You don’t have to go very far to get into the holiday spirit. There are plenty of fun activities for the whole family right here in Greater Lafayette! Here are a few of my family’s favorites.
McCord’s Candy Cane Tour
If you’ve never taken a candy cane tour at McCord Candies, make this year the year you do it. It’s a fun, festive experience that begins in mid-November each year. It’s so much fun to watch old-fashioned candy canes being made right in front of you! These tours are open to the public on Fridays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can also call them if you’re interested in a reservation for a large group.
Cassens Trees
Are you a real or a fake? I mean, when it comes to trees. We had a blast last year when we trekked through the rows of beautiful trees at Cassens Tree Farm on Morehouse Road. The snow was falling, and it was quite a festive experience, even with our frozen fingers and toes. Cassens Trees grows Fraser, Canaan, Douglas, and Concolor fir trees, as well as Scotch and White Pine trees. They are also a three-time winner of the Indiana Grand Champion Tree, so you know their trees are quality! (In my experience, they really do hold up very well throughout the month of December if you care for them properly.)
Lafayette Noon Optimist Club Trees
If traipsing around a Christmas tree farm isn’t your idea of fun, I can’t say I blame you. Luckily, you can grab one from the Lafayette Noon Optimist Club in the parking lot of the Frozen Custard store on Main Street in Lafayette. You’re not just getting a tree but are also doing something to help the community; proceeds from the sale go to children and community programs in our area.
Faith East Nativity
Since the early 1990s, Faith East in Lafayette has utilized tons of volunteers (both the two-legged and the four-legged) to put on a living nativity. It’s truly an epic event—a beautiful Biblical account with 14 life-sized scenes surrounding Jesus’s life here on earth. You can opt to walk through or drive through the nativity, and there’s audio narration for each scene (you tune into your car’s radio to listen). Insider tip: the first few days of the nativity production are far less crowded than the last few.
Calvin Contrell Display at Oaklawn Acres
I’m cheating a bit here because this isn’t in Lafayette, but after the nativity at Faith, head over towards Rossville for the annual Calvin Contrell display at Oaklawn Acres! It’s so cool to see what one family does to bring holiday joy to people of all ages.
PMO Christmas Show at Purdue
The PMO Christmas Show (in its 86th production this year!) is always a treat for the whole family, but be sure to get your tickets soon! They do sell out, and you don’t want to miss this magical event, especially if you haven’t been to it before.
Purdue Bands Shows
Enjoy a FREE show from the Purdue Bands at Loeb Playhouse, Holiday Cheer & All That Jazz, on Saturday, December 7th, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. This fun event features all of the Purdue jazz bands.
There is also a Christmas horn extravaganza in Matthews Hall on December 7th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. This concert is also free and open to the public!
The Polar Express
Who doesn’t love the classic Polar Express movie? There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit with your kids. There’s a free showing at the Long Center, but there are no advanced tickets, so you’ll have to get there early to get a seat. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the 2 p.m. showing. Children are invited to wear their pajamas, and hot chocolate and snacks will be for sale at the concessions stand. Word is that they might just also get to meet the conductor of the train himself!
Lafayette Christmas Parade
December 7th is a busy day, because it’s also the day of the Lafayette Christmas Parade downtown! Join the community for a lighted Christmas parade on Main Street from 11th to 2nd Streets from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The Hahn Mansion
Have you ever visited the Hahn Mansion near the top of 9th Street Hill? Christmas at the Hahn Mansion is the time to go because the exhibits are so wonderful. You’ll love the trains moving from room to room and the six-foot nutcrackers.
Lighting the Luminaria
A decades-old tradition takes place each year on the same hill—the lighting of the luminaria. This is a sight to behold on Christmas Eve, right before you return to nestle into your beds for the night. You can also see these beautiful lights on the weekend before Christmas.
The holiday season comes fast and furious, so make the most of it. Get out and enjoy what makes our area special! What are your area favorites at this time of year?
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