As seasonal temperatures drop, many Geist-area towns and cities will offer event celebrations with a holiday cheer.
WINTER WONDERLAND
The City of Fishers will once again host Winter Wonderland, from 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, 6 Municipal Dr. Unlike previous years, the event will take place during the day on Saturday instead during the evening on Friday.
“We would like it to be more of an open house feel and encourage the community to come at 2 and do all of the activities and stay for the tree lighting, or come to the tree lighting and stay afterwards and take part in the activities,” said Sarah Sandquist, director for the Fishers Parks and Recreation Dept. “We are just spreading it out a little bit because we’ve had some pretty large crowds. We just want to encourage everybody to come and not feel like they’re rushed and be able to take part in all the activities that will be there.”
The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. Other activities include a petting zoo, an ice sculptor, a candy cane hunt, letters to Santa, a sensory friendly area and more.
For more, visit playfishers.com.
A LAWRENCE CHRISTMAS
The City of Lawrence will return with A Lawrence Christmas, which features many holiday activities. A parade will begin at dusk and travel a mile-and-a-half route. It will begin at the Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St., proceed through the Lawton Loop, turn east on Otis Avenue and finish at the Old Nation Bank parking lot, south of the Sterrett Center, 8950 Otis Ave. All other activities will be at the Sterrett Center.
Theater at the Fort and Village Plaza will host Christmas Card lane, where local businesses will create wooden Christmas cards on a 4-foot by 6-foot platform. The cards will be displayed at Wheeler Road and Memorial Park Drive.
Although this is the sixth year for the city’s tree-lighting ceremony, the parade and celebration began in 2016. Mayor Steve Collier said he expects approximately 400 residents to attend the event, along with many employees from the City of Lawrence.
“A Lawrence Christmas has become a very special event for the city,” Collier said. “It serves to draw the community together and signals the start of many events in the city through the holiday season.”
The Horizon Kids Choir will perform. Other activities include a kid zone with face painting, ornament decoration, coloring contests and access to Santa’s Mailbox.
WINTERFEST
From noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 1, the Town of Fortville will kick off the holiday season with a free event called Winterfest. Some activities include a parade, photos with Santa, ice skating, a petting zoo, an ice sculptor and more.
The 2018 Winterfest Parade will begin at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park by Fortville Community Center. It will travel west on Church Street, south on Main Street, east on Pearl Street and north on Noel Avenue.
Last year’s parade featured bands, horses, floats and Santa.
Performances by the Fortville Winterfest Snowflake Princesses and the Fortville Winterfest Ice Ninjas also will be part of the event. Local musician Joe Hess will perform on the stage at 1:30 p.m., and local church and school choirs also will perform throughout the day. The main stage is on Main Street across from the post office.
Milda Sterrett, president of the Fortville Action Inc., which organizes Winterfest, said Santa will have a house at the event.
“One of the building owners has a small building that’s empty (downtown) and allowed us to go in, and we’ve painted it and turned that into Santa’s house,” she said. “That will be open for pictures.”
Craft vendors will sell items such as wooden toys, and food will be for sale. A truck selling lattes and cappuccinos also will be present.
The petting zoo will be at Studio 309 on Noel Street. Sterrett said because the ice-skating rink was popular last year, it is being offered again. Parents can purchase a wristband at the Fortville Action booth the day of the event. The wristband is good for all activities. A price has not yet been set for the wristbands.
The tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. on Main Street. Carriage rides with two different routes will be offered throughout the day.
For more, visit fortvilleaction.com.
MCCORDSVILLE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
The Town of McCordsville’s annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will be from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. Dec. 5 at McCordsville Town Hall, 6280 W 800 N. Although the schedule for the evening hasn’t been determined, several events will happen. The McCordsville Elementary School choir, the middle school band and a folk group called Sugar Cream Pie will perform throughout the evening. Snacks and crafts will be offered, and Santa will arrive at some point during the evening. The event will conclude with the lighting of the Town Hall Christmas Tree. A McCordsville Elementary School student will light the tree. Visit Town of McCordsville on Facebook for schedule updates.
Celebrating the holidays with pets
Local residents’ four-legged friends can celebrate the holidays with their owners. The City of Fishers will offer Pet Pictures with Santa from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, 6 Municipal Dr.
The photos will be printed on-site and will be available for purchase from Smiling Dog Photography. Pets must be kept on a leash.
For more, visit playfishers.com.
