Bloomington lights up with holiday magic and community cheer through a lineup of festive special events that bring warmth to the winter season. From twinkling drives and downtown lighting ceremonies to hands‑on workshops, this line-up has something delightful for everyone.
Christmas Tree Making
Date: Friday, November 7
Time: 6:00 & 7:30 PM
Location: The Pottery House Studio
Admission: $25.00 per tree
Make your own Christmas Tree out of clay with Eva Mancini. No experience necessary! Tree will be ready to be painted with glaze in 2 weeks. Includes all materials and firings.
B-Town Turkey Trot
Date: Thursday, November 27
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: $30.00 per person (price may increase at date gets closer)
A 5K Run/Walk on Thanksgiving morning in Bloomington's B-Line Trail through Switchyard Park for neighbors, friends, and families to enjoy together! Register here.
Canopy of Lights
Date: Friday, November 28
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Monroe County Courthouse Square
Admission: Free
Experience one of Bloomington's most magical traditions as Santa flips the switch to transform the downtown area into a sparkling, winter wonderland, displaying thousands of lights on and around the Monroe County Courthouse Square.
There is free downtown parking on Thanksgiving Weekend: November 28-30.
Holiday of Lights Drive Through Christmas Display
Date: Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30; Every Friday-Sunday in December; Friday, January 2 through Sunday, January 4
Time: Friday and Saturday 6:00-10:00 PM & Sunday 6:00-9:00 PM
Location: Monroe County Fairgrounds
Admission: $20.00 per car, $40.00 for small bus
Pack the car and enjoy a magical drive through of twinkling lights, festive displays, and holiday cheer for all ages. Then stop by the Santa Village for shopping, food and a visit with SANTA!
Gingerbread House Workshops
Date: Sunday, November 30 and Sunday, December 7
Time: 12:00-5:00 PM
Location: IU Biddle Hotel
Admission: $75.00 for 1st house, $40.00 for ea. additional house/group
It’s cozy season—the perfect time to create a gingerbread house masterpiece with friends and family. Prebuilt kits for the in-person event are $75 for the first house and $40 for each additional house per group. Unassembled kits are $60 for the first house and $30 for each additional house. To register, find “Sugar & Spice Orders” on the Sugar and Spice website. Choose pay with credit card or IU account and select a time between noon and 5 p.m. on either Sunday, Nov. 30, or Sunday, Dec. 7.
Light Up the Night at the Indiana Memorial Union
Date: Thursday, December 4
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM
Location: Biddle Hotel and Conference Center
Admission: Free
Join us for the annual lighting of the IMU candles! Celebrate the season with a winter market, ice skating rink, live performances, and plenty of good cheer!
Garlands and Greenery Tours
Date: Friday, December 12 & Saturday, December 13 and Friday, December 19 & Saturday, December 20
Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Wylie House Museum
Admission: Free
Tour the Wylie House Museum decorated in all its seasonal splendor. Tours are 1 hour and occur every hour on the hour. Reserve your spot by visiting here.
Winter WonderLab
Date: Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14
Time: Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 1:30-5:00 PM
Location: WonderLab Museum
Admission: Free with museum admission. Free for WonderLab Members. Special Deal December 14 is a Super Sunday — non-members enjoy reduced $10 admission!
Celebrate the chilly magic of the season with a weekend full of winter-themed science fun for the whole family! Winter WonderLab invites visitors to explore how the natural world works in cold weather through hands-on experiments, sensory play, and interactive exhibits.
Krampus Bizaar
Date: Sunday, December 14
Time: 12:00-6:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park Pavilion
Admission: Free
There will be over 30 unique vendors, a beer garden (for the adults), a movie area for the kiddos and even Krampus himself will make an appearance along with all his minions! This is a kid-friendly, free event.
WonderLab New Year's Eve 2025!
Date: Wednesday, December 31
Time: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: WonderLab Museum
Admission: Free with museum admission
WonderLab’s New Year’s Eve 2025 celebration begins at 1pm and lasts all the way till 6pm (aka: early midnight!). Drop in for a joyful, science-filled celebration perfect for families with young children. Party with your little ones before bedtime! Stay through the count-down, and leave with memories, smiles, and maybe even a little sparkle! WonderLab New Year’s Eve 2025 activities are free with museum admission and free for WonderLab members.
