Filling up on Thanksgiving weekend fun in Indianapolis
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The weekend after Thanksgiving will kick off Indy's holiday season with a full calendar of time-honored traditions, high-stakes sporting events and peppermint flavored fun for the whole family.
- Here are our picks for cool things to do once you're done digesting dinner.
🚂 Choo, choo, choose to spend some time in a model train wonderland at Eiteljorg Museum's Jingle Rails attraction, 10am-5pm Wednesday-Saturday and noon-5pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $18 for adults and $10 for kids.
🎭 Embrace your inner "bah humbug" during the Indiana Repertory Theatre's annual presentation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," which runs through Dec. 24.
- This weekend's shows start at 5pm Friday; 2pm and 7pm Saturday; and 2pm and 6pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $27.
🥃 Sip on Christmas-themed cocktails at Blitzen's Holiday Pop-Up Bar inside the Omni Severin Hotel. 4pm-12am Friday and Saturday and 4pm-11pm Sunday.
🏆 See the state's best high school football teams battle to win the big one during the IHSAA Football State Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium. Gates open at 10am Friday and Saturday.
- Roncalli takes on Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger at 3pm Saturday in the Class 4A championship, and Westfield faces Brownsburg at 7pm Saturday in the Class 6A game.
- Tickets start at $28.
🚁 See Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by helicopter during Celebration Crossing opening day at the Indiana State Museum, 10am-5pm Friday.
- Tickets start at $22 for adults and $16 for kids.
⛸️ Slide into opening weekend at The Ice Rink at Holliday Park, open daily from Friday through March 1. Public skating begins at 11am.
- Tickets start at $14. Kids 4 and under skate free.
🎄 Light up the night in Downtown Indianapolis and enjoy a free performance from "America's Got Talent" winner Richard Goodall during the 63rd annual Circle of Lights at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.
- The pre-show starts at 5pm Friday, and Santa will turn on the lights around 7pm.
🎁 Witness Garfield Park's transformation into a holiday workshop during Conservatory Crossing 2025. 10am-5pm Friday and Saturday and 1-8pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $6.
🧑🎄 Catch dinner and a show during the return of A Beef & Boards Christmas.
- Shows start at 8pm Friday; 1pm and 8pm Saturday; and 1pm and 7pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $67.
🏒 Watch the pros ice skate when the Indy Fuel take on the Fort Wayne Komets and the Toledo Walleye. 7pm Friday and Saturday.
🏀 Help the Pacers pick up some much-needed wins when they host the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls in back-to-back games. 7:30pm Friday and Saturday.
🩰 Revel in the lavish world of The Nutcracker presented by the Indiana Ballet Conservatory at Carmel's Payne & Mencias Palladium.
- Shows are 2pm and 7pm Saturday; and 1pm and 6pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $15.
🕯️ Hit the northwest quadrant of Monument Circle for SPARK: Holidays on the Circle, 4-8pm Saturday and Sunday.
🏈 Root for the Colts as they take on one of their biggest rivals as the Houston Texans come to town, 1pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $97.
🎤 Sing your way into the holiday season when Pentatonix brings their "Christmas In The City Tour" to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 7pm Sunday.
- Tickets start at $38.