An En Pointe Christmas, Winter Artisan Market, Kids Night, Santa Visits

By: Betsy Reason

Share your holiday wish list with Santa at the Santa House on the Square, ice skate at the temporary Federal Hill ice plaza, watch Carmel Community Players’ live theater, take in the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, see the lights at Merry Prairie at Conner Prairie, perform with the Noblesville High School Alumni Pep Band, and experience an Evening with Santa. 

Here’s The Times’ list of 22 things to do this weekend and beyond:

1. Experience the magic of the 2023 Carmel Christkindlmarkt daily through Dec. 24 at Carter Green next to the Performing Arts Center of Carmel. Enjoy traditional German food, shop handmade German goods under the twinkling lights at this one-of-a-kind holiday experience, ice skate on an outdoor rink, visit German artists at work, find fun in the kids corner, enjoy live entertainment, with free admission. Hours are noon-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. Sundays, 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon-4 p.m. Dec. 24. Visit carmelchristkindlmarkt.com
2. Santa listens to gift lists at the Santa House on the Square on select dates in downtown Noblesville, courtesy of Hamilton County Historical Society, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and Dec. 21, 22; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 23; and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Stop by to visit Santa, snap a photo, and consider a donation that goes toward making this Santa House event possible.
3. Experience Lights Over Seminary presented by the City of Noblesville and Noblesville Preservation Alliance during this walkable light display in Seminary Park at Hannibal and 10th Street in downtown Noblesville display 5-11 p.m. nightly through December.
4. Federal Hill Commons temporary Ice Plaza is open through Dec. 22 in Noblesville, with hours 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Dec. 22; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, starting Dec. 23 through Noblesville Schools holiday break; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays; special holiday hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31. Rates are $13, $11 for ages 12 and younger. Also take private 15-minute carriage rides through downtown Noblesville. 
5. Experience Merry Prairie at Conner Prairie, where visitors can explore Historic Holidays and immerse in the magic of Prairietown by candlelight 5:30-9:30 p.m. now through Dec. 17 and Dec. 21-22 at the Fishers living history park. Ride a vintage carousel, enjoy the thrill of Polar Bear Plunge tubing hill and warm by a fireplace while showing off your sock-skating skills at Frosty’s Sock Skating Rink, plus pose for a selfie with Santa and hear the music of Jennifer Mlott at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 21 at Blitzen’s Bandstand Stage. Plus, reserve your seats for Breakfast with Santa this Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for all at www.connerprairie.org
6. Calling all Noblesville High School Pep Band Alumni, you’re invited to relive the magic in the band room at 6 p.m. today for a pre-game reunion, with fellow alumni, then hit the court for a chance to be a part of the Pep Band magic once again.
7. Enjoy an Evening with Santa from 6-8 p.m. today in downtown Cicero. Bring your pet for selfies with Santa, contest for best dressed pet, Meet Olaf reindeer from Silly Safari, enjoy hot dogs, cookies and hot chocolate, free sugar cookie kit to the first 50 kids, selfies with antique Christmas tree, special kids Frosty & the Grinch and Royal events. Donate a bag of food to help out Food Pantries. Sponsored by Lisa Stokes Bear, Cheryl Trietsch, Jeanne Hutcherson, Hometown Century 21 Angela 
8. Experience “Moon Over Buffalo,” a fast-paced hilarious screwball comedy through Sunday, 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, by Carmel Community Players at The Cat in Carmel, with tickets at carmelplayers.org
9. Enjoy live comedy with headliner Sam Rager and Jon Pfendler and Evan Frenz at 7:30 p.m. today and weekend guest Alana Gonzalez at The Brick Room Comedy Club on Maple Avenue and Ninth Street in downtown Noblesville. Visit thebrickroom.cc for tickets.
10. Meet Noblesville author Sarah Ackermann, who will celebrate her new children’s book, “Finding My Superpower,” at a book signing 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Logan Village Mall in downtown Noblesville. 
11. Enjoy “An En Pointe Christmas” during En Pointe Indiana Ballet’s holiday performances at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Noblesville High School with tickets at www.enpointe.yapsody.com.
12. Experience a live-stream event beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at Center Stage Vintage Guitars.
13. Shop the Winter Alley Art Market for works by local artists and makers 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at South Alley Community Room, Primeval Brewing, Just Lagom, Noblesville Antiques on the Square and Noble Coffee and Tea in downtown Noblesville.
14. Experience a live nativity 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Noblesville.
15. Experience live music with Hill and Oaks on Saturday, John Beatrice on Dec. 22, Sam King on Dec. 23, Donny Coyle on Dec. 29 at Primeval Brewing in downtown Noblesville. 
16.  Hop aboard the Nickel Plate Express for an array of excursions, including upcoming Holiday Cheers Express for 21 and older Friday nights through Christmas, Reindeer Express on Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas, tickets at nickelplateexpress.com.
17.  Travel to the countryside to hear live music with The Booze Hounds at 7 p.m. Saturday, Bomar and Ritter on Dec. 23, Jeff Brown on Dec. 30 at Spencer Farm Winery in Noblesville. Visit spencerfarmwinery.com. 
18. Enjoy live music featuring Dead Squirrels on Saturday, Craig Thurston on Dec. 21, Jeff Brown on Dec. 23, and Disagreeable on Dec. 30 at Grindstone Public House in Noblesville.
19.  Join your favorite princesses, including Beauty, Snow Sister, Sleeping Beautu and more for the musical holiday show, followed by meets and greets and a photo session.
20. Bring the family to Kids Night with Santa 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at Noblesville Jim Dandy.
21. See the talents of Noblesville West Middle School at a NWMS Winter Choir Concert, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at NWMS.
22. Experience the holiday tradition of White River Ballet Co.’s 42nd annual “Nutcracker” ballet at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22 at Noblesville High School, with the Nutcracker Prince performed by special guest dancer, Nick Hagelin, who trained at School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center and went on to dance internationally with Carolina Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The Kirov. Tickets at the door.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact The Times Editor Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.