As temperatures drop, the Town of Zionsville is gearing up for annual holiday celebrations.
Winterfest is a monthlong celebration created by the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department in 2021. The annual event has activities for people of all ages throughout December.
Mindy Murdock, director of recreation services, said the event is an opportunity for people to celebrate the season and participate in winter activities throughout the town.
“While we see great attendance in all our warmer-month programs, people tend to stay indoors in the winter,” Murdock said. “Winterfest invites people to get out, go into the parks and see what the winter season can provide.”
Murdock said all fees from Winterfest programs go toward purchasing supplies for the event, such as craft supplies and cocoa.
For a variety of reasons, one significant change is that the ice skating rink at Mulberry Fields will not return this year.
“There were a couple of reasons why we did not bring it back this year,” Murdock said. “The biggest reason is that we wanted Mulberry Fields facilities to catch up in its amenities. With the rink, there were a lot of issues with behind-the-scenes things that people didn’t notice (in the past). The goal is to bring it back eventually, but it will be on hold for a year or two.”
Many programs require registration. To register, visit zionsvillein.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29892.
Winterfest activities
Luminary Walks
Winterfest kicks off from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 with a family-friendly luminary walk at Elm Street Green, 165 N. Elm St. The candlelight walk will showcase the park’s paved pathway, which will glow with lights of hundreds of luminaries. The event will also be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at Overley-Worman Park, 6040 Godello Circle, and Dec. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Creekside Nature Park, 11001 E. Sycamore St.
Shadowbox Ornament Making
From 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, guests 6 and older can visit the Zionsville Nature Center, 250 N. 5th St., to create an ornament. The vintage-inspired craft will feature pine trees, snowmen, snowflakes, sparkles and other embellishments for use. Admission is $5 for residents and $7 for nonresidents. Registration is required.
Winterfest Scavenger Hunt
From 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 8, guests can join parks and recreation staff for a scavenger hunt through Elm Street Green, 165 Elm St. There will be an opportunity to search for reindeer, winter birds and other natural festive things. Registration is required.
Christmas In The Park
Santa and his reindeer will be at Elm Street Green, 165 Elm St., from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 9 to visit children ages 2-12. Activities will include hot cocoa, a campfire, crafts, a candy cane scavenger hunt, a chance to give Santa a letter and more. Admission is $3 for residents and $4 for nonresidents. Parking will not be available at the park, and registration is required to secure a spot.
Gnome For The Holidays
Guests 6 and older can learn how to make a gnome with a hat, nose, beard and body using mismatched socks from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Zionsville Nature Center, 250 N. 5th St. Admission is $10 for residents and $14 for nonresidents. Registration is required.
Cocoa & Canvas
For National Cocoa Day, guests 10 and older can celebrate from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Zionsville Nature Center, 250 N. 5th St. There will be a hot cocoa bar and the chance to create a canvas painting to hang at home or gift for the holidays. Admission is $15 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. Registration is required.
Holiday Card Papermaking
From 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 15, guests 8 and older can visit the Zionsville Nature Center, 250 N. 5th St., to create holiday cards from recycled paper, natural materials and native seeds. All participants must register, and this is not a drop-off program. Admission is $3 for residents and $4 for nonresidents.
Makers Market
Winterfest and Christmas in the Village will join forces on Main and Pine St. in Zionsville from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 16. People from all communities can come to shop local makers, crafters and artists for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. To see a complete list of vendors, visit zionsville-in.gov/winterfest.
Night Tree
From 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Zionsville Nature Center, 350 N. 5th St., the community can join naturalists and librarians from Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Library to read a seasonal classic story about a family’s gift to forest animals. Attendees will create a night tree by decorating the trees outside the library with wildlife-friendly treats. Registration is required.
Winter Solstice Campfire
From 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Mulberry Fields Park, 9645 Whitestown Rd., Winterfest will celebrate the longest night of the year and the official start of winter with songs and roasting marshmallows around a campfire. Attendees can park at Mulberry Fields Park and follow a luminary trail to Maplelawn Farmstead for the fire.
Nature Ornaments
Attendees can visit the Zionsville Nature Center on select Saturdays in December to make nature-inspired ornaments. Each Saturday will feature a unique ornament to make using natural materials. From 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 9, attendees can create a sun catcher ornament. From 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 16, attendees will create a pine needle clay ornament. The last chance for the event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 23, where attendees can create a pinecone tree ornament. Admission is $5, and only cash is accepted.
Noon Year’s Eve
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at Lincoln Park, 41 S. 2nd St., a celebration will be held to honor the town’s accomplishments as 2024 approaches. The event is for adults and children who cannot make it to midnight. There will be activities for children ages 2 and older and a countdown to noon. Registration is required to attend.
