March came roaring in like a lion this year but there were still several early signs of spring to be found in central Indiana even during spring’s coldest month. Longer days and daffodil shoots peeking up through the ground promised winter would be over soon, and the calendar quickly started filling up with all kinds of fun spring events, including the annual Indiana Flower and Patio Show at the state fairgrounds. My mom and I continued our spring tradition with a visit to the show on March 11. Stepping into the West Pavilion, we were met by bright…
Christmas will be here before we know it! Now is the perfect time to check out one of the newest and best Christmas events in the Indianapolis area, the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, celebrating its second year. The outdoor German Christmas market is open Wednesdays through Sundays through Christmas Eve, with no admission charge and free parking available right next to the market in the Palladium Center for the Performing Arts’ parking garage. Check out my post from last year to learn more about the heritage of German Christmas Markets and read about my visit to the inaugural Carmel Christkindlmarkt…
Fairy fun for everyone can be found in central Indiana at a magical springtime event called Welcome to Fairyville. Nickel Plate Arts in Noblesville, Indiana puts on the four-day event with lots of activities for families such as fairy tea parties, crafts, storytelling, entertainment, face painting and – my favorite part – a Fairy Trail of miniature homes on Friday and Saturday you can explore for free. My mom and I went to the Fairy Trail last year for the first time and were really impressed with the creativity and number of fairy homes and gardens. Kids, adults and local…
Garden gnomes in search of a tropical Spring Break vacation traveled to Garfield Park Conservatory on the south side of Indianapolis the last two weeks of March for the sixth annual Gnome Away from Home exhibit, featuring more than 200 gnomes. Over half of the gnomes were loaned by local residents for the display, which has a different theme every year. The exhibit has grown to include over 200 gnomes for this year’s event. I’d been to see the gnome show once before, in 2013, which was the first year it was held. The first gnome show had…
That groundhog was right about six more weeks of winter. But those six weeks were over a while ago, and we still have winter! I am more than ready for spring! Mom and I headed to the Indiana Flower & Patio Show on March 12 to enjoy some spring color indoors while we wait for winter’s thaw. It’s one of our favorite annual traditions, and this year the show celebrated its 60th anniversary. Our favorite parts of the show, held 9 days each March at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, are the feature gardens in the center of West…
Oh the weather outside is frightful! Greetings from Indiana on a snowy and icy day where I’m stuck inside and dreaming of spring. Luckily we had a five day break from winter’s extremes earlier this week, so I was able to squeeze in a visit to the Indiana Chinese Lantern Festival on the last day of its run. I’d been trying to get to this new event since opening day November 24, but between a full schedule for Christmas and the two weeks long deep freeze that followed, it didn’t happen sooner. Temperatures were in…
I hope your 2018 has gotten off to a great start! It’s been bone-chilling cold here in Indiana for the past week and a half, as it has been for many parts of the world. Yesterday we were at -12 F, colder than both the North and South Poles! Today it’s snowing, because the side streets weren’t slick enough already. Can you sense my sarcasm, and tell winter is my least favorite season? Bring on Spring… I’m already dreaming of flowers! My favorite belonging these days is my electric blanket. And I’m bringing in…
Merry Christmas! This holiday season is going by faster than any I can remember and the past month has been a blur! Luckily before I got wrapped up in everything I had to do, I was able to slow down and enjoy several Christmas festivities with friends and family like the Handmade Ornament Exchange and the Carmel Christkindlmarkt. Another holiday activity I enjoyed earlier this Christmas season with my parents was the inaugural Winterlights at Newfields, the new name for the Indianapolis Museum of Art and its gardens. A million lights were used to create the Winterlights display and they…
Season’s greetings! The most wonderful time of the year is here, or – if you prefer the warm weather months like me – at least, the most festive! My favorite part of Christmas is making memories, so I love to attend various Christmas events, and this year I am so thrilled there are several new Christmas festivals in central Indiana. Now, how to find time to check them all off my list? 2017 marks the first year for the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, which is open Wednesday through Sunday from now until December 24. There is no admission charge and parking is free…
Fall always flies by at record speed for me, and this year is no exception. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for me at work and home. I love autumn events, but finding time to check off my fall bucket list can be a challenge. I decided to take a day off work so Mom and I could attend the covered bridge festival since we hadn’t been in several years. The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival is a ten day event which begins on the second Friday in October each year. It is…