Plenty of towns hang wreaths on the light poles and call it Christmas. These six Indiana Christmas towns build whole weekends around it, with parades, drive-through lights, Santa visits and shops that make the drive worth it. They run from Carmel, a short drive north, to Santa Claus, about three hours southwest.
Staying closer to home? Our guide to holiday fun in Indianapolis covers lights, Santa and events around town, and our list of day trips from Indianapolis has more ideas for the rest of the year. Our list of small-town Christmas festivals covers festival days in eight other towns, from Bridgeton to Lebanon, Ohio.
Indiana Christmas Towns: 2026 Dates at a Glance
- Santa Claus: Santa Claus Christmas Celebration, the first three weekends of December, with kickoff events Thanksgiving weekend and the parade Dec. 12, 2026
- Carmel: Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Nov. 21 to Dec. 24, 2026
- Shipshewana: Lights of Joy, Nov. 10 to Dec. 31, 2026
- Madison: Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes, Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 4 and 5, 2026
- French Lick: Season of Lights at French Lick Resort, Nov. 14, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027
- Nashville: Brown County Christkindl Market, Dec. 4 to 6, 2026
1. Santa Claus
Santa Claus, Ind., takes its name seriously all year, and December is its busy season. The Santa Claus Post Office is the only post office with the Santa Claus name, and in December it hand-cancels mail with the Santa Claus postmark. At the Santa Claus Museum & Village, kids can write a free letter to Santa at the Original Santa Claus Post Office. Santa’s elves write back in December if the letter includes a full address.
The Santa Claus Christmas Celebration fills the first three weekends of December, with kickoff events Thanksgiving weekend. The parade is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. Santa’s TOYS hosts a free live reindeer event Nov. 28 and 29, 2026, and the Candy Castle roasts chestnuts for free on Saturday nights. After dark, the Santa Claus Land of Lights is a 1.2-mile drive-through at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph that tells the story of Rudolph in LED light scenes.
Holiday World’s season ended Nov. 1, 2026, so the theme park is closed for Christmas visits.
If You Go: Santa Claus
- Drive time from Indy: About three hours southwest. Santa Claus is on Central time, an hour behind Indianapolis, and the times below are Central.
- Santa Claus Christmas Celebration: The first three weekends of December, with kickoff events Nov. 27 to 29, 2026. The parade is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026; park at the Santa Claus Community Center and walk to Patricia Koch Drive. Santa Claus Christmas event guide
- Santa Claus Land of Lights: Enter at the main entrance of Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph on State Road 245, about 200 yards past the Holiday World entrance. It’s open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6, 2026, then nightly Dec. 11 to 23, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m., and closed Dec. 24 and 25. Admission is $20 per vehicle for up to 14 people, paid by cash or card at the entrance. Santa Claus Land of Lights
- Santa’s Candy Castle: 15499 N. State Road 245. Open daily Nov. 27 to Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 to 31, 2026; closed Dec. 24 and 25, 2026. Free chestnut roasting at 6 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 2026. Santa’s Candy Castle hours
- Santa Claus Museum & Village: 69 N. State Route 245. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit Nov. 27 to Dec. 20, 2026, Fridays noon to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; photos with your own phone are free. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Santa Claus Museum & Village
- Santa’s TOYS: 3 N. Kringle Place. Free live reindeer event 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026. Santa Claus Christmas favorites
- Santa Claus Post Office: 45 N. Kringle Place. Santa Claus postmark available in December.
- More info: Spencer County Visitors Bureau
2. Carmel
The Carmel Christkindlmarkt is the reason Carmel makes this list. The German-style market on Carter Green draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a season, and USA Today 10Best readers have named it the No. 1 holiday market in the country five times. Wooden huts sell German-made ornaments and gifts, and the drink stands pour Glühwein and Glühbier. The collectible boot mugs are sold only at the market while supplies last, and every past edition has sold out.
Entry, parking and entertainment are free; you pay for food, drinks, gifts and skating. The Ice at Carter Green is one of the outdoor rinks in our guide to ice skating in Indianapolis. The city adds its own Santa events, starting with a Nov. 21, 2026, kick-off that ends with the city tree lighting at the market.
If You Go: Carmel
- Drive time from Indy: 30 minutes or less from most Indy-area neighborhoods.
- Carmel Christkindlmarkt: Nov. 21 to Dec. 24, 2026, on Carter Green. Wednesdays and Thursdays 4 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays noon to 9 p.m., Sundays noon to 8 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, except Dec. 21 and 22, 2026, and closed Thanksgiving. Special hours: noon to 9 p.m. Nov. 25 and Dec. 21 to 23, 2026; noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 24, 2026. Free entry and parking. Christkindlmarkt hours
- The Ice at Carter Green: Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027. Skating and skate rental cost extra. The Ice at Carter Green
- Holidays in Carmel Kick-off: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, in downtown Carmel and along the Monon Greenway, with Santa and reindeer. The tree lighting at the market is 6 to 6:45 p.m. Holidays in Carmel Kick-off
- Santa Saturdays: Dec. 5 and 12, 2026, 2 to 5 p.m., Santa’s House, 200 S. Range Line Road. Free. Santa Saturdays
- Santa Tours: Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Nov. 22 to Dec. 13, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m., on a posted neighborhood route each night. Santa Tours routes
Related Article: 9 Outdoor Christmas Markets and Christkindlmarkts in Indiana (2026)
3. Shipshewana
Horse-drawn buggies share the road with cars in Shipshewana during the holidays, and this Amish country town in northern Indiana stacks its season with lights, shows and Santa.
Shipshewana’s Lights of Joy is a drive-through with more than 2 million LED lights along a route of almost 2 miles, open nightly from Nov. 10 to Dec. 31, 2026, except Thanksgiving. For displays closer to home, see our list of the best Christmas lights in Indianapolis. Back in town, the Blue Gate Music Hall stages “The Christmas Rush the Musical,” and Santa visits the Blue Gate for free on December Saturdays.
If You Go: Shipshewana
- Drive time from Indy: About three hours north.
- Gingerbread Village: On view at E&S Sales from Nov. 6 to Dec. 5, 2026, during store hours.
- Shipshewana’s Lights of Joy: Nov. 10 to Dec. 31, 2026. Sundays through Thursdays 6 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 6 to 10 p.m.; cars in line by closing time get in. Closed Thanksgiving; call 260-768-4725 to confirm Christmas week. $30 per vehicle, or $120 for a five-visit season pass. Enter from State Route 5 (Van Buren Street). Shipshewana’s Lights of Joy
- “The Christmas Rush the Musical”: Nov. 5, 2026, to Jan. 2, 2027, Blue Gate Music Hall. $39.95 plus fees; all sales final. The Christmas Rush tickets
- Breakfast with Santa: Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 2026, Blue Gate Restaurant. $29.99 adults, $14.99 kids 11 and under; reserved seating. Breakfast with Santa
- Free Santa visits: Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 2026, 3 to 7:30 p.m., at the Blue Gate. Bring your own camera; there is no photographer. Santa visits
- Buggy rides: Shipshewana Buggy Rides on the boardwalk near Harrison Street; lighted carriage rides by reservation. Shipshewana Buggy Rides
- More info: Visit Shipshewana Christmas page; Visitor Center, 350 S. Van Buren St., Suite H
4. Madison
Madison makes an easy family getaway on the Ohio River, and its historic Main Street does Christmas the small-town way, with lit storefronts, shop open houses and a decorated fountain. Visit Madison calls the season Merry Madison. The best-known event is the Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes, which opens 11 tour sites plus a bonus stop over two weekends.
Downtown shops hold a Holiday Open House Nov. 13 and 14, 2026, with Santa, lights and cookie stops. The Merry Madison calendar also includes Light Up Madison, A Very Merry Madison Christmas Parade and A Very Merry Madison Christmas Celebration at the Broadway Fountain, plus Santa visits and holiday concerts.
If You Go: Madison
- Drive time from Indy: About two hours southeast.
- Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes: Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 4 and 5, 2026. Fridays 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 3 to 9 p.m.; no Sunday tours. Tickets are $35; kids 5 to 12 are $5. Online sales add fees, and tickets are nonrefundable. Tickets work on any of the four nights and are will-call only, picked up at the Visit Madison Visitors Center, 601 W. First St. Nights Before Christmas tour
- Holiday Open House: Nov. 13 and 14, 2026, downtown shops, with Santa and a Letter to Santa drawing. Madison Main Street Holiday Open House
- Light Up Madison: 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, at the Broadway Fountain, with Santa and the mayor.
- A Very Merry Madison Christmas: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at the Broadway Fountain and Main Street, with a holiday market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the parade from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a celebration with free kids’ crafts, Santa and his reindeer from noon to 3 p.m.
- Santa Fly-In: Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, at Madison Regional Airport. Free.
- More info: Merry Madison holiday events; Visit Madison, 601 W. First St.
5. French Lick
French Lick Resort decorates both of its historic hotels, French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel, for its Season of Lights, Nov. 14, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027. Expect a half-million holiday lights, two tree lightings and a Christmas Village built around the resort’s gingerbread house. West Baden lights its 45-foot atrium tree Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, and French Lick Springs follows Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, with fireworks and holiday projections.
Kids can hear Christmas stories from Mrs. Claus on Saturdays and visit Santa at Spring No. 8 from Thanksgiving weekend through Dec. 19, 2026 (both free), then spend a day at the Christmas Carnival Dec. 19 to 26, 2026. The holiday train in town is The Polar Express at the French Lick Scenic Railway, which runs separately from the resort. First Class and Dome Class are sold out, and the railway says many dates sell out early. Our guide to holiday train rides in Indiana has other options.
If You Go: French Lick
- Drive time from Indy: About two hours south.
- Season of Lights: Nov. 14, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, at French Lick Resort, 8670 W. State Road 56. Holiday projections run nightly Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, 6 to 9 p.m., on the French Lick Springs Hotel front lawn. Season of Lights schedule
- Tree lightings: West Baden Springs Hotel, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in the atrium, with kids’ crafts 2 to 6 p.m. and Santa and Mrs. Claus 3 to 6 p.m. French Lick Springs Hotel, 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, on the Casino Front Lawn, followed by fireworks.
- Christmas Village: Daily Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, Event Center second level. Build Your Own Gingerbread House, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Dec. 5 and 12, 2026, $25.
- Santa and Mrs. Claus: Santa at Spring No. 8 in French Lick Springs Hotel Nov. 27 and 28, 2026, then Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19, 2026. Story Time with Mrs. Claus, Saturdays, Nov. 28 to Dec. 19, 2026. Letters to Santa, daily Nov. 1 to Dec. 13, 2026. All free.
- Christmas Carnival: Dec. 19 to 26, 2026, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $20 per person for ages 5 and up, adults included; free for 4 and under.
- Horse-drawn carriage rides: Saturdays, Nov. 14, 21 and 28, 2026, and Fridays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m., from 281 W. Washington St. $40 per carriage for up to six riders. French Lick West Baden events
- The Polar Express: French Lick Scenic Railway, 8594 W. State Road 56. $45 to $115 depending on class and date, plus fees. First Class and Dome Class are sold out, and the railway says many dates sell out early. Tickets are nonrefundable. The Polar Express in French Lick
6. Nashville
Nashville, about an hour south of Indianapolis, saves its big Christmas weekend for the start of December. The Brown County Christkindl Market sets up in Coachlight Square Dec. 4 to 6, 2026, with gift booths, live music, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a Christkindl Market Angel. Columbus’ Kidscommons children’s museum hosts the family booth. Entry is free, and the visitors bureau says to park early, since spots around town fill up fast. Restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, breweries and distilleries across Nashville add holiday menu items for the Nutcracker Nosh from mid-November to mid-December, and a map leads you from stop to stop.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, has the fullest family schedule. Breakfast with Santa runs 8 to 11 a.m. at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park, the market opens at 10 a.m. and the Salvation Army Light Parade comes through downtown at 6:30 p.m. That night is also one of four for Winter Wonderland, the Jackson Township Fire Department’s free self-guided light trail, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot dogs and hot chocolate.
If You Go: Nashville
- Drive time from Indy: About an hour south.
- Brown County Christkindl Market: Dec. 4 to 6, 2026, at Coachlight Square, 211 S. Van Buren St. Friday 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free entry.
- Breakfast with Santa: 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, Abe Martin Lodge, Brown County State Park, 1405 State Road 46 W. $15.99 adults, $8.99 ages 4 to 10, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are recommended at 812-988-4418, and a park gate fee may apply.
- Salvation Army Light Parade: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, downtown Nashville. Free. Organizers ask for new, unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army Toy Shoppe.
- Winter Wonderland: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12, 2026, Jackson Township Fire Department Station 5, Helmsburg Road. Free.
- More info: Brown County winter getaways; Visitors Center, 211 S. Van Buren St.
