salty pretzels and warm, spiced Ghlüwein await you! The
Carmel Christkindlmarkt, voted again as
USA Today’s No. 1 Best Holiday Market in North America, opens November 19 and this year, will remain open until
December 30. Now in its sixth year, the City of
Carmel is excited to welcome back the
Christkindlmarkt and the outdoor Ice at
Carter Green skating season. Guests can shop for authentic German-made or inspired holiday gifts and grab tasty treats. Adults can stay warm sipping the signature, spiced mulled wine called
Ghlüwein at the first “Tower of Ghlüwein” in America, which stands three stories high in the center of the Market. Nestled in the heart of Carmel’s downtown, the Christkindlmarkt and The
Ice at Carter Green offer spectacular views of the Palladium concert hall, Tarkington theater building and the stars above
Carmel. It’s the perfect destination for groups of friends, family or a romantic date night spot after dinner at nearby restaurants like The Cake Bake Shop at
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Sights and sounds for all ages at the Christkindlmarkt. Traditional German horns. Live performances in the Winter Pavilion. Traditional holiday ornaments.
CLOCKWISE: Teams enjoy friendly competion at the Carmel Winter Games 2022. Skaters of all ages love the Ice at Carter Green.
Carmel City Center or the French restaurant, Vivante, located inside the adjacent Hotel Carmichael.
It is not uncommon to see visitors in formal wear as they emerge from the Palladium after a performance and take a stroll through the old-world charm of the market. Bonus points are earned if it’s snowing!
After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID, the Christkindlmarkt returned with a bang in 2021, attracting more than 400,000 visitors during its 25 days of operation. Last year the market also unveiled its new Winter Pavilion; a 34-foot by 70-foot open-air pavilion at the east end of Carter Green, near the Monon Greenway. The Pavilion is an ideal setting for live holiday entertainment on stage and grabbing a seat under the roof to enjoy food and drinks. For young visitors, the market even features a Kinderecke or kids’ corner with crafts, games and special guest appearances.
Not to be overlooked is the large, authentic ice-skating rink that is built into the middle of the Market for the holiday season and can hold up to 250 skaters at a time. Skaters of all ages and talents have the opportunity to be on the ice under the crisp winter skies at The Ice at Carter Green.
After the Christkindlmarkt ends on December 30, The Ice at Carter Green’s season continues through the end of February. Winter-time activities there include special events such as the Festival of Ice featuring professional ice carving competitions and the Carmel Winter Games with friendly team competition on the ice.
For more information on the Christkindlmarkt, visit CarmelChristkindlmarkt.com. For more information about the Ice at Carter Green, visit TheIceAtCarterGreen.com.
VALPARAISO – THE PERFECT PLACE FOR Holiday Festivities & Traditions
story by KATIE ABEL
As the crisp, bright leaves of fall give way to the first snowflakes of winter, festive cheer and seasonal fun is waiting for you in the heart of Northwest Indiana. Delight in old traditions and create new memories at the many holiday events and activities in Valparaiso this season.
Is pumpkin spice and peppermint on your mind? Discover tasty treats throughout historic downtown Valpo at the first annual Autumn Promenade on Saturday, Nov. 12. Your tastebuds will thank you as you collect fall and holiday-themed delectables from participating retailers and businesses. This ticketed event will sell out fast, so visit valparaisoevents.com now to stroll along.
After getting your fill of savory and sweet, celebrate the opening of the ice rink in Central Park Plaza with First Skate. Be the first on the ice in 2022 with tickets to this family-friendly event that benefits the Valpo Parks Foundation. And if you can’t make it on November 12, there’s plenty of opportunity to show off your ice-skating skills this season - the ice rink opens to the public on Monday, November 14 and runs
PHOTOS CLOCKWISE: Kids play at Candy Cane Lane at the courthouse square during Holly Days.
Skaters take to the ice at Urschel Pavilion in Central Park Plaza.
Grace Chapel church hosts a live nativity, complete with live animals, during Holly Days.
Artist Lou Cella’s Orville! statue, located in downtown Valpo, is feeling festive with a Santa hat.
well into the New Year. At the end of November, marvel at ice skating demonstrations and the magnificently decorated 38-foot Central Park Plaza tree (with over 26,000 lights!) at Valpo Parks’ annual Winter Fest & Tree Lighting on Saturday, November 26. Kick off December by celebrating all things festive at Holly Days on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3. Drop off a letter to Santa (will he reply?!) and shop for gifts at downtown retailer open houses. Then head over to Candy Cane Lane at the courthouse square to ride the Holiday Express train before popping over to Central Park Plaza for Live ice sculptors create Cinderella’s carriage at Holly Days in Central Park Plaza. pictures with Santa, ice sculptures, carolers, and much more.
Spread cheer at the Santa & Sirens Toy Drive on Saturday, December 10. Enjoy a display of emergency vehicles at Foundation Meadows Park and donate new, unwrapped toys to Toys for Tots to help fulfill the holiday wishes of children in the Valparaiso community.
And finally, don’t miss the chance to enjoy some holiday theater this season! ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas will run from November 25 to December 18 at Chicago Street Theater, and Elf the Musical, Jr. will be performed at the Memorial Opera House from December 9 to December 18. Visit chicagostreet. org and memorialoperahouse.com, respectively, for tickets and details.
For more information on Autumn Promenade, Holly Days, and letters to Santa, visit valparaisoevents.com. For more information on ice skating, Winter Fest & Tree Lighting, and Santa & Sirens Toy Drive, visit valpoparks.org.
