Indianapolis Family Events

I realize the contest is over, which is fine, I just wanted to send in my thanks to all the people who put on this fantastic show. I attended my first Yuletide tonight, and it was spectacular! The atmosphere from the moment you walk into the theatre is unlike anything I've experienced at a concert before. It just feels like Christmas and what a gorgeous tree! The "White Christmas" world premiere, and Mike Runyan on the harmonica were definitely highlights. Also seeing Sandi Patty host was great,...Read More »

My family and I have attended the Yuletide Celebration quite a few times over the years, and have loved each and every performance! Our first time was when my son was 4 years old and could barely stay in his seat with excitement. By the time we attended 2 years ago, we had added our daughter and even the in-laws and various friends. Having our picture taken by the tree, and buying hot cider and beautiful (delicious!) Christmas cookies are required elements of attendance! My fondest Yuletide...Read More »

My fondest memory of the Yuletide celebration is the fact that my mom's side of the family.. 15 people.. came together every year for 7 years to attend. We would get all dressed up and drive downtown together. The Christmas Carol was always our favorite act and my cousins and I always anticipated the intermission when grandma would buy us a holiday cookie and drink in the lobby. We would always eat Santa's hat first and then joke as we made him look like a pirate after one eye went missing....Read More »

The season of 2000 Yuletide Celebration was the first time any of my family had been to the Celebration but one we will never forget. My daughter was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time (Sydney was born December 18th) and from the beginning to the end of the show my unborn grandchild loved the show. She moved and kicked to the beat of the music thruout the show!!! It was amazing to see and feel my daughters tummy jump and move-the baby loved the symphony and the show! She quieted between acts and...Read More »

I am sixteen years old and have gone to every Yuletide with my aunt, mom, and sister since I was two years old, so it has sort of become a family tradition. Every year I look forward to seeing who is going to host Yuletide and what special performances they will have. There have been some pretty amazing hosts and performances over the years, from the classic tap dancing Santas and The Night Before Christmas to once in a life time experiences like the African Children’s Choir. As soon as you walk...Read More »

It's only fitting that the ISO Yuletide concert was born in the same year as our oldest daughter. It was four or five years later that we took Charnee to her first Yuletide Celebration where she was awestruck by the performance of "The Littlest Angel". Everything about the concert was magical, and since then both of our daughters look forward to "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and those impressive reindeer and trusted pupateers. But that cherubic voice of the young "angel" inspired our...Read More »

We were taking our places in the first few seats of Row N when an argument ensued. As is customary for us, I had gone in first, sitting in the seat next to “the stranger.” My teenage son Parker had halted in the aisle, making way for his brother Mason to take the seat beside me. Mason held back and waved Parker in ahead of him. Parker refused. “I’m not sitting next to her,” he said, looking at me with feigned disgust. “Oh, yes, you are,” Mason stated emphatically. “No way,” Parker asserted. “I...Read More »

My husband and I have attended the Coffee Pops Concert Series since before he retired in 1991. In 2000, Yuletide Celebration was a part of the Pops Series and I was really looking forward, as always, to the event. Unfortunately that week, our daughter-in-law's grandfather died and his funeral was the day of the concert. We offered to keep both grandsons that day while she and our son traveled to northern Indiana to be with her family. But what to do about our Yuletide tickets! After talking it...Read More »

When I think back on past Holiday seasons, the Yuletide Celebration always holds priority in my rolodex of memories. I'm 26 years old now and still remember, vividly, my visits to the Yuletide Celebration as a little girl. The giddiness covered over me as my family filed through the doors of the Hilbert Circle Theater. Out of the crisp December air and away from the streets where horse's hooves could be heard trotting around Monument Circle. Colorful hues of light radiated from the top of the...Read More »

Mike and I married in October 2004 and that year was the first time we attended the Yuletide Celebration together. It was a wonderfully warm and romantic experience that we both treasure. This year we plan to attend with our children so they also can experience the exciting, love-filled celebration. Thank you for the priceless family memories!

Name: Lisa Morgan
City: Muncie

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 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 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

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 »