Throughout Johnson County, it feels like autumn is in full swing.
Plenty of leaves are still clinging to the trees, and homeowners are busy raking and cleaning their yards. Temperatures are still warm and mild during the day, though that chill creeps in at night.
But for those who love Christmas, it’s time to forget all of that. The holiday season has arrived.
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The lights come on starting weekend, when Greenwood-A-Glow takes its annual place as the first community lighting ceremony of the year. Following weeks will bring events in Franklin, Bargersville and downtown Indianapolis, all designed to spark the Christmas spirit and get people in the holiday mood.
As local cities and towns deck their halls, the Daily Journal has put together a roundup of what to expect and how to squeeze the most cheer out of the most wonderful time of the year.
Greenwood-A-Glow
Traditionally conducted the weekend before Thanksgiving, Greenwood-A-Glow offers holiday-themed activities throughout the afternoon on Saturday.
The main event is the lighting of the evergreen tree at the Greenwood City Center, when Santa Claus and community leaders come together to flip the switch and illuminate the gathered crowds.
Residents are encouraged to come early and stay afterward for a slate of entertainment for kids and adults. See a holiday puppet show performed by Center Grove-area resident Peggy Melchior and her company Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio.
Take a carriage ride around the library grounds, get pictures with Santa and enjoy holiday-themed crafts and coloring at the library.
Circle of Lights
Tens of thousands of people will pack into the center of downtown Indianapolis on Nov. 25 to enjoy what national media such as USA Today and Travelocity have called one of the best holiday attractions in the country.
The “tree” is composed of 52 garland strands and 4,784 colored lights strung from the top of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Accenting the decorations will be 26 larger-than-life toy soldiers and sailors, along with 26 peppermint sticks.
As a sea of warm bodies brave the cold, the fun starts at 6 p.m. with Christmas carols and classic songs to get the holiday spirit fired up.
The entertainment continues as the televised showing of the lighting begins, and winners of the Circle of Lights performance competition will have a chance to wow the crowds just as they impressed competition judges.
Franklin Holiday Lighting
Be prepared to dedicate an entire day for Christmas fun as Franklin hosts its annual Holiday Lighting on Dec. 3.
Festivities start bright and early at 8 a.m. with a Jingle Jog 5K Run/Walk, a good way to get the blood flowing and burn off calories in advance of the cookies and other Christmas goodies to come.
Get Christmas shopping done at the annual Winter Market, submit your best cookies for competition and take in the unique ways local organizations have decorated their trees at the Johnson County Museum of History’s Dec-A-Tree event.
Santa will take visitors in the afternoon, then again in the evening.
Entertainment will be featured throughout the day, from a live Nativity scene at local business byTavi to an organ concert at First Presbyterian Church to a puppet show from Melchior Marionettes at Tabernacle Christian Church. The Historic Artcraft Theatre will feature the classic “A Christmas Story.”
The celebration comes to a crescendo in the evening, with the lighted holiday parade, lighting of the grounds at Compass Park and the illumination of the downtown courthouse.
The Daily Journal is a sponsor of the event.
Edinburgh Holiday of Lights
Edinburgh’s Holiday of Lights celebration Dec. 10 has all of the hallmarks of a small-town Christmas festival.
More than 3,000 luminaria displays are set to line the streets of downtown Edinburgh, giving off a warm glow as the normal lights downtown are dimmed.
Groups of revelers are being organized to walk through the town singing carols to brighten the atmosphere. People can take a horse-drawn carriage or trolley ride under the light displays set up throughout the historic district.
A parade will lead people to the downtown Christmas tree, offering a chance for the entire town to come together to see it illuminated for the first time.
In a reversal of tradition, Santa will lay out hot chocolate and cookies for people at his workshop, where photos, Christmas crafts and face painting will also be featured.
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<strong>Greenwood-A-Glow</strong>
<strong>When:</strong> 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday
<strong>Where:</strong> Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St.
<strong>Schedule</strong>
<ul>
<li>3 to 5:20 p.m., and 6 to 7 p.m.: Pictures with Santa; $2 per person</li>
<li>3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Coloring and crafts</li>
<li>4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Carriage rides; $2 per person</li>
<li>4, 4:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m.: Holiday puppet show by Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio; $2 per person</li>
<li>4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Greenwood City Center open house tours, with hot chocolate and cookies</li>
<li>5 to 5: 45 p.m.: Tree lighting ceremony at the Greenwood City Center, corner of Main and Madison streets.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Circle of Lights</strong>
<strong>When</strong>: 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 25
<strong>Where:</strong> Monument Circle, downtown Indianapolis
<strong>Schedule</strong>
<ul>
<li>6 p.m.: Live entertainment by Indiana groups begins</li>
<li>7 p.m.: Televised coverage of the lighting begins on WTHR Channel 13</li>
<li>7:55 p.m.: Lights go on</li>
</ul>
<strong>Franklin Holiday Lighting</strong>
<strong>When:</strong> 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3
<strong>Where:</strong> Downtown Franklin
<strong>Schedule</strong>
<ul>
<li>8 a.m.: Jingle Jog 5K Run/Walk, Franklin Cultural Arts and Recreation Center</li>
<li>8:30 a.m. to noon: Breakfast with Santa, Compass Park, 690 State St.</li>
<li>8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Gingerbread baking contest displayed, Compass Park</li>
<li>10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Dec-A-Tree at the Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St.</li>
<li>11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Live Nativity at byTavi, 436 E. Jefferson St.</li>
<li>1 to 4:30 p.m.: Visits with Santa, Johnson County Museum</li>
<li>2 and 7:30 p.m.: “A Christmas Story,” Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St.</li>
<li>2 to 8 p.m.: Winter Market, Elk’s Lodge, 56 E. Jefferson St.</li>
<li>3 to 4:30PM: Cookie contest entries accepted</li>
<li>4 p.m.: Organ concert, First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Madison St.</li>
<li>4:30 p.m.: Melchior Marionettes, Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 N. Water St.</li>
<li>5 to 7 p.m.: Horse carriage rides</li>
<li>5:30 p.m.: Lighted Holiday Parade</li>
<li>6 to 8 p.m.: Live entertainment on the downtown stage</li>
<li>6 to 7 p.m.: Kids activities, Mutual Savings Bank, 80 E. Jefferson St.</li>
<li>6 p.m.: Lighting of ground displays, Compass Park</li>
<li>6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Santa Shack opens</li>
<li>7 p.m.: Lighting of the courthouse holiday display</li>
</ul>
<strong>Edinburgh Holiday of Lights</strong>
<strong>When:</strong> 5:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 10
<strong>Where:</strong> Downtown Edinburgh
<strong>Schedule</strong>
<ul>
<li>5:30 p.m.: Parade begins at East Side Elementary School, eventually ending east of downtown at the Christmas tree</li>
<li>6 p.m.: Christmas tree lighting</li>
<li>6 to 9 p.m.: Visit Santa’s Workshop, corner of West Main Cross and Main streets; Christmas caroling through downtown</li>
<li>6 to 10 p.m.: Carriage and horse-drawn trolley rides, $25 per ride for carriages, $1 per person on the trolley; luminaria displays lit through downtown.</li>
</ul>
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