Whether you're looking for special holiday shopping opportunities, iconic Christmas traditions like Victorian Christmas or the Martinsville Cookie Stroll, holiday lights, relatively new events like the Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Music Spectacular, fun workshops, or just some live music to enjoy, we've got your covered in the month of December. Find out what's on tap this month in Morgan County with this list of upcoming events, and don't forget we're always adding new events to our calendar, so check back often!
Holiday Candy Cane Pours - every Saturday
Join the Martinsville Candy Kitchen for holiday season candy cane pours. Watch them transform sugar and flavoring into holiday magic in this traditional process. Candy canes are hand-pulled and packaged up for purchase. (There are usually free samples for those who come to watch!) Candy canes will be made every Saturday, and keep an eye on their Facebook page for additional pour times. Santa will be there on Dec. 17!)
Festival of Lights - Nightly through New Year's Day
The holiday lights at Jimmy Nash City Park remain lit each night through New Year's Day! Swing by while you're in town for a drive through the lower loop of the park to enjoy the Festival of Lights, or park and walk around to enjoy the ambiance. There are photo ops as well - be sure to get a photo in Santa's sleigh!
Holiday Porch Pot Workshops - Dec. 1, 6 & 8
Join Greendell Landscape Solutions in Mooresville for a fun Holiday Porch Pot Workshop to create a beautiful and festive planter for your front porch or entryway for the holiday season! Workshops are on Dec. 1, 6 and 8 from 5 to 7 pm. Signup on on their website to reserve your space, as this is a popular activity and sessions do sell out.
Cuppa's Christmas Challenge - Dec. 1-25
Martinsville's mobile coffee bar, Cuppa Jejo, is sponsoring a Christmas Challenge! Martinsville area residents are invited to register their home's Christmas decorations for a chance to win prizes! Spectators are invited to come view the lights, then vote on your favorite. Contest begins Dec. 1st and maps will be viewable online on that date at cuppajejo.com/christmaschallenge.
Indiana Rail Road Santa Train - Dec. 2
The Indiana Rail Road's Santa Train returns this year with a stop in Morgantown at approximately 6 pm. The train stops behind the Morgantown Fire Department on Highland Street and kids will be able to snap a photo in front of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a touchless experience. Mail your letter directly to Santa via the INRD North Pole Express Mailbox while you're there! Train will depart for the next stop at 7 pm.
Mooresville Christmas Light Tour - Dec. 2-31
Don't miss the second year of the Mooresville Christmas Light Tour in Mooresville! Between Dec. 2 and 31, come enjoy the lights on display at participating area homes and businesses, then vote for your favorites! Voting is by donation and all proceeds benefit local causes. Maps will be available online at mooresvillelights.com beginning Dec. 2.
Downtown Mooresville Tree Lighting - Dec. 2
Mooresville will light up this year's community Christmas Tree at Bicentennial Park at the corner of Indiana and Main Streets on the evening of Dec. 2. There will be music and more to help celebrate the event, beginning at 6 pm with the tree lighting at approximately 7 pm. This is the kickoff event for the Victorian Christmas weekend in Mooresville!
Mistletoe & Mimosas on Main - Dec. 3
Reserve your table early for this elegant holiday event from 5 East in Mooresville on Saturday, Dec. 3, before the Victorian Christmas Celebration. At Mistletoe & Mimosas on Main, each table will receive a carefully chosen menu of treats including unlimited mimosas, coffee and cocoa with toppings, and more, all served with elegant china and glassware for an upscale holiday experience you'll never forget. Some items will be available a la carte during Victorian Christmas as well!
Victorian Christmas Celebration - Dec. 3
Join Mooresville for their annual holiday tradition - the Victorian Christmas Celebration. With several stops throughout town, including 4 craft and vendor booth options, live entertainment and so much more. Watch for wandering characters - you may encounter Father Christmas... or maybe even Ebenezer Scrooge!
Christmas at the Farm Mini Market - Dec. 3
The Little Red Barn at Walker's Homestead will host Christmas at the Farm on Dec. 3, featuring food and drinks on site as well as shopping from select vendors, family photo mini sessions, letters to Santa and more!
Bethlehem Walk - Dec. 3
Martinsville's Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will again host their fun and meaningful Bethlehem Walk event on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tickets are free, but required as the event is operated via specific time slots. Reserve yours online before you go.
Live Music: Rose O'Neal & Aaron Grubb - Dec. 3
Join Hoosier Que at Foxcliff Golf Club for an evening of live music from popular local performers Rose O'Neal and Aaron Grubb. This is a free, casual show and all ages are welcome. Music begins at 7 pm.
Live Music: Austin James - Dec. 3
Trackside Restaurant and Bar in Paragon will host popular area musician Austin James on Saturday, Dec. 3. Music begins at 8 pm for this casual, acoustic show.
Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Music Spectacular & Tree Lighting - Dec. 4
This fun event will feature live music from the band featuring the son and grandson of Bobby Helms, a trackless train ride for the kids, downtown carriage rides, a life-sized snow globe, characters like The Grinch and Whos from Whoville, and of course the tree lighting at approximately 7 pm. The Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Music Spectacular and Christmas Tree Lighting begins at 3 pm on Sunday, Dec. 4 in downtown Martinsville.
Martinsville Community Band Christmas Concert - Dec. 5
Join the Martinsville Community Band on Monday, Dec. 5 at the First Baptist Church on Columbus Street in Martinsville for their annual Christmas Concert! This is a free event, but donations are accepted. Come enjoy the music of the holiday season!
Holly Jolly Party - Dec. 6 & 7
Brickhouse on Main will host their fun Holly Jolly Party again this year, with two dates - Dec. 6 & 7. This fun event features visits with Santa, craft stations, reindeer games and more! Reserve your tickets early.
Open Studios Night - Dec. 9
Join the resident artists at the Art Sanctuary of Indiana for their monthly Open Studios Night. Browse locally-created works of art, talk with artists, check out the studio spaces where they create and more! Stop in between 6:30 and 8:30 pm on Friday, Dec. 9.
Martinsville Cookie Stroll - Dec. 10
This holiday tradition is all about the cookies! Well, and the live entertainment, holiday shopping and overall festive atmosphere! Okay, maybe it's not all about the cookies, but they are pretty awesome. Head for Downtown Martinsville for the annual Martinsville Cookie Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 10 for a day of fun for the whole family. Tickets are available online, but keep in mind you get a cookie at each of the 25+ stops, so you may want to share the riches with friends or family. Don't forget to stop by the Morgan County History Center to drop off your letter to Santa!
Farmers' Market's Holiday Market - Dec. 10
The Morgan County Farmers Market will host their annual Holiday Market in conjunction with the Martinsville Cookie Stroll on Dec. 10. Stop in to browse the booths. You'll find a wide variety of handmade gift items, plus local meat and produce.
Santa in the Park - Dec. 10
Bring the kids to Old Town Waverly Park for the annual Santa in the Park event! This fun day features photos with Santa inside the historic bank building, traditional arts demonstrations including blacksmithing, live Christmas music, hands on crafts, a meet and greet with the Grinch, and so much more.
Books & Brews - Dec. 11
Fables & Fairy Tales and Black Dog Brewing Company are partnering up for their first ever Books & Brews event! Come out to Black Dog on Dec. 11 for a fun adult version of a Book Fair! From 2 to 5 pm, you can browse through best selling books and gift ideas provided by Fables & Fairy Tales while sampling some locally crafted brews from Black Dog.
Martinsville Community Choir Christmas Concert - Dec. 13
Join the Martinsville Community Choir for a fun evening of Christmas music on Dec. 13 at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Music begins at 6:30 pm. This is a free event but donations are accepted.
Indiana Wind Symphony - Dec. 14
Join the Morgan County Community Concerts Association for a fun holiday performance from the Indiana Wind Symphony. This ensemble is a crowd pleaser with a family-friendly format. This show will explore familiar holiday treasures from Irving Berlin to the Carpenters and will feature soprano soloist Jessamyn Anderson. Performance will take place at the Mooresville High School Auditorium beginning at 7 pm on Dec. 14.
3rd Thursday on the Square: Stocking Stuffers - Dec. 15
Here's the perfect opportunity to get your holiday shopping all wrapped up! Dec. 15 is 3rd Thursday on the Square. Join downtown merchants in Martinsville for a fun evening of shopping. Find everything you need for secret santa exchanges, stocking stuffers and more in a beautiful, festive setting with holiday lights and decorated windows galore throughout downtown.
Santa & Mrs. Claus at the Martinsville Candy Kitchen - Dec. 17
Stop by the Martinsville Candy Kitchen for some holiday magic. Check their FB page for candy cane pour times and be ready to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 17 between 2 and 4 pm. Cameras are welcome!
Photos with Santa at Emory Acres - Dec. 18
Don't miss Santa! On Dec. 18, he and Mrs.Claus will be at Emory Acres Event Barn in Paragon for an afternoon of holiday music and pictures from 2 to 5 pm. All kids will receive a santa snack!