Get ready to welcome the holiday season with the best free holiday festivals in and around Indianapolis. From dazzling Christmas lights and Santa parades to live music and artisan markets, these family-friendly events make it easy to celebrate without spending a dime. Browse our picks by date to find tree lightings, neighborhood celebrations, and festive pop-ups all season long.
Free Holiday Festivals (2025)
Christmas in Pendleton
- Date: November 8, 2025
- Time: 9 am – 4 pm
- Where: Town of Pendleton, 100 West State Street, Pendleton
Think classic small-town holiday: reindeer visits, kids’ train rides, and more than 100 vendors tucked along decorated streets. The parade and evening tree lighting are community favorites, with plenty of photo stops in between as Christmas in Pendleton opens the season.
Holidays in Carmel Kick-off
- Date: November 22, 2025
- Time: All day (check schedule)
- Where: Carmel Main Street, Carmel
Morning to night, downtown hums with Santa and reindeer meet-ups, street entertainment, and storefront sparkle. Families can pop in and out of activities at their own pace as Holidays in Carmel ushers in the city’s festive stretch.
Carmel Christkindlmarkt
- Dates: November 22 – December 24, 2025
- Time: Wed–Thu 4–9 pm; Fri–Sat 12–9 pm; Sun 12–8 pm
- Where: Carter Green, 10 Carter Green, Carmel
Lantern-lit huts, live music, and irresistible smells from the food stands set a European market mood. Admission is free, so you can browse and listen as long as you like while the Carmel Christkindlmarkt anchors the heart of Carter Green.
Circle of Lights
- Date: November 28, 2025
- Time: 7 pm – 11 pm
- Where: Monument Circle, 1 Monument Circle, Indianapolis
Join thousands on Monument Circle for live performances and the big countdown. When the switch flips and Circle of Lights illuminates the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, it feels like the whole city gasps at once.
Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt
- Dates: November 28–30; select December dates
- Time: Fri 4–8 pm; Sat 11 am–8 pm; Sun 11 am–5 pm
- Where: The Athenaeum, 401 E Michigan St, Indianapolis
Artisan makers, carols, glühwein, and raclette bring Old World charm to a landmark Indy building. Little traditions (St. Nick, Krampus sightings) mix with modern holiday shopping as the Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt fills the courtyard.
Bridgeton County Christmas
- Dates: November 28–30, 2025 (repeats into December)
- Time: All day
- Where: Bridgeton Historic District, 8088 S Bridgeton Rd, Rosedale
A covered bridge, a historic mill, and rows of handmade goods make this a scenic shopping day trip. Grab cocoa, wander the village, and find gifts with a story at Bridgeton County Christmas.
Clearview Family Christmas Tree Farm Artisans Festival
- Dates: November 28–30, and December 5-7, 2025
- Time: All day
- Where: Clearview Family Christmas Tree Farm, 8451 W 100 S, Arlington
Shop one-of-a-kind, handcrafted finds surrounded by evergreens and farm views. The Artisans Festival channels a beloved 1970s arts tradition with a cozy, family-run feel.
Christmas in the Village – Parade & Tree Lighting
- Date: November 29, 2025
- Time: 5 pm – 6:30 pm
- Where: Main Street, Downtown Zionsville
Main Street fills with bands, floats, and bundled-up spectators as the evening parade winds through the brick streets. Stay for the countdown as Christmas in the Village lights the town tree.
Merry at Main (Whitestown)
- Date: November 29, 2025
- Time: 5 pm – 7 pm
- Where: Main Street Park, 4286 S Main Street, Whitestown
A quick, easy outing with kids: lights, a Santa photo, and park time without a big crowd commitment. Simple, festive, and close to home—Merry at Main is perfect between dinner and bedtime.
A Lawrence Christmas
- Date: November 29, 2025
- Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
- Where: Lawrence Civic Plaza, 5710 Lawrence Village Pkwy, Indianapolis
Expect a lively parade, stage entertainment, and a bright tree lighting on the plaza. It’s a neighborhood-style celebration where you’ll likely bump into friends as A Lawrence Christmas wraps the night.
Enchanted Luminaria Walk at Minnetrista
- Dates: December 5–6, 2025
- Time: 5 pm – 9 pm
- Where: Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, 1284 N Minnetrista Pkwy, Muncie
Thousands of candlelit bags line garden paths, with live music carrying from spot to spot. Warm up with crafts and cocoa nooks as the Enchanted Luminaria Walk turns the grounds into a gentle glow.
Franklin Holiday Lighting
- Date: December 6, 2025
- Time: 8 am – 9 pm
- Where: Downtown Franklin
Spend the day browsing the winter market and catching performances around the square. As dusk settles, the courthouse backdrop makes the Franklin Holiday Lighting tree glow feel extra cinematic.
Victorian Christmas Celebration
- Date: December 6, 2025
- Time: 10 am – 4 pm
- Where: Downtown Mooresville
Carriage rides and costumed characters bring a storybook feel to Main Street. Little history lovers and grandparents especially enjoy the details at Victorian Christmas.
Fortville Winterfest
- Date: December 6, 2025
- Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
- Where: Downtown Fortville, Main Street
Artisan shopping, kids’ activities, and Santa sightings stack up into an easy all-day plan. Come midafternoon, the lights and music ramp up as Fortville Winterfest takes over Main Street.
Christmas Under the Stars
- Date: December 6, 2025
- Time: 6 pm
- Where: Downtown Brownsburg & Town Hall Green, 61 N Green St, Brownsburg
Start with the winter market, then stick around as the lights pop on across Town Hall Green. It’s the kind of hometown night Christmas Under the Stars is known for—simple, bright, and easy with kids.
Santa Soirée
- Date: December 6, 2025
- Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
- Where: Village Green (east side of Dick’s Sporting Goods)
Short, sweet, and packed: an elf band, crafts, and a tree lighting set a fun pace. Don’t miss the free pro portraits with Santa as the Santa Soirée wraps up at dusk.
Cumberland Weihnachtsmarkt
- Date: December 6, 2025
- Time: 11 am – 6 pm
- Where: Historic Cumberland (E. Washington St. from Muessing St. to S. Heflin St.)
German eats, vendor stalls, and live entertainment line a festive block of US-40. Bring a donation for the community drive if you can, and make a lap through the Cumberland Weihnachtsmarkt before sunset.
Broad Ripple Lights Up Holiday Festival
- Date: December 7, 2025
- Time: 3 pm – 6 pm
- Where: Broad Ripple Village, 818 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis
Crafts, Santa sightings, and neighborhood cheer make for an easy Sunday outing. Stick around as Broad Ripple Lights Up the village and storefronts glow to close the weekend.
Verification: All dates, times, and details were reviewed on November 5, 2025 using official organizer sources. Readers should confirm with the venue before visiting, as schedules may change due to weather or capacity.
