Fort Wayne Insider Blog

Kick off your holiday celebrations in Fort Wayne, Indiana. From Mannheim Steamroller to the Nutcracker Ballet and beautiful holiday displays, there’s a little something for everyone.

HolidayFest is a Fort Wayne, Indiana tradition that begins the week before Thanksgiving and continues until we ring in the new year. The flagship event is the Night of Lights, which is always the evening before Thanksgiving. The Night of Lights is an absolute joy and also serves as Fort Wayne's official start to the Holiday season.

*AN UPDATED 2017 POST IS COMING SOON. CHECK BACK IN DECEMBER 2017*

Update: Originally, Golden Corral was included in this list. While nationwide, many Golden Corral restaurants were open, the Fort Wayne location was closed. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

With all the hustle and bustle that accompanies the holiday season, you may consider giving your hosts a break from cooking and suggest hitting the town for a nice dinner out. Who knows, you may even start a new family tradition. And don’t worry, I promise you’ll have a better experience than the poor family in A Christmas Story.

2015 was my first year in Fort Wayne and consequently my first year singing at the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival. Boar’s Head festivals have been held since medieval times, and the Christian version of the festival started in 1340. Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Wayne has been hosting the festival since 1975.

*This post was updated in November 2017.*

In December 2015, my children and took a special horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Fort Wayne with Sentimental Journey.

I recently celebrated my first anniversary as a full-time vocal artist at Heartland Sings (yay!). As such, I had my first “Spirit of Christmas” concert experience last year. I’ve been performing for almost my whole life, and I can definitely say that this concert is very unique.

Why? Much of

“George Bailey, I’ll love you ‘til the day I die.” ~It’s a Wonderful Life

Are you a George Bailey fan?

Plan a quick weekend trip to Fort Wayne in December! First Presbyterian Theater in beautiful Downtown Fort Wayne will present It’s a Wonderful Life: A live radio play. Shows happen the first three weekends in December.

I am a professional musician--I have a master’s degree in vocal performance--and yet, I’ve never know what a “pops concert” is...until now. Thanks to a 1984 New York Times article entitled, “‘Pops” vs. ‘Pop’: A Popular Linguistic Ambiguity,” I am now in the know. Here’s author Will Crutchfield’s definition:

“'Pops,'' though also derived from ''popular,'' is more narrowly defined [than “pop”]. It refers to what we call ''light classics'' and to popular music arranged for the standard ''classical'' symphony orchestra - the ''1812'' overture, Beatles medleys, Strauss waltzes, and Cole Porter for swooning strings.”

We are blessed in Fort Wayne to be home to the marvelous Fort Wayne Ballet, which presents The Nutcracker each Christmas season. This year, you have another Nutcracker option. The Moscow Ballet will be coming to present The Great Russian Nutcracker at The Embassy Theatre. Probably no other country is as famous for its ballet feats as Russia.

If it’s Advent, can Mannheim Steamroller be far behind?

Fans of the globally acclaimed group will be thrilled to know their favorite Christmas ensemble is giving a dazzling multimedia concert of classic Christmas hits during the Advent season on December 6, 2016, at the Embassy Theatre.