Everyone's a Critic

When I was 9 years old my family moved from Utah to Indiana due to my mom's job. Leaving all my friends behind and not having much luck gaining any new ones( I was picked on quite a bit). My year thus far had been horrible, until one night my dad said he was taking me on a date. We both got all dressed up and off we went to the ISO!! I love music and have since I can remember. It was the year they had the giant puppets and the most AMAZING cider, as soon as it began life was so wonderful and all...Read More »

In 2005 my daughter Heather and I were celebrating being, not only Mom and daughter, but finally learning to be friends. We heard about the Yuletide Celebration on the radio, if i remember correctly and began to pray about going. The money came and we got tickets and we were indeed blessed. She and i laughed and cried and then got a picture taken beside the tree, and although i no longer possess the picture, I will always hold dear that memory. My daughter has been out on her own for several...Read More »

We never know what to get my Mother-In-Law for Christmas. I had always heard wonderful things about the Yuletide. We have been taking her to the show for 4 years, she has a difficult time walking, but wants to sit close to the stage as she is 82 years young. I usually get seats in the 4th or 5th row. Her walking has become more and more difficult so this year I will have to get seats in the so called handicap area. Last year the ushers helped us get her up the steps for 30 minutes but they never...Read More »

I believe it was the year of 2005 when I saw my first Yuletide show. I was 20 years old. (The same number of years as the Yuletide Show! :) I attended the show with my boyfriend and his family. For his family, the Yuletide show was a family tradition which included buying Christmas cookies at intermission. Yum! It was an amazing show! I will never forget the feeling of being in a Christmas wonderland where beautiful chords along with incredible orchestration created the "awh" with every piece....Read More »

I had been anxiously waiting for our two oldest grandchildren to become 4-years-old so they could finally join us at our annual trip to the Yuletide. Last year (2009) was finally the year! After seeing the reindeer, the costumed characters, and the beautiful lobby, we were in our seats. Max looked around at the theatre and said, with wonder in his voice, "Grandma, isn't this lovely!" I simply melted.

Name: Mrs. Roger Nelson
City: Indianapolis, IN

In December 1997, I was halfway through my sophomore year at Butler. I had just started taking harp lessons in January, and my harp teacher, Diane Evans, was the principal harpist with ISO. She knew how much I loved musicals and pops concerts, so she told me in November that I absolutely must check out Yuletide at the Symphony. I balked. First of all, tickets were almost $20 at the time, and as a broke college student, that sounded ridiculous. I didn't know anything about the show, and I wasn't...Read More »

Today is my 29th birthday and December 4 will be my 25th Yuletide Celebration. As I have been receiving wonderful cards and calls from friends all day, I have realized that my birthday memories through the years have always been connected to the Yuletide Celebration and want to take a moment to reflect on my favorite memories through the years. We had recently moved to Indianapolis when my dad saw the advertisement for a new type of Christmas show taking place at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, The...Read More »

I've only been to Yuletide Celebration once-- it was possibly 15 years ago. It was a fieldtrip with the school orchestra I was in. I always have enjoyed performances, and although I don't remember much, I do remember enjoying it. I'd like to share the wonderful holiday experience with my husband some time. I would love for this year to be memorable with this prize-- he's been laid off from his career, and was diagnosed with a chronic debilitating illness this summer. We sure could use some...Read More »

Well my favorite host is by far, the incomparable Sandi Patty!!! My Mom & cousins' birthdays are on the same day in December (also the same as my Grandpa, my mom's father, but he has passed away). My Mom, cousin, my sister & I make a girls trip & drive to Indy to celebrate their birthdays and also to remember my Grandpa. What better way to celebrate life than hearing great music, great singing and being with the ones you love? Yuletide is very special to me & I hope we continue this family...Read More »

I love Sandi Patty. I love her cheerfulness and how she works a crowd. The year I went was when the boys choir sang with her. It was awesome and such a great holiday memory. We can't afford to go this year and really would love to make it a part of our Christmas celebration. Even if I don't win this contest I will be looking for a way to afford it. God Bless you!

Name: Shelly Cummings
City: Indianapolis

My fondest memory will be my son's debut in Yuletide this year!

Name: Lori Tigert
City: Nashville, TN

In my junior year at Tri-West High School, my choir teacher Mrs. Hahn planned an evening trip to the ISO for the annual Yuletide Celebration. As soon as she announced it, I was ecstatic! I had been once before in middle school, and I loved it and wanted to go back ever since then. I loved all the decorations, and the giant Christmas tree in the middle of the lobby was so magical, I immediately went to buy a few of the delicious gingerbread cookies and milk and urged my friends to do so too! We...Read More »

I had always loved Yuletide, having enjoyed it with wonderful friend/friends. It is my favorite Christmas Show in Indy! - but, nothing was as enchanting as when I took my two young newphews and got to see the wonder in their eyes and on their faces as Santa came down the Chimney and went back up the chimney to his sled, after visiting the Yuletide family, ho-ho-ho-ing, away! - and all the other wonderful parts of the show: the tap-dancing Santas, the Christmas Carol piece, Santa going down the...Read More »

I remember when I was eleven years old, I attended the Yuletide Christmas Celebration in December of 2004. A neighbor of mine gave my mother and me tickets to the Yuletide show. We were both very excited because we had never been before because we could not afford the tickets. I remember when we entered into the orchestra; I stood in awe of the beautiful decorations that were placed throughout the lobby and theatre. The decorations were magical and made me feel the Christmas spirit all around....Read More »

I would like to be able to say I have been to see the Yuletide Celebration. I know several people that have, they all say it is a wonderful experience. I was online checking on pricing, but my husband is without a job right now. I would love to take our family, I feel like our children are old enough to enjoy this wonderful preformance. I would love the opportunity to win this christmas package,to share with them the joy to the season.

Name: Lynn Steppe
City: Terre Haute

Although I grew up in Indiana, I had never been to the Yuletide until 2005 when my boyfriend and I purchased tickets for ourselves and my cousin and her husband. We girls made the boys dress up a bit giving us an excuse to buy new outfits and "doll up" a bit! From the minute the curtain went up, I was in love with the show. We left that evening feeling more like kids than the exhausted 25 year olds who were busting our bums to make names for ourselves in the working world. Tap Dancing Santas??!!...Read More »

My story is the experience the Yuletide Celebration has for our family. We have 4 children from 22 to 11. The night we dress up and come downtown, eat out downtown and experience Yuletide together is one I will always treasure. My kids know we can't afford it and know we have made sacrifices to take the whole family. They feel the Christmas spirit throughout the whole evening. It's as if time stands still during the rendition of the Night Before Christmas.  Thanks for providing such an...Read More »

My Brother-in-law got all the women together in the family we had no idea what was going on "dress nice" he says. He picks us all up in a rented limo takes us to have professional group photos taken, then away we go to the Yuletide Celebration, we had no idea were the vehicle was going just tons of good talk and laughter as we found out one of the 3 sisters had her shoes on the wrong feet because she just kept complaining how bad her feet hurt, to this day it's still a good laugh. We brought up...Read More »

I remember the first time we as a family attended the Yuletide Celebration, it was the buzz all over, people everywhere had attended the year before and they just talked with such ah. We as a family purchased tickets and I remember the warm feeling as we walked into the Circle theather, I was so impressed and then the show started, I felt like a 5 year old, I was totally amazed with the show-I didn't want to miss one single moment. We as a family enjoyed the experience and afterwards went to...Read More »

In Dec. 2006 my mother and I were lucky enough to score 2 front-row tickets to Yuletide. It was a weeknight, and it being December everything was rush rush rush -- hurry from work, to Weight Watchers, grab a bite to eat and find our seats. Whew! Did you catch that bit about Weight Watchers. It'll be important in a minute. Mike Eldred was the host that year (and I would love to see him come back), and the variety acts were spectacular. However, when a group of young men started in on a love song...Read More »