Every year, world-class attractions devoted to sports, art, science, history and other aspects draw hundreds of thousands of people to central Indiana.
You can see an original masterpiece painting by Rembrandt, see the fossilized dinosaur skeleton and walk through one of the most complex habitats for endangered orangutans in the world.
At its most famous venue, the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway attracts about 300,000 people every May for the “greatest spectacle in racing.”
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But this December, some of central Indiana most culturally significant institutions are decking the halls and lighting up in a different way.
In celebration of the holiday season, museums, zoos and even a raceway transform into a winter wonderland. Special light displays and decorations have been planned to illuminate your favorite places in an entirely new way.
“People really enjoy the traditional aspect of it,” said Carla Knapp, spokeswoman for the Indianapolis Zoo. “We have generations of families who come. Parents brought their children, and now those children have their own kids. Christmas is a time for traditions, and families want to pass those down.”
Christmas at the Zoo
Where: Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington St.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. today through Sunday, Dec. 14 to 23, 26 to 30
Cost: Depends on day; adults range from $10.45 to $12.45; seniors age 62 and up, $9.45 to $11.45; children ages 2 to 12 $7.95 to $9.45; children younger than 2 free.
What: In 1967, when the Indianapolis Zoo became the first zoo in the country to put up a holiday light display, it consisted of a few strands of lights and decorations scattered throughout the attraction.
Now, guests can wander through hundreds of unique light creations, all made out of 100 percent energy efficient LED lights. Spot tropical fish, a brilliant peacock and other animal favorites while enjoying seasonal entertainment throughout the zoo.
Visitors also are encouraged to keep an eye out for the mistletoe, as 10 bunches of the festive plant have been hidden throughout the zoo. People who register at the gift shop and find at least five of the bunches during their visit will be registered for an animal art adventure.
Lights at the Brickyard
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 31.
Cost: Standard admission per vehicle up to 14 passengers, $25 Monday through Wednesday, $30 Thursday through Sunday; a speedy pass for quicker access is available for online for $50 and on-site for $60.
What: Driving on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s famed oval is typically reserved for the best of the best in racing. But this Christmas season, the speedway will open up to car-loads of people to savor a lighted extravaganza.
This is the first year for the Lights at the Brickyard event, and organizers have put up more than 2 million lights to turn the country’s most exciting raceway into an interactive family experience. More than 400 displays will make up a series of 40 scenes, as cars traverse a 1.7-mile course around the oval and road course.
Christmas at the Lilly House: Holiday in Bloom
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art Oldfields-Lilly House, 4000 Michigan Ave.
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 8.
Cost: $18 for adults, $10 for youth ages 6 to 17, free for children 5 and younger.
What: For those looking for a taste of historical holiday sophistication, the Indianapolis Museum of Art has created festive floral creations to fill the entire Oldfields-Lilly House. Formerly the residence of wealthy businessman J.K. Lilly, the house radiates early 20th century charm. Museum officials have traditionally decorated the home for the Christmas season, but have focused on natural accents this year as a theme.
Visitors will find winter bulbs and holiday floral arrangements upon entering the home, with displays of poinsettias, amaryllises, cyclamens and paper-whites set up throughout the many rooms of the mansion. Spiraling vertical gardens will climb the main staircase, and landscaped herbs will fill the kitchen. Pine, cedar, and spruce boughs carry the scent of the holidays from room to room.
Festival of Trees
Where: Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 24.
Cost: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors age 60 and older, $5 for youth ages 5 to 17 and free for children younger than 5.
What: Few symbols of the season are as recognizable as the Christmas tree, and every year at the Indiana History Center, organizations from throughout Indiana take advantage of their creativity to put their own unique spin on the evergreen tree.
This year’s Festival of Trees is bigger than ever before, with 72 uniquely decorated trees from organizations ranging from the Indiana Pacers to the Indianapolis Public Library to Ray Skillman Ford, the Greenwood-based car dealership. Other activities, such as a daily holiday sing-a-long and visits from a vintage Santa Claus, will be featured throughout the exhibits run.
Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure
Where: Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 16; closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Cost: $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, $7 for children ages 5 to 17, free for kids under 5.
What: At the annual Jingle Rails display, nine different trains run simultaneously on more than 1,000 feet of track. Along the way, the trains run past, over and through painstakingly recreated models of Yellowstone National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Las Vega strip.
The display features a local flavor as well, with recreations of Lucas Oil Stadium and Monument Circle that tie central Indiana back to the rest of the country. Jingle Rails is the Eiteljorg’s most popular attractions, which drew more than 44,000 people last year.
