Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, is the day to circle in Nashville, Ind. Breakfast with Santa, the Brown County Christkindl Market, a free light trail and the Salvation Army Light Parade all fall on that one day, about an hour south of Indianapolis.
The market runs three days, Dec. 4 to 6, 2026, and the rest of Brown County’s Christmas stretches from mid-November to Dec. 20, 2026. Two market events are for ages 21 and up, so a sitter opens up Friday night or Saturday afternoon. Jump to the adults-only events
Brown County Christkindl Market 2026: Dates, Hours and What’s There
The Indy area has two German-style markets of its own, the Carmel Christkindlmarkt and the Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt, and both run for weeks. Brown County’s is over in three days.
The sixth annual market fills Coachlight Square with decorated booths of handmade gifts, live music, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a Christkindl Market Angel. Painted nutcrackers stand outside the shops around the market. Kids can head to the family booth, hosted by Kidscommons, the Columbus children’s museum. Holly Pots Stoneware is designing the 2026 market mug, which goes on sale to the public Saturday; the 2025 edition sold out quickly.
- Dates: Dec. 4-6, 2026
- Hours: Friday 3-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Where: Coachlight Square, 211 S. Van Buren St., Nashville
- Cost: Free admission
Parking is spread around Nashville, and the visitors bureau says to come early because spots fill up fast.
Saturday, Dec. 5, in Nashville: Breakfast with Santa to the Light Parade
8 to 11 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa
Abe Martin Lodge, 1405 State Road 46 W., inside Brown County State Park, sets out a buffet of eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, hash browns, sausage, cereal, fruit, yogurt, granola and oatmeal. Adults are $15.99 and kids 4 to 10 are $8.99, plus tax and gratuity. The lodge recommends reserving at 812-988-4418, and a park gate fee may apply.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Hog Wild Christmas Bazaar
More than 60 vendors set up at the Brown County 4-H Fairgrounds, 868 Memorial Drive, with food and drink trucks on site.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Christkindl Market
Saturday is the market’s longest day and the first day anyone can buy the 2026 mug. Runners and walkers have another option at 1 p.m., the Brown County YMCA’s 25th annual Reindeer Romp 5K and 8K in Brown County State Park, for $25 to $30.
6 to 8 p.m.: Winter Wonderland
Jackson Township Fire Department Station 5, on Helmsburg Road, sets up a self-guided trail of hundreds of lights, with music along the way. Santa and Mrs. Claus take kids’ requests, and there’s a fire to warm up by, plus hot dogs, hot chocolate, cookies and popcorn. It’s free. It also runs Dec. 4, 11 and 12, 2026, which makes it the easier one to move if the parade wins Saturday night.
6:30 p.m.: Salvation Army Light Parade
The parade moves through downtown Nashville and costs nothing to watch. The Salvation Army collects new, unwrapped toys for its Toy Shoppe, so tuck one in the car.
Between stops, the paved Salt Creek Trail is an easy three-quarter-mile walk from the Brown County YMCA toward Van Buren Street downtown, with a small playground along the way.
More Brown County Christmas Through December
“White Christmas” at the Brown County Playhouse
The Playhouse, 70 S. Van Buren St., stages “White Christmas” as live musical theater for nine performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 4 to 20, 2026. It’s an all-ages venue, and all sales are final. White Christmas tickets
Nutcracker Nosh
The Nutcracker Nosh is a food trail that runs from mid-November to mid-December. Nashville restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, breweries and distilleries each add limited-time holiday items, and a Nosh map shows who’s taking part.
Adults Only: Winter Haus and the Stein Holding Contest
Christkindl After Hours: The Winter Haus VIP Experience
This 21-and-over evening runs 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, once the market’s public hours end for the day. Tickets are $65 and space is limited. Winter Haus tickets include:
- An official market shirt
- Photos with the Christmas Royal Couple
- Music by Amanda Webb
- A holiday seasoning blend from Nashville Spice Company
- A glass of wine and charcuterie bites at Country Heritage Winery
- Two tacos and a Mistletoe Margarita, Reindeer Rum Cocktail or Merry Mocktail at Casa Del Sol
- Hot chocolate from Sweet Teas
VIP guests can also buy the market mug a day before the public, one mug per ticket.
Stein Holding Contest
Competitors must be 21 or older for the market’s first Stein Holding Contest, set for Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5, 2026, at a time that depends on how many enter. The $5 fee is nonrefundable, and the registration form asks for an emergency contact.
Under U.S. Steinholding Association rules, competitors hold a full 1-liter glass stein straight out in front with no bend in the elbow. The free hand can’t help, gloves and braces are banned, three strikes for bad form end your run and a single drip is an immediate disqualification. A Stein Champ T-shirt and a market gift bag go to the winner.
If the sitter can stay longer, our momcation guide to Nashville covers its wineries, distilleries and galleries.
Planning more of December? Our guide to holiday fun in Indianapolis has lights, Santa and shows closer to home.
Related Article: 6 Best Christmas Towns in Indiana (2026)
