The Greenwood Parks and Recreation Department is providing an outdoor holiday lighted trail throughout the city’s Amphitheater Park. The lights are on dusk to dawn.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
The holiday season has already started in earnest.
But for many local residents, it’s not Christmastime until the lights come on and the community can celebrate together.
Downtowns throughout Johnson County are about come alive in illuminated, festive splendor. With a flip of the switch, Franklin’s courthouse square becomes a winter wonderland. Santa rolls into Bargersville via railroad. A 50-foot-tall “megatree” lights up New Whiteland. Residents come together in Edinburgh for carriage rides and holiday music. One of Greenwood’s most popular parks become a walking trail of wonder.
To get the most jingle-jangle joy over the coming weeks, here is a guide to help make sure you don’t miss a minute of holiday cheer this year:
Bargersville Santa Train and Christmas Market
Details: 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1, 24 N. Main St., Bargersville
Santa Claus is leaving behind his reindeer for this foray across Indiana. Instead, he’ll be steaming into Johnson County in a bright red Indiana Rail Road Co. caboose car.
The Santa Train is back in Bargersville on Dec. 1, bringing with it holiday cheer, activities for the whole family — and, of course, Santa, who will once again be greeting children of all ages and taking free pictures aboard vintage passenger cars. Organizers added a free timed option for photos, but those slots are sold out. For those who weren’t able to make a reservation, a special line will be set up to ensure everyone gets a chance to enjoy some time with Santa.
While waiting in line, participants can encounter live reindeer while a choir fills the streets with holiday cheer, and people enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies.
To go along with the Santa Train, Bargersville officials have put together a Christmas craft market where people can find handmade goods, locally produced gifts and baked treats to pick up.
Franklin Holiday Lighting and Winter Market
Details: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 3, downtown Franklin
The seasonal festivities last all day long in downtown Franklin, with a packed schedule of events planned in advance of the traditional lighting ceremony.
Start with a hearty breakfast, with jolly ol’ St. Nick during Breakfast with Santa at Compass Park. Check out the live Nativity on display at BYTAVI Boutique, or decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus at the Library Services Center. Ice skating will be ongoing throughout the day at Youngs Creek Park, while food vendors will be set up throughout the day.
People can pick out the perfect Christmas gift from local vendors, who will be displaying their unique creations during the Winter Market. Have your picture taken with Santa at the history museum, submit your most cherished baked goods for the holiday cookie contest, and catch storytime with Queen Elsa at the Library Services Center.
As night falls, the holiday spirit surges. The Lighted Parade, with illuminated floats and luminous entertainment, will roll through downtown. Live entertainment will provide festive music until finally, at 7 p.m., the courthouse holiday display goes on, officially signaling the start of the season.
MegaTree
Details: 5 to 10 p.m. now through Jan. 8, Tracy Road and Ashland Avenue, New Whiteland
One of the newest additions to Johnson County’s holiday traditions is the creation of the MegaTree, a 50-foot digital tree that will be mounted just off of Tracy Road on the west side of New Whiteland. The programmed light show experience features ever-changing colors and images, making the nights from late November into January merry and bright.
Lighted Trail
Details: Lights go on at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 to 31, Greenwood Amphitheater, 100 Surina Way
The parkland around the Greenwood Amphitheater receives an illuminated glow-up during the holiday season, with lighted displays set up for a free stroll through the greenspace.
The trail, which was created by the Greenwood Parks & Recreation Department during the pandemic, has become a new tradition in the city. Residents and visitors can tour the lights with their families and friends at their own pace.
Along the way, people will pass by 85 trees of lights, 18 standing figures of various sizes, five archways of lights, a 12-arch candy cane tunnel, and more than 3,600 lights on the bridge near the amphitheater. In total, the display features nearly 43,000 lights.
Merry Prairie
Details: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8, Trafalgar branch of the Johnson County Public Library, 424 S. Tower St.
The restored Indiana prairie outside Trafalgar’s library branch is one of Johnson County’s natural gems, and during this holiday, it gets a festive makeover. Participants can visit with beloved Christmas characters, meet a reindeer, make some goodies in Santa’s Workshop and enjoy caroling and hot chocolate. Participants can also vote for their favorite sweet creations in the library’s gingerbread house contest.
Holiday of Lights
Details: 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 9, John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh
Historic downtown Edinburgh becomes the hub for holiday spirit during the town’s annual lighted celebration. Start the day with the Light It Up 5K — the final event of Edinburgh’s Season of 5Ks. Enjoy a chili supper at the Edinburgh Presbyterian Church before the parade starts through downtown.
Carriage rides are available throughout the evening, and kids can get photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the town community center.
Finally, the Pixy Theatre offers up its Christmas show, with Night Owl Country Band headlining the event.
IF YOU GO
Schedule of events
Bargersville Santa Train
Dec. 1, downtown Bargersville
4 to 8 p.m.: Free hot chocolate and cookies (while supplies last); craft market
4 to 7 p.m.: Live reindeer
4:30 p.m.: Santa arrives
4:45 p.m.: Train departs
5 to 8 p.m.: Free pictures with Santa
6 to 8 p.m.: Choir
Franklin Holiday Lighting
Dec. 2, downtown Franklin
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Live Nativity, Center for Global Impact and BYTAVI Boutique, 51 W. Monroe St.
Noon to 10 p.m.: Ice skating, Youngs Creek Park
Noon to 1 p.m.: Storytime with Queen Elsa, Library Services Center, 49 E. Monroe St.
1 to 7 p.m.: Food vendors, East Court Street
1 to 8 p.m.: Winter market, North Main Street and Elks Lodge 1818, 56 E. Jefferson St.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Pictures with Santa, Johnson County Museum of History, 135 N. Main St.
2 and 7:30 p.m.: “Elf,” Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St.
3 to 4 p.m.: Cooking decorating with Mrs. Claus, Library Services Center
3 to 7 p.m.: Holiday cookie contest, Mutual Savings Bank, 80 E. Jefferson St.
3:30 p.m.: Holiday concert, First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Madison St.
5:30 p.m.: Lighted Parade
6 to 7 p.m.: Sock ice skating, Library Services Center
6 to 7:30 p.m.: Live entertainment, West Court Street
7 p.m.: Lighting of the Courthouse; Compass Park ground display lighting
Holiday of Lights
Dec. 9, downtown Edinburgh
Downtown shops open late
9 a.m.: Light It Up 5K
5 to 7 p.m.: Community chili supper, Edinburgh Presbyterian Church, 306 E. Main Cross St.
5:30 p.m.: Parade, from East Side Elementary through downtown; tree lighting
6 to 8 p.m.: Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Clause, John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St.
6 to 9 p.m.: Carriage rides, tickets $25
7 p.m.: Christmas show with Night Owl Country Band, the Pixy Theatre, 111 S. Walnut St.
