Enjoy Final Santa Visits, Ice Skating, Lights and Local Church Services
Santa will greet visitors for the last time of the season in the Hamilton County Historical Society’s Santa House from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Noblesville. In 2021, Abigail Phillips, then 6 and a first-grader at North Elementary in Noblesville, asks Santa for a Pixie fairy and a unicorn with wings. Then she goes on to ask Santa a few questions about his reindeer and elves.
Christmas is almost here, and there are only two more times to visit with Santa in the Hamilton County Historical Society’s Santa House. There is also ice skating and holiday lights. And the Christkindlmarkt goes on through Dec. 30 in Carmel.
Here are 10 holiday things to do this weekend and beyond:
1. All ages can visit the Hamilton County Historical Society’s Santa House with hours 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Noblesville.
2. Enjoy “A Christmas Story, The Musical” through Saturday at Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre in Carmel.
3. Visit the Christkindlmarkt in Carmel now through Dec. 30, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, with special hours 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 26-30 at 10 Carter Green in Carmel.
4. The Federal Hill Commons Ice Plaza is open through Jan. 9 in Noblesville. Rink hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24, and closed Christmas Day. Admission includes skate rental, $13 for ages 13 and older, $11 for ages 12 and younger. Punch passes are available, 10 skate passes for $110; 5 skate passes for $60; skate aid rental $3. Admission and skate rental are good for all day skating. Skate, take a break, shop, grab lunch and come back to skate later the same day for no additional cost.
5. Enjoy a holiday walking light tour, with displays and holiday photo opportunities, every evening now throughout the holiday season at Federal Hill Commons in Noblesville. A special Santa mailbox is available at the Christmas Cottage.
6. Take a drive through the Magic of Lights: Drive-Through Holiday Lights Experience,” now open nightly at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville.
7. Attend Christmas Eve candlelight services at 7 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Noblesville with overflow parking at City Hall; at 5 p.m. (30-minute family worship in Celebration Hall), 7 p.m. (contemporary worship in Celebration Hall), 9 p.m. (traditional candlelight in the Sanctuary) and 11 p.m. (also traditional) Saturday at Noblesville First United Methodist Church; at 7 p.m. today at White River Christian Church in Noblesville and Hamilton North at The Remnant in Arcadia and at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday at both locations; at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Saturday (lights up, sound down) at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at Grace Church in Noblesville; from 8 p.m to 9 p.m. Saturday, with hot cocoa and cookies at 7:30 p.m.; and 5:30 p.m. (children and family worship), 7:30 p.m. (special music) and 8 p.m. (evening service) on Saturday at the Noblesville First Christian Church; and at 7 p.m. today and 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at Noblesville Life Church and 7 p.m. today at Fishers Life Church; and many more Christmas Eve services at other local churches.
8. Hear Fishers 21-year-old vocalist Peter Fulton perform during Carmel Christkindlmarkt in downtown Carmel three more of his total eight performances at 5 p.m. Dec. 27 and 29 and 8 p.m. Dec. 30, all 45-minute sets.
9. Celebrate New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 with Terry Wariner, Joe Hampton and family and special guest Jason Salyers performing live music at the Noblesville American Legion Post, with prime rib dinner $29 per plate and the event open to the public; and the Second Chance Band beginning at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Noblesville Moose Lodge.
10. The Underdog Theatre presents “The Choices We Make,” an original one-act play written and directed by Clay Howard, a 2022 Noblesville High School graduate, and featuring students, on stage for three performances, at 7 p.m. Jan. 6 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 7, at the Noblesville First United Methodist Church in Celebration Hall. Visit underdogtheatre.org
Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.