Whether looking for a way to entertain out-of-town guests or making memories here at home with friends and family, southern Indiana is home to many holiday activities and events. And the holiday action isn’t limited to SoIN! Just moments away is Louisville and an additional host of festive activities.
Head to the Theater
Perhaps a theatrical production is what you need to get in the holiday spirit. Derby Dinner Playhouse in Clarksville presents “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” through December, as well as “A Fairy Tale Christmas” for children through December 23.
A live action version of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, the beloved television holiday special runs twice December 9 at Louisville’s Brown Theatre, and Actor’s Theatre of Louisville presents “The Santaland Diaries” and Fifth Third Bank’s “A Christmas Carol” through December 23.
Music and Dance
Holiday music can be found in any number of places this season, but the Indiana University Southeast Holiday Pops is a perennial favorite. With performances December 2 and 3, the IUS Orchestra, Concert Choir & Community Chorus, and Concert Band perform holiday favorites.
December 13 sees the Commonwealth Brass Band return to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Albany for a free Christmas Concert. The church also hosts the Louisville Chorus December 2 for a Candlelight Christmas Concert. Tickets are required for the December 2 show and are available at the church.
On December 17 Jeffersonville’s First Presbyterian Church hosts “Chloe’s Christmas” with Chloe Agnew, original member of Celtic Women. The $20 tickets are available through Facebook at Chloe’s Christmas in Jeffersonville.
If ballet is more your style, The Brown-Forman Nutcracker ballet runs December 9 – 23 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, and on December 15 Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker returns to Louisville Memorial Auditorium.
The Frazier Museum in downtown Louisville is hosting “Nutcracker The Exhibition: 60 Years of Magic and Majesty” celebrating Louisville Ballet’s Nutcracker through January 7.
On December 18 The Courier-Journal presents “Holidaze: Strange Christmas miracles, Hanukkah disasters and Holiday Stories” as part of its Storytellers series. Admission includes access to the Frazier’s Nutcracker exhibit.
Memories of Christmas’ Past
If an old-fashioned Christmas appeals, many local historical buildings are decked out for the holidays.
New Albany’s Scribner House hosts its Christmas Open House and Victorian Tea on December 3. For more holiday open house fun, New Albany’s Culbertson Mansion and Jeffersonville’s Howard Steamboat Museum will also host open houses. The Culbertson on December 2 and 3, and the Howard December 10. The events are free, and refreshments will be provided. Elegantly decorated for the season, both mansions can be viewed during their regular operating hours.
Also on December 2 and 3 the Conrad Caldwell House in Old Louisville hosts its 11th Annual Victorian Tea in conjunction with the 41st annual Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour.
Community Christmas Spirit
While most communities have public holiday light displays, Charlestown wows with its Explosion of Lights. The synchronized light display on the City Square runs nightly through January 2.
Monday through Saturday during December the city also hosts Christmas at the Charlestown Family Activities Park and Winter Wonderland in Greenway Park, complete with horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating, and rides on the festively illuminated train.
Louisville’s Fourth Street Live! becomes a Winter Wonderland every Friday through Sunday through December 23, offering a free Santa photo experience at the North Pole. Billed as the only underground light show of its kind on the planet, the Louisville Mega Caverns: Lights Under Louisville provides a drive-through experience with over 850 lit characters and over 2 million lights.
Jeffersonville hosts a variety of holiday events. Hundreds will take part in its annual Christmas Cookie Stroll through the historic downtown on December 2. Tickets for the event are available online at jeffmainstreet.org.
For an unusual twist on the traditional visit with Santa try "Snacks with Santa" at the Vintage Fire Museum December 9. Kids receive a small gift and a photo with Santa on an antique fire truck. The Red Yeti is providing "Selfies with Santa" in Jeffersonville’s Glossbrenner Park, across the street from the restaurant, on December 8, 9, 15, and 16.
No matter your age or celebratory preferences, finding something festive to do is easy in Southern Indiana.
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