Kid-Friendly Holiday Activities in Fort Wayne
Discover Fort Wayne's magical holiday festivals perfect for family-friendly fun that will remind you of a simpler time, and the excitement of the season's arrival.
The Festival of Gingerbread
The Festival of Gingerbread, held November 28 - December 21, will definitely put you and your family in the holiday spirit.
Held at the Fort Wayne History Center, your children will love looking at the yummy creations made by talented locals. You can also visit during the Night of Lights, where you can get a sneak peek of these holiday displays.
Night of Lights - Holiday Displays
Most of Fort Wayne's holiday season begins with the annual Night of Lights on November 26 in downtown Fort Wayne. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. at the History Center with the Turret Lighting, and continues from there.
If you miss the lighting ceremonies, the beautiful displays will still be up through the holiday season. Take a walk through downtown and see if you can find all of the fun holiday displays with your family.
After the Night of Lights, you can still enjoy Fort Wayne’s holiday displays by following our Holiday Lights Challenge. This list of iconic displays in the area helps you create your own walking or driving tour all season long. (And, you can check in at locations to earn free prizes.
Three major light displays are illuminating the city this year – each one offering something special to guests. The Fantasy of Lights is a drive-thru event held at Franke Park, where you can dazzle at an awe-inspiring route of more than 200 animated light displays. And new this year, check out the LightFest Christmas Village.
Next door, you will want to walk through the Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo. Journey through a dazzling display of nearly one-million lights, attend a dance party with elves, toast s'mores, ride the Evergreen Express, decorate festive sugar cookies, and more!
Then, you’ll want to head downtown to walk through Parkview Field’s Holiday Lights, a walk-through experience at the ballpark, featuring more than 1.5 million lights and displays, plus a train ride, choreographed to holiday music!
Botanical Conservatory
Visit the Botanical Conservatory to catch the wonder of the season.
Dozens more special holiday events await. Simply search our Calendar of Events to find special ways to celebrate together during your stay.
Other Kid-Friendly Activities in Fort Wayne
Headwaters Park - Ice Skating
Lace up your skates and take a spin around the Headwater's Park Outdoor ice skating rink. Create new memories with your family, and then warm up with a hot chocolate. This is an especially fun activity when it is snowing, providing the perfect backdrop for a winter wonderland!
Science Central
Year-round, Science Central is a great place to spend the afternoon with your family. Spend the day discovering hands-on experiments, fun interactive activities, learning about our earth with Science on a Sphere, and much more!
Crazy Pinz
For some indoor fun, families can enjoy the total entertainment package at Crazy Pinz. From bowling, arcades, a ball tent, laser tag, and much more there are plenty of activities for everyone in your family to enjoy. Spend your evening having a little family-friendly competition!
Fort Wayne Public Art Trail
For some outdoor activities, you can explore the Public Art Trail digital pass with your kids. This free digital pass works with your smartphone to guide you to the best public art in the city. Plus, you can check in and earn prizes.
This post was originally published in November 2017. Last updated November 2024.
