Enjoy these (and more!) activities included with your museum general admission. Purchase tickets online and save $1 per ticket. Scroll below to find more holiday activities offered in conjunction with Celebration Crossing. All events listed below are on Eastern Standard Time
Buy your tickets at https://secure.indianamuseum.org/WebStore/Shop/ViewItems.aspx?CG=2&C=4
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Santa Lands! Opening Day of Celebration Crossing
NOV. 29, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Included with museum admission | Free to members
Experience the joy of the holidays at the Indiana State Museum. From the sounds of Indianapolis Children’s choir to visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus, Celebration Crossing is a holiday tradition your family won’t want to miss. Ride the Santa Claus Express train, enjoy a delicious lunch in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™ and more. Santa will arrive by helicopter on the front lawn at noon!
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L.S. Ayres Tea Room™
NOV. 29 THROUGH JAN. 5, LUNCH HOUR
Call 317.232.1637 for reservations
Enjoy a festive lunch with your friends and family this holiday season in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™. Choose from favorites including chicken velvet soup and chicken salad or view a full menu here. Tea Room hours are from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the winter holiday season. Reservations are highly recommended and are offered at four dining times: 11:00, 11:30, 1:00 and 1:30. Make your dining reservation by calling us at 317.232.1637.
Tea Room gift certificates are offered in increments of $10, $25 and $50. When making the purchase, choose to pick up the certificate at will call (the Indiana State Museum ticket counter) or to have the certificate delivered via mail.
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Holiday Artisan Shop
NOV. 30, DEC. 7 & 14; 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
Included with museum admission | Free to members
Find unique Indiana-made gifts just in time for the holiday season. Shop with Indiana artisans and other local makers to find that perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
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Holiday Sounds
DEC. 3-9, 12-15 & 17-20
Click here to view a full list of performers.
Interested in booking a musical performance? Contact Krystle Mangan at 317.509.7679 or kmangan@indianamuseum.org
Hear the sounds of the holiday echo throughout the building as school and community groups from around the state perform in the museum’s public spaces. Local school and community choirs, bands, ensembles and soloists perform holiday music in the museum’s Great Hall, surrounded by festive decorations and atmosphere.
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Preschool Fridays
DEC. 6, 13, 20, 27 AND JAN. 3; 9 TO 10 A.M.
Included with museum admission | Free to members
Bring your little one (ages 2-5) to experience the wintery wonderland in Santa’s Front Yard during this special early opening event. Families can visit with Santa, explore various activities, engage with two North Pole elves during interactive story times, take a ride on the Santa Claus Express train and more.
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Bear’s Winter Dream
DEC. 6, 13, 20, 27 & JAN. 3; 10:15 TO 10:45 A.M.
$2/members, $3/non-members; free for children younger than age 3
Members purchase tickets here, and nonmembers purchase tickets here.
Bear has a dream – all about the Ice Age in Indiana! Join Bear on an adventure as he meets interesting animals and learns something about weather, animals and plants during this interactive performance for preschool families.
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Santa’s Holiday Breakfast
DEC. 7, 14, 21; SEATING AT 8:30 AND 9 A.M.
DEC. 1, 8, 15, 22; SEATING AT 9, 9:30 AND 10 A.M.
$24.50/members (ages 13+), $15.75/youth members (ages 3-12); $33/non-members, $24.25/youth non-members; free for children younger than age 3
Members purchase tickets here, and non-members purchase tickets here. Registration required 24 hours in advance of event date.
Enjoy a delicious and festive breakfast featuring live music in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™ and Farmers Market Café. After breakfast, visit Santa in his house and take a ride on the Santa Claus Express train.
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Winter Wonderland Workshop
DEC. 7 (SOLD OUT) & 17; 11 A.M. TO 12:15 P.M.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO OUR WAITING LIST FOR THE DEC. 7 WORKSHOP, PLEASE CALL US AT 317.232.1637
$11/members, $14/non-members
Members purchase tickets here, and non-members purchase tickets here.
Celebrate winter festivities with this hands-on STEAM-inspired workshop for your little ones (ages 3-5)! Step into a winter wonderland and engage in wintery sensory play, ornament engineering and cookie designing.
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Supper with Santa & Friends (Members Only)
DEC. 12, 5:30 TO 8:30 P.M.
$30/members (ages 13+), $16/youth members (ages 3-12), free for children younger than age 3
Space is limited. Ticket purchase deadline is Dec. 6; Purchase tickets
Join Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends at this family-friendly buffet supper. Plus, ride the Santa Claus Express train, enjoy live music from the Rusty Musket and play in Santa’s Workshop. The first 100 families to register receive a free keepsake photo with Santa. Space is limited.
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Gift Memberships
STUFF THEIR STOCKINGS WITH HOLIDAY MAGIC!
Memberships start at $75
Give the gift of membership to your friends and loved ones this holiday season! It’s simple – call us at 317.232.1637 or make your purchase online. When purchasing the membership online, be sure to enter the recipient of the gift in the recipient information box, then use your own information in the billing section. Answer the question indicating if you'd like the new membership cards shipped to the recipient or to you. Purchase your gift membership by Dec. 11 in order to receive the cards in time for the holidays.
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Adults Night Out (ages 21+)
DEC. 17, 6 TO 9 P.M.
$10/members, $15/non-members
Members purchase tickets here; and non-members purchase tickets here. Registration required 24 hours in advance of event date.
Celebrate the holidays during this after-hours access to Celebration Crossing without the little ones! Release your inner child while playing in our holiday spaces. Create some winter cheer and celebrate with some holiday spirits.
Ticket purchase includes one signature cocktail.
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The 12 Snowy Winter Days
DEC. 26 THROUGH JAN. 5, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Included with museum admission | Free to members
Continue the wintery fun by playing with snowballs, building a snowman in Santa’s Front Yard and caring for the young soft and stuffed reindeer at the reindeer pen. Warm up in Santa’s house by pretending to roast marshmallows by the fire, play with the toys in the toy chests and enjoy interactive story times with our resident North Pole elves and other special guests.
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Ice Age Breakfast
DEC. 28, 9 A.M.
$24.50/members (ages 13+), $15.75/youth members (ages 3-12); $33/non-members, $24.25/youth non-members; free for children younger than age 3
Members purchase tickets here, and non-members purchase tickets here. Registration required 24 hours in advance of event date.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast featuring live music in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™ and Farmers Market Café. Continue the chilly winter fun by getting up close to the Ice Age bones in the museum’s collection and learning more about mastodons, mammoths and other bone-chilling Ice Age facts from our staff.
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Family New Year’s Eve
DEC. 31, 6 TO 9 P.M.
members: $10, non-members: $16 | Children younger than 3 are free
Members purchase tickets here; and non-members purchase tickets here.
Get ready to welcome 2020 during this magical family-friendly New Year’s Eve party with magic, music, dancing, face painting, exploring the entire museum and more. Join the New Year countdown with an eco-friendly streamer and confetti explosion in the Great Hall when the clock strikes 8 p.m.! Reserve your spot early so you don’t miss out. This is an alcohol-free event.
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Tea with Lovey
JAN. 5, 2 TO 4 P.M.
$4/members, $5/non-members, plus purchase of any menu items; museum admission not included
Members purchase tickets here; and non-members purchase tickets here. Registration required 24 hours in advance of event date.
Bring your favorite stuffed animal and enjoy high tea in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™. Afterward, enjoy an exclusive showing of the play, Bear’s Winter Dream, in the auditorium and take a ride on the Santa Claus Express train.