My family just loves everything about the holidays. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, there are just too many activities and events and things to do and see, and I just want to do them all! While Indianapolis has tons of amazing holiday events, I love finding new places to go during this time of the year to make memories with my family because we remember these experiences more than the presents they get on Christmas. And let me tell you, there are some spectacular Midwest Christmas destinations and holiday experiences within a few hours’ drive.
Holiday Experiences Worth the Drive
15 Midwest Christmas Destinations & Holiday Experiences
This list is filled with some family-friendly attractions that will leave you with treasured holiday memories. As the kids get older, it’s no longer impossible to drive a couple of hours and back or to get away for a long weekend. You may have experienced all that Indianapolis has to offer and want to try something new. People come from far away to experience these magical Midwest Christmas destinations, but we’re luckily just a short road trip away! Please let us know if you do visit any of these Midwest Christmas destinations or holiday experiences. We’d love to hear about your experience! Happy Holidays from our family to yours.
INDIANA
Fair Oaks Farms Forest of Lights
856 N 600 E, Fair Oaks, IN 47943
The Forest of Lights trail has returned to Fair Oaks Farms. This year, more lighted scenes have been added to the trail including lit-up tractors. Santa will visit the trail on Sundays. Additional outdoor winter activities include an ice-skating rink and a large 135-foot tube slide. Please note that skate rental starts at youth size 9, and riders must be at least 42” tall for the tubing hill.
Hungry after your walk through the woods? Visit the Farmhouse restaurant for some food. You can even eat outside in a private igloo! Fairfield Suites is located right next door to the Farmhouse Restaurant and is connected by a breezeway. One of the closest Midwest Christmas destinations to Indianapolis, this holiday experience can be a quick day trip!
Extend your stay with a trip to Harvest Tyme in nearby Lowell, right off I-65, to enjoy their drive-through light display.
A Christmas Story Comes Home
7770 Corinne Dr, Hammond, IN 46323
If you are a fan of the film “A Christmas Story,” your family will love this FREE attraction at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond near the Illinois border. Every holiday season, the Welcome Center transforms with displays of scenes from the movie, decorated Christmas trees, and holiday-themed events and activities. They have the best Santa who sits on top of a mountain, like in the movie, and you can even ride down the slide like Ralphie after your visit.
There is a fee for the picture with Santa and reservations can be made online. Walk-ins are accepted if there is availability. You can also visit a fun gift shop and a drop box where you can mail letters to Santa.
French Lick
French Lick, Indiana
French Lick is full of ways to celebrate the holidays. The French Lick Scenic Railway’s Polar Express is a popular attraction during the winter (it’s the most authentic holiday train ride, in my opinion!) At the Wilstem Wildlife Park, you can enjoy the Twilight Drive Thru and Light Show or the Winter Fest Light Show. Explore the French Lick Springs and West Baden Resorts to see their beautiful decorations.
You don’t have to stay at French Lick or West Baden Resorts to visit. The West Baden Resort features sparkling lights, indoors and out, and a giant Christmas tree in its center atrium. At the French Lick Springs Resort, you can enjoy a holiday light show, a beautiful Christmas Tree in the lobby, holiday scenes, an area to write to Santa, a reindeer barn display, a large life-size gingerbread house, a scavenger hunt, and visits with Santa. French Lick Resort is a popular Midwest Christmas destination and people come from far away to experience the magic!
ILLINOIS
Navy Pier
Chicago, Illinois
Navy Pier’s Light Up The Lake runs until January 5 and features more than 600,000 lights. Race down the new exhilarating ice slide, try your hand at axe throwing, take a spin on the Pier Park rides, like the iconic Centennial Wheel, and cozy up to firepits in the Beer Garden.
Explore craft workshops, shop at local holiday artisan markets, skate on the outdoor ice skating rink, meet and greet with Santa, and more. Fireworks shows are on Saturdays, with a new holiday-themed drone show.
Downtown Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is magical in the winter. A favorite holiday tradition is watching Mickey and Minnie Mouse and their friends light up the trees along Michigan Ave the weekend before Thanksgiving. Throughout the holiday season, visit the Macy’s window display on State Street. View the big Christmas tree at Millenium Park, then go ice skating at the rink there or at the skating ribbon at nearby Maggie Daley Park.
Stroll outdoor light displays at both The Chicago Botanic Garden and Lincoln Park Zoo. At Wrigley Field, Gallagher Way has a Winterland filled with free events, an ice-skating rink on the field, and a Christkindlmarkt. Finally, the Museum of Science and Industry features its “Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light” exhibit, showcasing more than 50 trees that represent a variety of countries and cultures. Chicago is full of holiday experiences and is one of the best Midwest Christmas destinations!
KENTUCKY
ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum
2800 Bullittsburg Church Rd, Petersburg, KY 41080
The Creation Museum offers a free Christmas event, open to the public. Just pay $1 for parking after 4 pm. ChristmasTown features light displays throughout the garden and an array of lights illuminating Noah’s Ark. There are many free activities to enjoy including a live nativity scene, Christmas concerts, carousel rides, and the Encounter the Wonder Show.
You can also enjoy the nightly animal show and visit the animals at the Ararat Ridge Zoo which includes a kangaroo walkabout and petting area. For $10, children 17 and under can even ride on a camel, weather permitting. The Ark Encounter Gift Shop will be open and festive refreshments will be available for purchase.
Lights Under Louisville at Louisville Mega Cavern
1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213
The Lights Under Louisville are worth making an annual tradition. Located at the Louisville Mega Cavern, this attraction transforms the impressive giant caverns into a winter wonderland of more than five million lights and shows. Some family favorites are the Disney, dinosaurs, and Despicable Me/Minions displays. On weekend evenings, it gets very busy and waits can be long. Beat the crowds by visiting the cave during the day, during the week, or after Christmas. If you’re looking for a unique holiday experience, the Lights Down Under is probably the most unique Midwest Christmas destinations I can think of!
MICHIGAN
Detroit Area
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is ready for the holidays! Bring the family to the Detroit Zoo for Wild Lights to see animal-themed light displays and a light tunnel. Hit the ice at The Rink at Campus Martius Park. Catch shows like “Home Alone in Concert” or the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.” In nearby Dearborn, take a ride on a Model T and explore historic homes during the Holiday of Lights at Greenfield Village.
MISSOURI
Downtown St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
There are many opportunities to enjoy the holidays in St. Louis. At the St. Louis Aquarium, you can see Scuba Claus and his elf underwater on the weekends during the 1:15 pm dive show in Shark Canyon. Union Station is filled with holiday-themed activities, including a Polar Express Train ride to the North Pole. Head to the Soda Fountain to enjoy a Grinch shake.
The Budweiser Brewery hosts Brewery Lights, featuring festive activities and a nightly parade where you can see floats, a trolley, and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. At the Missouri Botanical Garden, Garden Glow features over 2 million lights and different illuminated displays and holiday exhibits. The St. Louis Zoo’s Wild Lights features twinkling light displays, kids’ activities, a 40-foot walk-through lighted tree, and dynamic photo opportunities.
OHIO
Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio and Newport, Kentucky
Turn a trip to Cincinnati into a holiday adventure. Watch Santa scuba dive with the sand sharks at the Newport Aquarium on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. If you love model train displays, visit the Cincinnati Museum Center and see their Holiday Junction Exhibit. Follow the holiday trains through different scenes including Brickopolis, where scenes from Star Wars, an amusement park, a medieval village, and local landmarks are built out of LEGO Bricks.
The Cincinnati Zoo is celebrating with its annual PNC Festival of Lights. The zoo will be illuminated with 5 million LED lights, a blacklit puppet show, and a Wild Lights Show on Swan Lake.
Kings Island Winterfest
6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH 45040
Kings Island Winterfest is consistently voted as one of the top amusement park holiday events in the country by USA Today readers, year after year. There are more than 7 million lights throughout Kings Island and the park’s icon, the Eiffel Tower, is transformed into a 314-foot-tall Christmas tree. During Winterfest, guests can go ice skating on the Royal Fountain, go on about 20 of the park’s rides, and enjoy the Wonderland Parade and live entertainment throughout the park. Winterfest is open on select nights in November and December.
Great Wolf Lodge
2501 Great Wolf Dr, Mason, OH 45040
Families love spending time at the Great Wolf Lodge. During the holidays, the Great Wolf Lodge transforms into a ‘Snowland’ where you can visit with Santa and partake in winter-themed festivities. Participate in the scavenger hunt, bingo, trivia, competition games, crafts, and a frosty dance party.
TENNESSEE
Gaylord Opryland
2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
Staying at the Gaylord Opryland in December has been one of the family’s favorite holiday trips. The resort is gorgeous, and you can spend hours walking around the different conservatories and viewing the gardens and water features. In the Delta Conservatory, you can find a 48-foot Christmas tree, a scavenger hunt, pictures with Santa, a gingerbread house-making station, and the Delta River Boat ride. See the Christmas Tree Parade at the Cascades Conservatory, featuring trees decorated by country music stars.
Of course, you have to visit Ice. In this year’s Ice experience, beloved scenes from Frosty the Snowman are brought to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures. It is a brisk 9 degrees inside the attraction, but you’ll be loaned a parka. Believe it or not, this is just a sample of holiday festivities at The Gaylord Opryland! The many offerings at Gaylord Opryland make it one of the best Midwest Christmas destinations! Check out their website for a full description of all the family fun.
Dollywood
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
The Smoky Mountains are just magical in the winter, partly due to all the Christmas decorations and light displays in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. But the best place to experience Christmas in the Smoky Mountains has to be Dollywood.
At the park, you will see more than 6 million twinkling lights, ride the Dollywood Express train ride, visit Santa’s village, and view holiday shows like “Christmas in the Smokies” and “Appalachian Christmas.” Enjoy the light displays throughout the park including Glacier Ridge and purchase holiday-themed concessions. Complete your trip with a stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa, which is also beautifully decorated for the holiday season.
WISCONSIN
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva, WI
Lake Geneva is great in the summer, but it’s also becoming one of the top Midwest Christmas destinations. Visit the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa for the annual Christmas in the County celebration. Gaze at two million Christmas lights, indoors and out, including a 12 Days of Christmas drive-through light show. Have Breakfast with Santa, take a trolley tour, admire professional and amateur masterpieces on the Gingerbread House Walk, or reserve an igloo for dinner.
You also don’t want to miss the Santa Cruises on Lake Geneva. Board the Christmas cruise boat, decked out in holiday lights and decorations, for an enchanting tour of the holiday lights on the lake. Sneak a peek at the shoreline for Santa Claus himself, and hear your child’s name read from his nice list! If you go on a weekday, Kids Eat Free! That’s right kids eat free at PIER 290 during the Santa Cruise.
Looking for holiday magic closer to home? Check out all our favorite Indy traditions!
Have you been to any of these Midwest Christmas destinations? What are your favorites? Share comments and photos of the best Midwest Christmas destinations with us below, or tag us on social media using #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the best ideas and things to do with kids in Indy!
