Celebrate the Holidays in Northwest Indiana

What are your favorite things to do or places to go during this holiday season? We're putting together a list of 31 Things to do in Northwest Indiana for the holidays. Send your suggestions to contribute@valpolife.com and we'll add them to this article!

Visit Santa in the basement of Harvey's...oh, right, never mind. Okay, how about visiting Santa at Lowenstine's...oh, can't do that either. Is Santa still visiting at the courthouse?
Barb Walters Harris

Kouts Christmas Open House (12/4-12/5), NWI Symphony (http://www.nwisymphony.org/): Handel's Messiah--12/5, Holiday Pops (12/9), A Christmas Story Comes Home Display (Entire Month, Indiana Visitors Center), Hesston Holiday Train (First two weekends in December), Pioneer Village (http://www.pioneerland.org/, 12/4-12/5), Eat Up, Wine Down--12/2 Downtown Valparaiso, Holly Days--12/3 Downtown Valparaiso. Serve the community. Love unconditionally. Pay it forward. These are a few of the things on my list that I hope to get to this season!
Michelle Indigo Rush Clemons

I live in Seattle now and only come to Valpo every other year for Christmas. So when I am in Valpo I like to go for a drive at dusk and just enjoy the cold crisp air, Christmas lights and the beauty of a snowy Indiana.
Kathryn A Hanner-Randolph

I am with you Kathryn A Hanner-Randolph, I now live in Oklahoma and get to Indiana when I can. I also miss the snow. I truly miss seeing the giant Santa by Inmans bowling, which I know is east of town
Hugh Landsperger

Seeing the lights at Sunset Hill Park, kids always love driving through - Don't forget to donate to keep it going!
Michael Telesky

I love to drive through sunset hill park and look at the light display...I also enjoy taking the kids to Bass Pro Shop to see Santa and the winter wonderland display
Christy Schwab

The Girl Scouts (my daughter included) will be singing carols at the courthouse this Friday. Also, the Santa at Valpo Harley Shop is the best for pictures. Always nice, with a real beard and a great display.
Dawn Noel Fitzer Brown

Holly Days! This Friday, December 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, around the Courthouse Square. Santa will be arriving at the Opera House to light the tree and hear the kids wishes, carolers, ice carvers, live nativity and more! The shops stay open and welcome browsers!
Betsy Greer

On Christmas Eve, I like to drive around the Forest Park neighborhood to see the beautiful luminaries.
Meribeth Meb Mb Swartz

I grew up in St. Paul's Church, and we would always drive through Forest Park on the way home from the children's Mass. :) We also pick a night the week before Christmas to make hot cocoa and drive through Valpo to check out the best lights. I also love taking the train to Chicago to see the Marshall Fields store windows, but that isn't really NWI so I don't know if that counts, hahaha!
Lindsey Stout Koehler

Most my NWI traditions are listed. There are the lights at the park in Michigan City by the Yacht Club you can drive through as well (free.) Then there is the houselights set to music in Winding Ridge. We love, though out of NWI, Winter Wonderfest in Chicago.
Robyn Pollick Kelsey Walsworth

Attending one of the two evenings of Holiday music at the High School, "This is Our Story." It signifies the start of the holiday season for me. We are blessed to have such talented choirs and bands. Also, to drive by the lights display set to music in Ridgewood Circle subdivision, off of Bullseye Lake Road.
Darlene Congdon Perry

The "A Christmas Story Comes Home" Exhibit at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond includes 6 window displays from Macy's Department Stores in New York, kids craft and coloring table, photos with Santa on top of Santa's Mountain weekends for $5 each, Festival Weekend Dec. 4-5 featuring some of the actors from the movie, and fun events like Mommy's Little Piggy Mashed Potato Eating Contest and the Oh Fudge Relay Race!  There's more information at www.achristmasstorycomeshome.com.
Jennifer Rush

Stay home...bake christmas cookies and keep warm!
Christine Rains

Isn't there a Christmas parade one evening? And does Michigan City still do the Christmas lights at I think it's called Washington Park? Anywhere to go ice skating or sledding (weather permitting)? How about hanging holiday decorations outside or making hot cocoa with marshmallows or catching snowflakes on your tongue. Of course it's 75 degrees here in GA today so it's hard to recall the great things I did in December during my time in Indiana. I'll be home for Christmas though!
June Jones

Total lunar eclipse just after midnight on December 21, and winter solstice later in the day. http://pchris00pnc.blogspot.com/2010/11/upcoming-total-lunar-eclipse-december.html
Paulie Christman

Skitchen
Jim Ullom

The Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana offers "The Star of Bethlehem" planetarium show & "Laser Holiday" which is a laser light show. There are 5 different days to choose from. Call 219-989-3250 for more information or visit http://www.clcnwi.com/CosmicEvents/planetariumnights.html
Amanda Maynard

The Portage Historical society is having their Christmas Open House is scheduled for Dec. 11 and 12 this year from 11:00 to 4:00. Mark it on your calendars and bring the kids! Located in Countryside Park, across the road from Camelot Lanes. Watch for the sign on the north side of the road.
Barb Borg Jenkins

Not holiday related but in the winter we like to go to Brauer Museum of Art on the VU Campus. It's not very big but it's free and a nice little step out of our normal routine.
Jennifer Treptow

The Hanging of the Greens at Grace Church of the Nazerene....It is BEAUTIFUL!..... Sunday at 6pm if you're interested.
Lisa Rogers-Skripac

Celebrate the Christmas season with GracePoint on a night you won't regret, Sunday, December 19th at VU's Harre Union, 6 pm. Come for a huge dessert and coffee bar, great music, and an inspiring message!
Karin Mick