Winterlights Indianapolis
Take a road trip to Winterlights at Newfields in Indianapolis this holiday season!
Winterlights is a transformation of Newfields into a winter wonderland with over a million and a half lights on over 120 miles of light strands.
Winterlights Inianapolis is at Newfields is a 152 acre campus that has the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Lily House, Art Park, Gardens, Green House, Beer Garden, and more. Winterlights is all outside, with the exception of a self guided walking tour through Lily House.
There were a couple locations where you could purchase snacks and merchandise like chocolate chip cookies, hot cocoa (for adults and kids), light up toys, and more. (If you want to come prepared to not pay anything additional, you are welcome to come with your own light up necklaces, glow in the dark toys, and hot cocoa). Merchandise and snack tents are at the entrance, and in the garden after the Lily House tour.
While I highly recommend the spiked peppermint hot cocoa for the adults, you have to finish your drink before you tour Lily House. Masks are also required for the tour through Lily House. Lily House is a National Historic Landmark and example of a 20th century country estate originally built in 1913.
At Winterlights Indianapolis, the Lily House is decorated for both holiday fun and beauty. There are over 400 LED candles just inside Lily House. The chandelier inside the Lily House dining room is made of over 25,000 recyclable straws, and the stockings are made of recycled sweaters. (Lily House also has the best restrooms, so you can plan ahead).
Once you leave Lily House you can enjoy the Winter Market area outside the green house. At the Winter Market there are several fire pits where you can sit and warm up, as well as another tent for refreshments and souvenirs.
There are local Girl Scouts selling $5 s’mores kits with enough supplies for two s’mores each, which my kids really enjoyed making (they also sell $2 scout patches).
My family really enjoyed our visit to Winterlights Indianapolis. We arrived at 6pm, and it was already dark out for viewing the beautiful lights. Each ticket (bought in advance) is timed, and they ask that you arrive within 5-10 minutes of your ticket time. Winterlights is from 5pm to 9pm nightly. It was definitely chilly when we attended – don’t forget to grab your hat, mittens, and scarf (and your mask for inside Lily House).
My favorite part was the light show on the Lily House lawn set to The Nutcracker music. My daughter’s favorite was the giant, color-changing tree. My son’s favorite was the tunnel of lights. There was also a projection mapped rock show tree, traditionally decorated Christmas trees, a light tunnel, and more.
Our time at Winterlights Indianapolis was about an hour and a half. It’d be a great end to a day trip to Indy with the local sites including the Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Lume and van Gogh exhibit (which are the indoor sites at Newfields).
If you’re planning a holiday weekend in Indianapolis, you may want to check out these other attractions and a great resource is Indy with Kids:
- A Merry Prairie Holiday – Conner Prairie
- Christmas at the Zoo – Indianapolis Zoo
- Jolly Days Winter Wonderland – Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- Festival of Trees – Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
- Jingle Rails – Eiteljorg Museum
- Celebration Crossing – Indiana State Museum
- Circle of Lights (World’s Largest Christmas Tree) – Downtown Indianapolis
For more fun exploring lights, visit our Winter Woods Spectacular post for a discount – right here in Louisville at Iroquois Park.