With the 53rd annual Circle of Lights presented by Quality Connection and IBEW 481, the return of the Indy Winters Farmers Market and holiday events kicking off, there is no excuse to hide inside just yet. Scratch a few more items off your Indy bucket list in 2015… here are the most exciting events and happenings this month.
Indy Must Dos
Nov. 7: For a big pre-holiday calorie burn, run, walk or crawl your way through the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon – Indiana’s largest and fastest marathon and among the 100 largest marathons in the world. While the Marathon is sold out, you can participate in the half marathon, 5K or Kids’ Fun Run.
Nov. 8: Open your home, invite your besties over and host a dinner. The Harrison Center for the Arts and City Gallery invite Indianapolis residents to participate in a city-wide City Supper, all in the name of good old fashioned neighborliness.
Nov. 14: Shop 40+ local vendors at the Indy Winters Farmers Market at The Platform at City Market. You will be happy to see familiar vendors returning (South Circle Farm and Wild Alaska Salmon) as well several new ones (Bee Coffee Roasters and Maplewood Farms). Hint: stay for by-donation yoga from 10:30 – 11:20 a.m. at the Indy Bike Hub YMCA.
Shop fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and baked goods at the Indy Winters Farmers Market every Saturday.
Nov. 20: Shop local, shop late. During Midnight Shopper, participating Mass Ave shops will stay open until midnight so customers get a jump start on their holiday shopping. And when all is said and done, treat yourself to a handmade truffle at The Best Chocolate in Town.
Nov. 27: Travelocity named Circle of Lights® one of the top five “must-see Christmas trees” in the nation. We couldn’t agree more. Starting at 6 p.m., gather on Monument Circle with 100,000 of your friends to celebrate the annual lighting of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
The 53rd annual Circle of Lights® will take place the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.
Museums & Entertainment
Nov. 3: Treat yourself to some global soul food: the much anticipated John Adams restaurant Marrow opens in Fountain Square. Be among the first to sample family-style dishes with influences from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, as well as innovative cocktails and desserts.
Nov. 7: Tour of some of the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s best hidden secrets, hear untold stories about the collection and peak behind the curtain into the inner workings of the IMA at Family Day. At 3 p.m., check out a special afternoon Cereal Cinema screening in the Toby Theater.
Bring the family to the Indianapolis Museum of Art for Family Day and take a tour of some of the museum’s best hidden secrets.
Nov. 15: Bring your kids to see a “short and suite” version of the Indianapolis School of Ballet’s The Nutcracker during Suite Dreams Are Made of These at Central Library. This free event is part of Spirit and Place Festival and will allow kids to see the costumes up close and participate in a ballet workshop.
Nov. 21: If you loved Steve Martin and Martin Short in Father of Bride, now you can catch them live on stage. The two comedians will perform one-night-only at Old National Centre in Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life. The night of music, comedy and show-biz stories will also feature the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin’s bluegrass band.
A “forgettable” performance with Steve Martin and Martin Short takes place at Old National Centre on Nov. 21.
Nov. 28: Busy shopping malls, long lines, noisy crowds, fighting for parking spots… not your cup of tea? Head to the Indianapolis Museum of Art for Community Day: Silent Night and enjoy free admission and activities including “slow-looking” gallery tours, private headphone concerts, massage and meditation spaces and a reading room. Ahhh…
Music
Nov. 7: Tell your significant other “you are the sunshine of my life” because music legend Stevie Wonder is hitting the stage at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Get ready to belt out to “I Wish” and “Isn’t She Lovely.”
Legendary singer, songwriter, musician and producer Stevie Wonder is making his way to Downtown Indy on Nov. 7.
Nov. 13: Sing along to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Tina Turner and Beck at various Fountain Square venues. Of course, these famous musicians won’t be the ones performing. Tonic Ball gathers Indiana artists and gives them a task: perform songs made famous by rock’s biggest stars.
Nov. 16: If you are still a fan of the oldie but goodie 1997 song “Brick,” you will be happy to hear Ben Folds is back on tour and coming to Old National Centre. Longtime fans will appreciate their latest album, which features collaborations with the New York-based chamber ensemble yMusic and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
Ben Folds comes to Old National Centre on Nov. 16. Their new album meshes classical and pop music.
Nov. 18: Sing along to the EDM hit “#Selfie” when the Chainsmokers bring their indie vocals and uplifting progressive house to the Old National Centre stage.
Nov. 24: Can’t get enough of the music from Wicked? See Glinda the Good Witch and television star Kristin Chenoweth debut with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in concert.
Kristin Chenoweth performs with the ISO on Nov. 24.
Holidays
Nov. 14: Watch holiday favorite, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, at the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre. This will be the 25th year A Christmas Carol has played at the IRT. A Christmas Carol runs through Dec. 26.
A favorite holiday tradition, IRT’s A Christmas Carol returns to the stage Nov. 14 – Dec. 26.
Nov. 21: Watch seven trains pass through replicas of actual Downtown Indianapolis destinations including Monument Circle, Lucas Oil Stadium and Union Station during the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art‘s annual Jingle Rails exhibit. This exhibit runs through Jan. 18, 2016.
Nov. 27: Escape the stress of the holidays and kick back with Phoenix Theatre‘s A Very Phoenix Xmas. For this 10-year anniversary of the show, Phoenix Theatre promises all new sketches, songs and dances – plus old favorites. This show runs through Dec. 20.
Guaranteed to make you laugh, A Very Phoenix Xmas returns to Phoenix Theatre Nov. 27 – Dec. 20.
Nov. 27: Kids can ride on the Santa Claus Express, make crafts to take home and gaze into a replica of L.S. Ayres store windows during Celebration Crossing at the Indiana State Museum. And for the adults, make sure to stop in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room for a bowl of Chicken Velvet Soup. Celebration Crossing runs through Dec. 31.
Nov. 28: As the sun sets over the White River State Park, grab some hot chocolate, listen to carolers and enjoy the glow of twinkling lights. The Indianapolis Zoo hosts its 47th year of Christmas at the Zoo beginning Nov. 28. Christmas at the Zoo runs through Jan. 3, 2016.
Put on your winter coats and see seals, sea lions, polar bears and tigers – plus beautiful lights – during Christmas at the Zoo.
