Celebrate the Fourth of July in Santa Claus, Indiana

Posted on June 25, 2025

Fireworks, family, fun—the Fourth of July holiday is a time to enjoy it all! And with the holiday falling on a Friday in 2025, you can make it an EXTRA-long weekend. Make the most of the Fourth by arriving early ahead of the weekend and planning to stay a day or two after to enjoy all the area’s sites and attractions. 

Don’t have a place to stay yet? Don’t worry! There are cabins and hotels near Holiday World just waiting to welcome you! 

As of June 25, 2025, Santa’s Lodge, Rockport Quality Inn & Suites, Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph, and Lincoln Pines Lakefront Resort have multi-night vacancies. Looking to stay just a night? Santa’s Cottages can help you out! But don’t wait too long… reservations are being snapped up fast!  

After you’ve secured your place to stay in the Santa Claus, Indiana, area, it’s time to have fun! And there’s plenty to be had all weekend long, so start planning… 

Cool Off Inside 

We’ll admit it. Fourth of July weekend temperatures in the Santa Claus, Indiana, area can get a little hard to handle at times. There are plenty of ways to beat the heat, but sometimes the best way is to simply head for where the air conditioning is—indoors! 

Enjoy a history lesson as you cool off at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Visitor Center, Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum, and Santa Claus Museum & Village.  

Or indulge in a little retail therapy as you soak up the A/C at the Santa Claus Christmas Store, Santa’s TOYS, Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop, Beverly J Ellen, Dale Floral & Gifts, and other shopping spots around the area. 

Get Active Outside 

The Santa Claus, Indiana, area has some of the greatest outdoors around, and Fourth of July weekend is the perfect opportunity to explore them all. 

Brave the coasters at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, then cool down in the water park, hit the beach at Lincoln State Park (before the lake is drained for the season on July 7, 2025!), or tee off at Christmas Lake Golf Club or The Rustic Golf Course. 

Track down all of the Santa statues throughout Santa Claus, Indiana, for a #SantaSelfie. And make your reservation now to get up close and personal with real reindeer (and baby wallabies!) at Santa’s Reindeer Ranch.  

Worried that the weather won’t cooperate with your outdoor fun? Southern Indiana weather is famously unpredictable and can change on a dime, so don’t let an iffy forecast keep you away. If it does happen to rain, Holiday World’s Worry-Free Weather Guarantee ensures you won’t miss out on any fun at the park. And there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy, too! 

Chill Out 

A long holiday weekend is made for relaxing, and there are plenty of ways to do just that around the Santa Claus, Indiana, area. 

“Wine” down at Monkey Hollow Winery and Distillery and Pepper’s Ridge Winery as you enjoy complimentary tasting. Relax fireside at your cabin, cottage, or campsite. And end the evening with a movie under the stars at Holiday Drive-In.  

Take “chilling out” to the next level by indulging in your frozen treat of choice. Annie’s Ice Cream & Coffee, Fat Daddy’s Grill & Chill, Fat Santa’s Pizza & More, Scoops Ice Cream, and Sweet P’s Frostbite serve up ice cream in all its forms—from soft-served to scooped, in cones or in cups. And don’t forget to try the frozen hot chocolate at Santa’s Candy Castle—it's a visitor favorite for a reason!  

Explosive Fun for the Fourth 

Fourth of July weekend just wouldn’t be complete without fireworks. And you can enjoy them all weekend long during your visit! 

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s fan-favorite Holidays in the Sky drone show ends with a fireworks finale and is running nightly at the park through August 3, 2025. 

On July 4, 2025, head to the Chrisney Golf Course 4th of July Picnic for bounce houses, live music, food, and fireworks at dark. 

Freedom on the Rock will celebrate the holiday on July 5, 2025, with a car show, music, food trucks, family activities, and fireworks at dusk. 

Plus, find more Fourth of July fun happening near the Santa Claus, Indiana, area!  

Plan, Stay, Plan 

Fourth of July weekend is coming up fast, but there’s no need to panic. Our handy trip planner can help you create the perfect visit and ensure you don’t miss any of the area’s events, sites, and attractions!