Nearly 100 Things to Do with Kids During Winter Break in Indianapolis

It’s winter break in Indianapolis, the kids are all home from school, and you’re looking for things to do in Indy. The Indy with Kids website is packed with thousands of ideas, but we’ve narrowed down some of our favorites.

Things to do While the Kids Are On Winter Break In Indy

These activities are available throughout the break. Don’t forget about local events! Be sure to check out our activities calendar.

Holiday-Themed Activities in Indy

✩ Christmas Nights of Lights is a fully synchronized light display at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This event ends on January 1.
✩ Eat, shop, and play at the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. The market is open through December 30 and the Ice at Carter Green stays open until February 26.
✩ Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the whole family.
✩ See all of the Christmas lights in Indy
✩ Ride the Snowfall Express at Celebration Crossing at the State Museum. This event ends on January 1.
✩ Experience the final year of Jolly Days at the Children’s Museum. This event ends on January 1.
✩ See one of the country’s best zoo light displays at Christmas at the Zoo. This Indianapolis event ends on December 30.
✩ Head west with the Eiteljorg’s Jingle Rails exhibit. This event ends on January 16.
✩ See all the sparkles at the Festival of Trees at the Indiana History Center. This event ends on January 7.
✩ Watch the trains for hours at Conservatory Crossing at Garfield Park. This event ends on December 31.
✩ Watch the dancing lights on the Lilly House lawn at Newfield’s Winterlights. This event ends on January 8.

Indoor Activities

See our guide to places to play indoors in the Indy area!
✩ Go swimming or play at one of the many indoor pools, water slides, and aquatic centers.
✩ Try ice skating at an indoor ice rink or do some good old roller skating!
✩ Duckpin Bowling is an Indianapolis classic.
✩ Regular bowling is also fun!
✩ Make some music and learn about percussion instruments at Rhythm Discovery Center. 
✩ Conner Prairie’s indoor areas are open and the Discovery Station is a favorite for younger ones.
✩ Play at your favorite library. Some great spaces include the Greenwood Public Library, the Learning Curve at Central Library, Johnson County’s Clark Pleasant branch, and the Carmel Clay Public Library.
✩ Watch a movie at Flix Brewhouse or Studio Movie Grill.
✩ Host or attend a tea party.
✩ Cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate.
✩ Visit a candy shop for a sweet treat.
✩ Volunteer as a family with these year-round opportunities.
✩ Sign up for a kids’ class or drop in for a chocolate tasting at SoChatti.
✩ Visit a toy store.
✩ Peruse your favorite book store, like Indy Reads.
✩ Try a new board game and eat delicious treats at Doughnuts and Dragons.

Visit an Indoor Playground

✩ Explore and have fun at Kid City indoor play space in Greenwood. It’s great for most ages!
✩ Stop in for community play hours at Cornerstone Lutheran Church’s Indianapolis location.
✩ The Park Indoor Playground at Traders Point Church is located on the northwest side.
✩ The Treehouse at Plainfield Christian Church provides a whimsical indoor play space.
✩ The Well Community Center has a great indoor playground in Brownsburg.
✩ For indoor play in Fishers, head to the Indoor Play Area at Cornerstone Lutheran Church.
✩ Take a short drive to Anderson to run off some energy at the PlayZone.

Run, Jump, Climb, and Play

✩ Meet up with friends at an open gym at Indy Stars.
✩ Have a playdate at Smiley Indoor Playground.
✩ Kids Planet has a giant climber, arcade games, and more!
✩ Adrenaline Family Adventure Park has open jump sessions and even special times for the little ones.
✩ Laser Tag is one of the best ways to wear kids out and give them a good time!
✩ Check out the fun at the kid gym, Carter’s Play Place. Currently CLOSED. Re-opening soon in Westfield. 
✩ Indy Parks has a sensory playroom.
✩ Off the Wall Sports is a fun indoor place to play.
✩ Play hard at Urban Air Indoor Park.
✩ Gather a group and reserve some time for archery tag in Kokomo.

Get Crafty, Creative, and Artsy

✩ Paint your own pottery at one of many studios around Indianapolis!
✩ Enroll your little chef in a cooking class.
✩ Home Depot will host a free kids’ workshop on the first Saturday morning in January.
✩ Take an art class or shop for art supplies and make something at home.
✩ Create something amazing at AR Workshop in McCordsville.
✩ Nickel Plate Arts offers fun drop-in art activities during the holiday break.
✩ Mix up your own soaps, lotions, and fragrances at Bath Junkie.
✩ Pour your own candles at Penn & Beech on Mass Ave or in Carmel.
✩ Stop in to see Firefly Landing, a space for kids 5 and under at the Indiana State Museum.
✩ Sign up for a class with Line + Form Art Center!
✩ The Ignite Studio at the Library is incredible!
✩ Design your own t-shirt at the Tie Dye Lab in Avon.

Get Outside or Pretend You’re Outside

✩ Glide across the ice at Holliday Park’s new outdoor skating rink.
✩ Check out the nature centers at Eagle Creek.
✩ See animals, play instruments, dress up, and crawl around at Habitat Hall in Holliday Park.
✩ Visit a State Park.
✩ Visit Indiana Dunes National Park.
✩ Visit the 100 Acres at Newfields.
✩ If the weather is right, go sledding.
✩ Although weather-dependent, Veal’s Ice Tree is a sight to see!
✩ Bundle up and take a hike or push that stroller out and about on a hike.
✩ Shoot some arrows at the archery range.
✩ Visit one of your favorite parks if the weather stays nice.
✩ Take a hike with your kids at Turkey Run.
✩ Go on the free story walk in Hummel Park.
✩ Koteewi Seasonal Slopes makes their own snow for snow tubing.

Cheer for the Home Team & Tour Their Digs

✩ Tour Lucas Oil Stadium
✩ Watch the Pacers in action!
✩ See the Indy Fuel Ice Hockey Team.
✩ Butler Basketball games are a hometown favorite for all ages!
✩ The Dallara Race Car Factory is a good stop for the race fan or car enthusiast in your family.
✩ Sports fans can play and learn at the NCAA Hall of Fame.

Take a Day Trip or a Road Trip

✩ Fortville is super close and there’s a lot to do.
✩ The Muncie Children’s Museum is full of kid-favorite exhibits.
✩ See the giant toilet at Kidscommons in Columbus, Indiana.
✩ Louisville, Kentucky is just a short drive away.
✩ Take a trip to Richmond, Indiana.
✩ Kids love the Wonderlab in Bloomington.
✩ Pokagon State Park’s toboggan run draws visitors from around the state.
✩ Paoli Peaks offers Arctic Blast Snow Tubing for all ages.
✩ Big Splash Water Resort is a perfect family getaway!
✩ Take your train enthusiast to EnterTRAINment Junction in Cincinnati.
✩ Visit the American Girl Store in Chicago.
✩ Spend a day finding all the things to do with kids in Greenfield.
✩ Go skiing at Paoli Peaks or Perfect North Slopes.
✩ There’s a ton of family fun in St. Louis.

Things to Do for Free in Indianapolis

✩ Play at a free indoor playground.
✩ Spend the first Friday checking out local art galleries and participating in family-friendly fun.
✩ Check your local library’s schedule of events.
✩ Take advantage of special days for free admission to local museums.
✩ Free Home Depot Kids Workshop
✩ Kids Eat Free at restaurants around the city!
✩ Free Lowes DIY-U workshops are held once a month.
✩ See historic artifacts and police vehicles at the Indiana State Police Museum
✩ Adopt a dog for the day through this awesome program. Currently on pause, this program should relaunch in the future.