2023 Christmas Event Guide

Posted on October 31, 2023

Returning favorites. New celebrations. The 2023 Christmas season is packed with family-friendly events happening all throughout the Santa Claus, Indiana, area!

The festivities begin Thanksgiving weekend with the return of popular events, including visitor favorites like the Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph and the Live Reindeer Exhibit at Santa’s TOYS.

And the fun continues in December! Write a letter to Santa, shop the huge Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show, experience a Candlelight Evening at the Farm… and so much more!

Want to make your visit extra merry and bright this year? Then here are the events you need to add to your family’s Christmas vacation plans!

$ = Cost/admission for event

Thursday, November 23 

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show 

Friday, November 24 

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show 

Saturday, November 25 

11:00 am – 4:00 pm  Live Reindeer Exhibit at Santa’s TOYS

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

6:00 pm  Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa's Candy Castle

Sunday, November 26 

11:00 am – 4:00 pm  Live Reindeer Exhibit at Santa’s TOYS

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show 

Friday, December 1 

5:00 pm  Lighting of Santa's Great Big LED Tree of Lights at Kringle Place Shopping Center

5:00 – 7:00 pm  Christmas at the Barn at Stir-n-Up Hope ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

6:00 – 8:30 pm  Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)

Saturday, December 2 

9:00 am - 1:00 pm  Christmas Open House at Beverly J. Ellen

9:00 am – 3:00 pm  Treemendous Christmas in the Village at Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum ($)

9:30 am  Nightmare Before Christmas Golf Scramble at Christmas Lake Golf Club ($)

10:00 am - 3:00 pm Glitter Tattoos & Hair Tinsel at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop ($)

10:30 am – 7:00 pm  Food Trucks throughout the town of Santa Claus ($)

1:00 pm  Christmas Music Concert (Seth Thomas) at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

2:00 pm  Rockport Christmas Parade

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

6:00 pm  Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa's Candy Castle

6:00 – 8:30 pm  Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)

Sunday, December 3 

1:00 pm  Storytime with Mrs. Claus at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

Friday, December 8 

5:00 pm  Santa Claus Land Children's Choir Reunion Performance at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

5:30 - 7:30 pm  Candlelight Evening at the Farm at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

6:00 – 8:30 pm  Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)

Saturday, December 9 

7:00 – 10:00 am  Breakfast with Santa at Santa Claus Historic Campground ($)

9:00 am – 4:00 pm  Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show at Heritage Hills Middle School

10:00 am - 3:00 pm  Glitter Tattoos & Hair Tinsel at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop ($)

10:00 am - 3:00 pm  Christmas Cookie Decorating at Back 9 Grill ($)

10:30 am – 7:00 pm  Food Trucks throughout the town of Santa Claus ($)

11:00 am - 3:00 pm  Trenchmen Teas Tea Tasting at Santa's Lodge 

1:00 pm  Santa Claus Christmas Parade

5:00 pm  Beloved Farms Bourbon Ball at Chrisney 4-H Center ($)

5:00 – 8:00 pm  Festival of Lights at Christmas Lake Village

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

6:00 pm  Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa's Candy Castle

6:00 – 8:30 pm  Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)

Sunday, December 10 

1:00 - 3:00 pm  Claire Rivero CD Signing at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

Friday, December 15

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

6:00 – 8:30 pm  Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)

Saturday, December 16 

10:00 am - 3:00 pm  Christmas Cookie Decorating at Back 9 Grill ($)

10:00 am - 3:00 pm  Glitter Tattoo & Hair Tinsel at Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop ($)

10:30 am – 7:00 pm  Food Trucks throughout the town of Santa Claus ($)

1:00 pm  Christmas Bell Choir Concert at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

3:00 pm  "All Aboard the Polar Express" Storytime at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

5:00 – 8:00 pm  Festival of Lights at Christmas Lake Village

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)\

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

6:00 pm  Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire at Santa's Candy Castle

6:00 pm  Service of the Longest Night at Saint Meinrad Archabbey

6:00 – 8:30 pm  Christmas Dinner with Santa at Santa’s Lodge ($)

Sunday, December 17 

1:00 pm  Storytime with Mrs. Claus at the Santa Claus Museum & Village

5:00 - 7:00 pm  Meet a Reindeer & Santa at the Christmas in Dale Light Show

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph ($)

5:00 – 9:00 pm  Christmas in Dale Light Show

See our Christmas Events page for more details and the most current list of events. 

Plan a Very Merry Stay 

Want to make your Christmas visit complete? Lodging Packages are available at select times during the first three weekends of December at Lincoln Pines Lakefront Resort, Santa’s Lakeside Cottages, Santa’s Lodge, and Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph.