Southern Indiana shines during the holidays with dozens of opportunities to revel in the small-town charm of a quaint Christmas celebration. Make your list and check it twice – these are just a sampling of the holiday happenings you and your family won’t want to miss.
Shopping
Get your holiday shopping underway before it’s time to carve the turkey with these festive opportunities to whip out your wallet.
36th Annual Huntingburg Christmas Stroll, Nov. 6-13 Stroll through the Victorian-era historic district and take in the decorated storefronts, or pop into the eclectic local businesses for one-of-a-kind gifting.
Patoka Lake Winery Girl’s Day Out, Nov. 12 Sorry, fellas; this one's for the girls. Grab a glass of wine or a wine slushy and shop ‘til you drop from an array of wine-and food-themed gifts and home decor.
25th Annual Ferdinand Christkindlmarkt, Nov. 19 - 20 Shop from over 200 lavishly decorated booths offering a variety of handmade items, antiques, and delicious regional food, and take in seasonal entertainment including the Monastery Bell Choir, Marionette Theater, and more.
Loogootee Christmas Parade and Stroll, Nov. 27 Enjoy refreshments and great specials and discounts from local vendors before taking in the holiday parade.
Santa Visits
Even with Santa’s busy holiday schedule, he makes time to make several visits to the region to spread holiday cheer.
Visit Santa at French Lick West Baden, Saturdays from Nov. 26 until Dec. 17 After sharing your Christmas wishes with Mr. Claus, enjoy cookies and cocoa, holiday music and a candy cane scavenger hunt at the French Lick Visitor Center.
Jasper O’Tannenbaum Days, Dec. 2-4 Take in all things holly and jolly with not only Mr. Claus himself, but also carriage rides, a cookie walk and the Holiday Bazaar.
Indiana Rail Road Santa Train, Dec. 2-4 Meet both Santa and Mrs. Claus when the bright red train rolls into town and stops for visits with locals. The train will visit multiple towns, so be sure to check the schedule to find the best location for you!
Annual Christmas on the Square, Dec. 10 Head to Orleans for the ultimate holiday celebration, featuring horse and carriage rides, a telling of the Christmas story, a childrens’ train ride, Santa visits and lots of holiday treats.
One-of-a-Kind Experiences
Start a new holiday tradition with these adventurous, outside-the-box events
Caroling in a Cave, Dec. 11 Marengo Cave’s year round 52 degree temperature will feel downright balmy on a cold winter night. Descend to the cave’s underground Music Hall for seasonal tunes performed by local artists.
Wilstem Winter Fest, Nov. 11- Dec. 31 Drive through the beautiful covered bridge adorned with holiday lights and venture into a winter wonderland with magical light displays, a Victorian Holiday scene, multiple animal families, the Candy Factory and more.
Craft Show at Pioneer Village, Nov. 5 Step back in time at Spring Mill State Park’s Pioneer Village. During this annual craft fair, each building in the historic, 1800s-era village will host vendors selling unique, one-of-a-kind finds
French Lick Resort 50 Days of Lights, Nov. 12 - Jan. 9 With more than half a million lights adorning the property and a packed calendar of events including tree lighting ceremonies, letters to Santa, holiday movies, and much more, this stunning resort is the perfect place to revel in holiday cheer.
And all season long, warm up with a cup of holiday cheer at one of the many stops on Discover Southern Indiana’s Sweets and Treats Trail! Coffee, hot chocolate, and delicious sweets are the perfect way to treat yourself this season.
For more things to do this holiday season in Southern Indiana, explore our events calendar.
