Things to Do in Indianapolis in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Indianapolis
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December marks the start of the cool-dry season - humidity drops to 70% (from 85% in October), making walking tours and outdoor markets comfortable for the first time in months
- Hotel occupancy drops to 45-55% after Thanksgiving, so you'll find better last-minute availability and the kind of front-desk upgrades locals get when rooms are empty
- The Indianapolis Zoo's Christmas at the Zoo runs nightly - 2.5 million LED lights turn the grounds into a proper Midwestern winter wonderland, minus the snow you'd get in January
- Brewery patios stay open through December - Fountain Square's outdoor fire pits and heated igloos make craft beer tastings feel like hygge instead of hypothermia
Considerations
- December days are short - sunset hits at 5:15 PM, so outdoor photography at Monument Circle or the Canal Walk needs to happen by 3 PM for decent light
- Holiday crowds spike around December 15-23 - Mass Ave restaurants that normally seat walk-ins will have hour-long waits, and parking meters around Lucas Oil Stadium jack up rates during Colts games
- While temperatures don't drop below freezing, the 70% humidity makes 40°F (4°C) feel colder than you'd expect - you'll need layers for evening brewery crawls
Best Activities in December
Monument Circle Holiday Lights Walking Tours
The 284-foot limestone Soldiers and Sailors Monument gets wrapped in 5,000 LED strands that pulse in sync with holiday music - tours run every 30 minutes from 5:30 PM, and December's mild weather means you won't be shivering while hearing about the German immigrants who started Indianapolis's Christmas traditions in the 1840s. The lights stay on until 11 PM, but 7 PM tours hit the sweet spot between dinner crowds and full darkness.
Indiana State Museum Holiday Market Indoor Tours
The museum's Great Hall transforms into a European-style Christmas market with 60+ local artisans - December's indoor climate control beats outdoor markets, and you can warm up with locally-distilled bourbon from West Fork Whiskey between pottery stalls. The building's floor-to-ceiling windows give you views of the Canal Walk's holiday lights without standing outside.
Fountain Square Food Hall Crawls
December's cool evenings make the heated patio at Big Lug Canteen perfect for trying Indiana's emerging craft cider scene - the Square's walkable cluster of 8 restaurants in 3 blocks means you can sample bison burgers at Thunderbird, then duck into Repeal for prohibition-era cocktails without needing an Uber. The neighborhood's vintage arcade bar, Tappers, stays less crowded than Broad Ripple in December.
Canal Walk Gondola Evening Rides
December's still waters and early sunsets make the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) Canal glow with reflected holiday lights from the nearby NCAA headquarters - gondoliers add blankets and serve hot cider, turning what's normally a summer activity into something that feels straight out of Venice. The boats run until 9 PM, but 6:30 PM rides catch the best light show.
Eagle Creek Park Winter Photography Walks
December's leafless trees create perfect sightlines across the 1,400-acre (566-hectare) park's reservoir - migratory birds that pass through in December include bald eagles you won't see in summer. The 10-mile (16 km) trail system stays dry enough for photography walks, and the park's nature center offers guided tours that end with hot chocolate overlooking the frozen-over marina.
December Events & Festivals
Circle of Lights
The Friday after Thanksgiving kicks off with the ceremonial lighting of Monument Circle's 52 garland strands and 4,784 LED bulbs - the 30-minute show includes performances by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and ends with fireworks that echo off downtown's limestone buildings. Locals stake out spots by 5:30 PM for the 7:30 PM show, but you can watch from hotel balconies along Meridian Street.
Indy Winter Farmers Market
Every Saturday in December, the Indianapolis City Market's basement transforms into a heated winter market featuring Indiana-raised bison, greenhouse-grown tomatoes, and the kind of Amish baked goods that sell out by 10 AM. December's market adds wreath-making workshops and live bluegrass bands that play between the produce stalls.