DISCOVER | Holiday Fun
Just a few miles south of Elwood is another small town , Frankton . Their 5th annual Christmas Festival is November 18 , 2023 from 4 p . m . to 8 p . m . Love Christmas trees ? There will be around 45 decorated in many eclectic styles by local businesses and organizations within the community . You will be able to purchase extra tickets to vote for the tree you like the best . Kids can decorate cookies , while Santa greets all wide-eyed children on the stage , listening to the one thing they dream of seeing under their own tree on Christmas morning . A bake sale with every delectable treat imaginable will be sold . This is to raise funds for future Christmas Festivals and repair and maintain the lights and very tall Candy Canes , Snowflakes , Bells , and luminaries .
A hot cocoa stand with free hot drinks is set up to warm up . The highlight of the whole event is the Chili Supper ! It is free ! Many community members , such as civic groups and school kids volunteer to help during the supper . The Christmas music being filtered through speakers will be the finishing touch on a wonderful evening .
Pendleton has a very active community downtown with several small businesses . Steeped in rich history , Pendleton has decided on an old-fashioned take by using a vintage theme this year . The idea is to decorate with remembrance of Christmas of old that many families may have grown up with and bring the charm of what once was into the present . The Christmas in Pendleton festival runs on November 11th from 10 a . m . to 2 p . m . and starts right in the middle of town . Plan to have a snowball fight as a family ! A parade with Santa and crowning of a ‘ snow court ’ queen and a younger princess court takes place along with a wreath decorating contest . Businesses are open for holiday shopping and a kids fun zone and live reindeer adds to the build up of excitement . Santa plans to visit with each child in Gallery 119 . Don ’ t forget to take a carriage ride under a warm blanket through the park . The town just re-opened the playground with new equipment , and it is must-see . Take the family and step back in time to a simpler Christmas season that you remember from your childhood .
Love driving around looking at Christmas lights ? Add the Nights of Lights at Mounds State Park to your bucket list this winter . This will be the third annual drive-through holiday light display presented by the Friends of the Mounds State Park . Drive through and be mesmerized by over 65 individual campsites decorated by many in the community such as citizens , businesses , and organizations of Madison County , with help from the staff of the park to set everything up .
Every weekend , Friday through Sunday , in December the park will be open to see the lights . There is a fee of $ 10 per vehicle to enter . Many volunteers and special guests pass out treats to everyone who comes through the campground . Rumor has it there will be important visitors on the front porch of the campground gate
house greeting all vehicles coming through . The wonder of each creative display shows so many themes that represent the holiday season . Also , the park mascot , the fox , will be hidden among the displays and you get to find all of them as you drive through ! Animation in the form of a waving Santa Claus , Angel Wings , and elves pop up among the light displays . And , yes , they will be open on Christmas night !
22 | DISCOVER FALL / WINTER 2023