Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo
It’s never too early to wander through an outdoor light display! Check out the Fort Wayne Zoo’s Wild Lights display, which opens November 13. With over a million lights, there will be lots to see, and do, at this wild wonderland! Check the Zoo’s calendar to find the days when the Lights will be open (tip – lights are open on weekends in November, all week starting December 16). Tickets are $12 per person, Zoo members receive a $2 discount. Lights are open from 5:30 – 9 p.m. Find the Zoo at 3411 Sherman Blvd.
Blue Jacket's Fantasy of Lights
Want to drive through a magical light experience? Check out the Blue Jacket Fantasy of Lights, a 3-mile display set in Franke Park (1750 Goshen Avenue). Click here to learn about their 2K walk, Bicycle Night, the Holiday Market, and Decorate Your Car night. Lights are on from 5:30 – 9 p.m. Sunday – Thursday, 5:30 – 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The display is open every night from November 16 – December 31. Cost to drive through the lighted roadway is $20 per car, $40 per 12-passenger van/limo.
Holiday Lights at Parkview Field
Ever walk through a baseball stadium full of multi-colored lights? Here’s your chance – the Parkview Field Holiday Lights takes place Nov. 12 – January 2, and has more than two million lights draped over seats, railings, and the baseball field itself. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online (the box office opens 30 minutes before the lights come on). Check out their website to learn about special discounts and to find tickets. You can even bring your furry friends on Wednesdays.
Pro Tip: if you're planning to go to all three of these light displays mentioned above, check out the Fort Wayne Light Fest combo ticket to save on your passes!
Holiday Promenade at the Pitch
Lights, ice skating, and more are open to visitors at Fort Wayne’s new soccer stadium! Holiday Promenade at the Pitch will have 3D light displays, warming stations, a synthetic ice rink with skate rental and more, running Nov. 27 – Jan. 2. Tickets are $16 per person, ages 2+. Find the Ruoff Mortgage Stadium at 6411 W. Bass Road.
Silver Bells at the Botanical Conservatory
Silver Bells is the theme of the indoor display at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. The Conservatory always has a beautiful poinsettia Christmas tree, and lovely pine tree displays in addition to picture-perfect holiday decorations in each of it’s three indoor garden rooms. It’s a wonderful place to come inside and enjoy the wonders of nature! Silver Bells is open from November 21 – January 3, general admission $7 per adult, $5 per child. Closed Mondays.
Festival of Trees
An indoor forest of decorated Christmas trees awaits you at the Festival of Trees in the Embassy Theatre and Hotel Indiana lobby. Now in it’s forty-second year, the Festival has dozens of beautifully decorated trees, a special Santa Land for kids, and live performances on the Embassy stage. Tickets are $5-12 per person (free for infants under 1). The Festival has afternoon and evening hours from Wednesday, November 25 – Wednesday, Dec. 2. Check out their page to learn more about when specific events will happen, and to purchase tickets.
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol will be presented by the Summit City Music Theatre from December 4 – 13 in the old barn at Salomon Farm Park, 817 W. Dupont Road. Bring coats and blankets to stay cozy, and come a little early to grab a good seat! This is an annual event hosted at Salomon Farm Park, and tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and students 21 and younger. Tickets can be purchased here.
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker will be presented by two different ballet companies in Fort Wayne!
Project Ballet’s Nutcracker features 150 area children dancers in four different performances on December 5-6. Project Ballet’s Nutcracker takes place in the picturesque and historic Embassy Theater in downtown Ft. Wayne, 125 W. Jefferson Boulevard. Tickets are $25 - $50 and can be bought online.
The Fort Wayne Ballet will present The Nutcracker December 4-6 and 11-13. The first weekend includes live music from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir at the ballet’s venue, the Arts United Center, 303 E. Main Street. Tickets run $30 - $60. The Fort Wayne Ballet offers a Sugar Plum Party after each afternoon/matinee performance, at $5 per person. Look for tickets here.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Do you want to step into Narnia with Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy? Then you’re in luck! Fort Wayne Youtheatre will present The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe December 10 – 13 at the First Presbyterian Theatre, 300 W. Wayne St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Tickets range from $2-20, and can be purchased here.
White Christmas
What about Irving Berlin’s White Christmas? If tunes like “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano” and “White Christmas” are on your playlist, then this is the show for you! Fire and Light Productions (a youth theater group) will present White Christmas the Musical from December 17 – 19 at the Performing Arts Center, 303 E. Main Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Tickets are $10 – 16, and can be purchased here.
Winter Wonder Ice Festival
The Winter Wonder Ice Festival at the PSM Icehouse will have 3 performances of the Nutcracker on Ice, free ice skating for ticket holders, a Winter Village, and more December 18-19. Tickets are $20 per person (free for military and seniors). With every adult ticket you purchase, get a free child’s ticket. Extra children’s tickets are $10. Click here for tickets.
Festival of Gingerbread
The smell of gingerbread, spices, and other wonderful things fills the air at the annual Festival of Gingerbread. With gingerbread houses and other creations made by creatives pre-K through professional grade, the tasty display of artwork opens November 27 and closes December 20. Find the festival at the Fort Wayne History Center, 302 East Berry Street. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children and seniors. Purchase tickets at the venue, open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and first Sunday of the month, noon- 5 p.m.
Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival
If you’re looking for a show after Christmas, the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival happens on December 29 and 30. The Boar’s Head festival dates back to 1340 AD, when it was first recorded as a part of the Christmas festivities at Queen’s College in the United Kingdom. It became a Medieval tradition and today features splendid costumes, music, and dancing, presented by Plymouth Congregational Church 501 W. Berry St., Fort Wayne, IN, 46802. To get tickets, become a Festival patron by clicking here. Six tickets come with each patronage donation.
