Deck the Downtown, Fill Stockings, Watch Parade, Visit Santa, See ‘The Nutcracker’

December is here, and so are lots of holiday activities.

Here are 33 holiday things to do this week and beyond:

1. Enjoy Westfield in Lights 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Grand Junction Plaza in downtown Westfield.

2. Visit the Christkindlmarkt in Carmel now through Dec. 30, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, with special hours, extended until 10 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 19-23 and Dec. 26-30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24 at 10 Carter Green in Carmel.

3. Join Deck the Downtown beginning at 5 p.m. today with Santa on the Square, Lights Over Seminary (Park) at 10th and Division streets, Midnight Madness (5 p.m. to midnight) at downtown merchants, ice skating at Federal Hill and a trolley to take you everywhere.

4. All ages can visit the Hamilton County Historical Society’s Santa House with hours 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today (First Friday); 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 3 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 11; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 8 (virtual); 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 9, 15 (virtual), 16 and 23; noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 10, 17, 18; and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 24.

5. Take a stroll around downtown Noblesville and get your stocking filled with treats and toys from participating businesses from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, sponsored by Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim. Stockings are $15 each and proceeds benefit Noblesville Youth Assistance Program. Pick up your stocking at Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim at 2 N. Ninth St., on the Square.

6. Shop at Arcadia Christmas Market on Main from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday on Main Street in Arcadia, coinciding with Arcadia tree lighting, Santa’s arrival, a chili supper, deejay, choir singing carols, crafts and games, with tree lighting at 7 p.m.

7. Experience Holly Jolly on Main from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today in downtown Sheridan, with shopping, games, music, food and more.

8. 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.

9. 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 will also be available at the Christmas Cottage.

10. Take a drive through the Magic of Lights: Drive-Through Holiday Lights Experience,” now open nightly at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville.

11. While there’s a waiting list for Reindeer Rides through Dec. 23 on the Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville, there are still some adult Holiday Cheers rides available this season. Take a 75-minute ride with Santa and see Santa’s workshop and cross over Morse Reservoir while singing Christmas carols and sipping hot chocolate, with tickets at nickelplateexpress.com. Also enjoy a night with Santa to support Toys for Tots at 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at Nickel Plate Express.

12. Enjoy Nickel Plate Trail Night Lights with food, music and surprise festivities at 6 p.m. today and Saturday and Dec. 9-10 in downtown Fishers.

13. White River Ballet Co. presents “The Nutcracker” ballet, at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Noblesville High School with tickets available at the door. Noblesville Diana Ephlin, a teacher of more than 50 years, owns The Dancin’ Place and White River Ballet Co.

14. The Belfry Theatre presents “The Sound of Music” at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Ivy Tech Auditorium in Noblesville and tickets — $20 for adults and $15 for students, ages 65 and older and military — at thebelfrytheatre.com

15. Take a stroll during A Merry Prairie Holiday outdoor lighting display, Fridays through Sundays, through Dec. 18 and Wednesday and Thursday Dec. 21-22 at Conner Prairie in Fishers, featuring thousands of holiday lights, courtesy of Reynolds Farm Equipment, plus visits to Prairietown, food and more for $22 per person or $11 per member. Also, Breakfast with Santa at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturdays through Dec. 18, with tickets $19.95-$25.95.

16. Shop the Noblesville Main Street Holiday Market 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Federal Hill Commons, with food trucks, ice skating, and holiday vendors.

17. Families can reserve a private 15-minute carriage ride, weekends Dec. 3-18, through downtown Noblesville for $75 or a carriage ride with Santa for $125. Carriage rides can seat up to six adults and three to five children on adults’ laps (Santa rides seat five adults and three to five children on adults’ laps.

18. The Noblesville Christmas Parade is back on in 2022 but has moved to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, on the traditional parade route, starting in the Ivy Tech Hamilton County Campus parking lot in Noblesville and traveling south on 16th Street, west on Logan Street, north on Ninth Street and west on Monument Street back to the college. Nonprofits only are invited to participate in the parade. The parade is part of Mayor Chris Jensen’s “Home for the Holidays Tour,” which will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with three parade routes, and another three parade routes on Dec. 5 west of the White River. Nonprofits may register for the 2 p.m. Dec. 4 downtown parade at cityofnoblesville.org/santaparade

19. Our Town Cicero will present a Tree Lighting Festival and Parade with the parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, with a Tree Lighting Festival from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with 2023 Morse Lake calendars and prints available.

20. Auditions for The Attic Theatre’s youth production of “The Little Mermaid,” for ages 18 and younger, will be 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Oasis Community Church in Tipton with the performances Feb. 16-18 at The Ivy Tech Auditorium in Noblesville, with RSVP required for a time slot at rebecca.atticetheatre@gmail.com

21. Enjoy a fun night at Ginger’s Cafe eating tacos while helping a cause. Join Noblesville Kiwanis Sunrisers Taco Tuesday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville, Riley Children’s Health and community youth needs, at Ginger’s Cafe on South 10th Street in Noblesville, at a cost of $15 for adults, $5 for kids, with tickets from a Sunriser Kiwanian or at Ginger’s Cafe at the door. Supports local community youth needs. Face painting, balloon smiles, prizes. Contact Barb Purvis at (317) 437-7657.

22. Enjoy Noblesville Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday luncheon from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7 featuring Noblesville High School choir singers, with reservations at noblesvillechamber.com/events

23. Make reservations for Noblesville Main Street’s Holiday Dinner benefiting the nonprofit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 in the historic Lacy (Arts) Building (former Kirk Hardware) at 848 Logan St., with tickets starting at $150 for a catered meal and featuring Old Town musician Kelli Ray Yates, a wine pull and auction and more.

24. Hear the wonderful sounds of Noblesville High School choirs during the annual Holiday Concert, themed “Cool Yule,” at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10, with choirs performing at both concerts but different auditioned student acts at both concerts, at NHS, with $10 and $15 reserved seating at nhscpo.org/

25. Enjoy “Christmas at the Playhouse” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Basile Westfield Playhouse featuring six original one-act plays, “A Requiem for Shermy-last Minute Shoppers,” “Clara The Christmas Angel,” “Holiday Cards,” “Garland, Gynos and Gurneys” and Traditions,” directed by Nicole Amsler, Kelly Keller and Jen Otterman, with tickets $12-$15 and veterans and military free, at westfieldplayhouse.org.

26. Enjoy Carmel Community Players’ comical collection of stories, songs and vignettes at “Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas,” with director Kate Hinman, Dec. 9-18, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Thursday, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, at The Cat in Carmel, with $18 tickets, and $16 for ages 62 and older and students, at carmelplayers.org

27. Bring your family to Breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at Sheridan Elementary School. Enjoy breakfast brisket tacos from True Texan BBQ, biscuits and gravy and French toast sticks, and Christmas shop from more than 25 vendors.

28. Enjoy Fun with Mrs. Claus for ages 3-7 at 10 a.m. Dec. 10 at Adrienes Flowers & Gifts in Noblesville, with Santa’s favorite food, cookies and punch, storytime, singing and making a craft. Bring a letter to Santa with your Christmas list to drop in Santa’s mailbox and also canned or nonperishable food item for the First Presbyterian Church’s food pantry next door. Preregistration required for the event by calling (317) 773-6065.

29. Experience a Living Nativity with drive-thru experience with real animals from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Fishers.

30. Hear the Noblesville First UMC Chancel Choir during a Christmas Festival of Music & Art at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the church, with a Janus Art Sale, following by a Christmas concert at 7 p.m., with free admission.

31. Hum along as The Attic Theatre presents “Hello Dolly!” musical at 7 p.m. Dec. 14-17 at Ivy Tech with show times at $12 tickets, $8 for ages 4-12, tickets at theattictheatre.com.

32. If you love dance, experience EnPointe Indiana Ballet’s best as the studio presents “An EnPointe Christmas” at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at Noblesville High School Auditorium, with tickets, at $10, available at enpointe.yapsody.com. The show features 108 dancers and more than 25 dance numbers with a mix of classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, plus a nine-minute finale to a playful rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

33. Hear Fishers 21-year-old vocalist Peter Fulton perform during Carmel Christkindlmarkt in downtown Carmel at 5 p.m. Dec. 20, 8 p.m. Dec. 21 with Songbook Academy, 2 p.m. Dec. 22, 5 p.m. Dec. 27 and 29 and 8 p.m. Dec. 30, all 45-minute sets.

Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.

Save the Date in January 2023: 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 www.underdogtheatre.org