Tara & Aaron
Things To Do
Indianapolis Circle of Lights
Stop by to see our beautiful Monument Circle all lit up for the Christmas season! From the Soldiers and Sailors Monument to the IPL building, the Circle is a festive place to take a walk, shop, and explore the center of the city. This is also the location of our gorgeous engagement photos!
Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Enjoy a tour of downtown Indianapolis from the heated seat of a horse-drawn carriage! There are several companies operating downtown and they can be found waiting along the circle for passengers. Schedule your tour ahead of time or wait until the day of. Night tours at Christmastime are especially lovely. Carriage rides are family friendly.
Christmas at the Zoo by the Indianapolis Zoo
Come experience Christmas at the Zoo. Meet Santa and his reindeer, and Mrs. Claus. Winter mazes and lots of lights adorn the zoo all season. A nighttime train ride is a magical way to take in all the sights, and get a behind the scenes look at how these animals celebrate Christmas!
Lights at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Drive slowly through a two mile-long course of amazing Christmas light displays through the Indiana Motor Speedway infield and historical oval, across the famous Yard of Bricks. The course is approximately 20 minutes, and tickets are available at the gate.
Winterlights at Newfields
Take a chilly nighttime stroll through an enormous collection of Christmas Light displays arranged here at Newfields Museum of Art. This is an incredibly popular attraction and tickets sell out quickly. Advance tickets are almost required to visit the display. The museum itself is enormous, with so many things to see, so even if you're not interested in lights or being out in the cold, there is something in here for everyone.
Festival of Trees by the Indiana Historical Society
Come see over 90 fully decorated Christmas trees, each with its own unique (and sometimes unconventional) theme. Vote for your favorite, explore the other exhibits, which are free with admission to the Festival. There is a cafe with adult, and family friendly treats, and every Saturday there are special games, crafts, and prizes. The week of Christmas the Society will be open until 8pm so you can see the trees lit up at night. The Festival of Trees is a local favorite, and advanced tickets are recommended.
Ice Skating at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
Rent some skates and check out the rink at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Dress warmly because it is COLD in there! The rink is available to the public every day, but be sure to check the site to make sure that you plan for a time slot when there are no hockey or skating lessons! There is a concession stand available with lots of treats to keep you warm!
Tappers Arcade Bar
This is one of our favorite places to go to kill a couple hours. This is a vintage arcade bar. There is usually no cover, unless it's trivia night, and all the vintage arcade games are free to play. There are so many to choose from. The bar has a good selection of local and craft beer, as well as your standard choice of cocktails. Relaxed casual atmosphere. This place is street parking only, so be sure to check the meters. It's just outside the heart of Fountain Square.
Kingmakers Board Game Parlour
This is our new favorite spot! The name says it all. This is a family friendly place located along popular downtown hotspot Mass Ave. There are hundreds of board and card games to choose from for players of all ages and skill levels, as well as a variety for the number of players in your group. Admission is $5 for unlimited games, and there is a bar with some adult and cafe type beverages. It's open till at least 1am so if you're looking for something to do after the festivities, consider checking this place out! There is limited parking available behind the building, and the spots are marked reserved for Kingmakers patrons.
Tea's Me Cafe Indy
Tea's Me is THE place to go for an excellent cup of coffee or tea. They have an enormous selection, and the owner, Joy, is very knowledgeable. They also have some snack choices to choose from. The chicken salad is served on a fluffy croissant and it absolutely cannot be beat!
Kim’s Kakery, Bakery & Café
We’d be biased about Kim’s, even if they weren’t the ones responsible for our delicious wedding sweets! Family owned by family friends, Kim’s makes the best cakes in the entire city, and have provided the treats for several of our parties and events. Sounds like a bold claim, but you only have to taste it once to confirm! They also have excellent coffee and deli lunch options. Stop by Kim’s, ask for Larry, and tell him Tara and Aaron sent you.
Christmas Nights of Lights at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
This is another brilliant annual drive-through light display. View over a million Christmas lights synchronized to Christmas music as you drive through the display at the fairgrounds. You don't even need to get out of your car- so no masks required!