Christmas drive-through light show with music set
BEAN BLOSSOM — Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground will host Christmas at the Bean, an interactive, drive-through light show with live music. The event will run from dusk (6 p.m.) to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 and Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 30 through Dec. 30.
Photo opportunities with Santa, visits, hot chocolate and activities will be available at the pavilion, along with live carolers and characters such as Snoopy, the Grinch, Frosty and others.
Entrance costs $25 per car (with up to five people) at the gate or $20 (plus $2.85 service charge) in advance. A portion of the proceeds will go to nonprofit Do Something, BC, which “partners with individuals, families and the community to link people in need to resources that encourage, equip and empower them” for a full, free life.
For more information, visit billmonroemusicpark.com/event/bean-blossom-lights or call the music park at 812-988-6422.
Santa Train will roll into Brown County Nov. 30
HELMSBURG — For the 29th year, the Indiana Rail Road Co. will bring Santa, Mrs. Claus and a train full of storybook characters to Morgantown and Helmsburg to visit with local children on Friday, Nov. 30.
The Santa Train is due to arrive at the tracks by the Morgantown Fire Station at 6:30 p.m. It will leave at 8 p.m.
The train is scheduled to pull into the Jackson Township fire department, 4831 Helmsburg Road, at 8:30 p.m. It will depart at 10 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
‘Believe’ live holiday show coming to Playhouse
A holiday variety show for all ages with Christmas songs, dancing, comedy, special lighting and holiday characters will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Performances will begin Friday, Nov. 30 and run weekends through Sunday, Dec. 23 at the Brown County Playhouse, 70 S. Van Buren St.
Tickets cost $21.50 per adult and $20.50 per senior/student/military. Children 10 and younger are free with a paid adult.
The Golden Ticket Production is presented by I Love Brown County and the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For more information or tickets, visit browncountyplayhouse.org or call 812-988-6555.
Make reservations for breakfast with Santa
From 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2, the Brown County Inn will have St. Nick visit during its breakfast buffet in the dining room.
For $10 per adult and $6 per child age 5 to 11, the event includes the buffet with drawings for gifts, a hot chocolate bar and more. For required reservations, call the inn at 812-988-2291 and ask for the dining room.
Market planned Dec. 1 at Columbus church
COLUMBUS — A universal holiday market will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 7850 W. Goeller Blvd. The event will include breakfast sweets from 9 to 10 a.m. and hot soup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Handcrafted and gourmet items by local artisans and nonprofit groups will be available, as well as children’s items.
Stuff a Stocking tickets for sale online until Friday
Children can follow a map to local merchants and gather treats, ornaments, toys and more to put in their Christmas stockings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
Online ticket sales end at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, if not sold out before.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the day of the event, tickets and stockings can be picked up at the Brown County Community Foundation office, on the lower level of the Howard F. Hughes Community Building, 209 N. Van Buren St., in front of Hidden Valley Inn on State Road 135 North.
To purchase tickets, $20 each, visit browncountygives.org/bcgives/stuff-a-stocking.
Holiday Sippin’ Trips tour includes four stops
Holiday-themed Sippin’ Trip tours are available Saturdays through Dec. 15. Each tour, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will begin and end at the Brown County Visitors Center, 211 S. Van Buren St.
The tour will take a shuttle bus to four locations: Chateau Thomas Winery, Bear Wallow Distillery, Brown County Winery and Hard Truth Hills.
For $65 per person 21 or older, the event includes a lunch packed by Nashville General Store and Bakery and a holiday treat from each of the four venues.
For more information or to book a tour date, visit browncounty.com/tours or call the Visitors Center at 812-988-7303.
Santa will zip, sip with families at Valley Branch
VAN BUREN TWP. — Santa will join families as they ride zip lines during weekends in December before Christmas at eXplore Brown County, Valley Branch Retreat.
One-hour tours are from 11 a.m. to noon; three-hour tours run 1 to 4 p.m. Santa is available Friday to Sunday, starting Dec. 1 until Dec. 23.
Zip tours at the retreat, 2620 Valley Branch Road, include visit, tour and photo ops with Santa, as well as cocoa in Harvest Hall with him after zipping.
Prices range from $70 to $170 per two-person minimum, depending on type of tour chosen and optional upgrade.
For more information or reservations, visit explorebrowncounty.com/book-now or call 812-988-7750.
Tickets available for self-guided cabin tour
Four log homes and a Presbyterian log church will be open to ticket holders for self-guided tours between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
The tour will include a 1937 home built using logs from the 1800s, a new partial-log home, a completely renovated log home, a log home once owned by Brown County artist Marie Goth, and a 19th century log church. Homeowners will be at each location to provide history on the homes and the church.
Tickets will be available at the History Center and the Brown County Visitors Center for $10 each prior to the event. Tickets at the History Center, visitors center and log church the day of the event will cost $12. Proceeds will go to the Brown County Historical Society for programming.
For more information or tickets, visit browncountyhistorycenter.org or call 812-988-2899.
Brown County Art Gallery will host wine market
Nine wineries from the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail will offer tastings and holiday shopping from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Brown County Art Gallery.
Several members of the gallery will be on hand demonstrating their art during the event.
Food samples from Peace Tree Mountain Truffles of Bloomington, Cookie Please of Indianapolis, Risin’ Creek Creamery of Martinsville and others will be served.
Indiana wines, wine accessories and more can be purchased as participants explore the gallery’s permanent and seasonal exhibits.
Tickets, which include all wine tasting and a souvenir IUWT glass, cost $10 in advance (plus tax). An optional small plate of cheese, meat, crackers and sweets can be purchased for $5 (plus tax). A portion of ticket sales will go to benefit the Brown County Art Gallery Foundation.
For tickets, visit uncorktheuplands.formstack.com/forms/winterwinemarket.
Chamber of Commerce open house set on parade day
The Brown County Chamber of Commerce will host an open house before and after the light parade and toy drive Saturday evening, Dec. 1 downtown. The open house will run from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Chamber Launch Space, 27 W. Main St. above PNC Bank.
The event will include games, door prizes, hot chocolate, food provided by Trail’s End Panhead Saloon and a cash bar.
Prize drawings will be at 7:15 p.m. and winners must be present.
Participate in holiday light parade, toy drive Dec. 1
The downtown Holiday Light Parade will step off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Entrants can decorate a float, truck, tractor, or even themselves with lights to join the parade and toy drive.
New, unwrapped toys (no stuffed animals) will be collected along the parade route from spectators and parade participants by the Brown County Chamber of Commerce and The Salvation Army of Brown County.
An online parade entry form is available on Facebook at thebrowncountychamber.org/chamber-programs/holiday-light-parade or by calling the chamber at 812-988-0234. Entrants should sign a waiver and be at the Brown County High School parking lot at 5 p.m. They ask that no one dress up as Santa.
For information about Christmas assistance, call The Salvation Army at 812-988-7019.
Christmas celebration slated at state historic site
BELMONT — Steele’s County Christmas will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 at the T.C. Steele State Historic Site.
The celebration of St. Nicholas Day will include holiday music, crafts and activities, hot cider and cookies, as well as a visit with St. Nicholas and Belsnickel. All the activities are included with the purchase of site admission.
The historic site will be open for the holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, Dec. 2 to Jan. 6.
Children’s benefit auction planned Dec. 7
The 41st annual Children’s Christmas Benefit Auction will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7 at Out of the Ordinary restaurant downtown. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
Proceeds provide new clothing to needy local children for Christmas.
Donations for the auction can be dropped off at Out of the Ordinary, 61 S. Van Buren St. or PNC Bank, 50 Hawthorne Drive, Salt Creek Plaza in Nashville.
For more information, visit facebook.com/bcchildrensauction.
Reserve for dinner with Victorian holiday setting
STORY — Dinners by candlelight in a Victorian holiday setting will be served during December weekends at Story Inn. Meals will be served by staff dressed in authentic Victorian garb between 5 and 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 7 to 22 and until 8 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 9 to 23.
For information, visit storyinn.com/calendar or call 812-988-2273. For reservations, visit yelp.com/reservations/story-inn-nashville.
Local holiday art, craft show slated at retreat center
Local artists and craftsmen will have an array of creations for sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Creekside Retreat. The retreat center is at 2450 State Road 46 East. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Brown County Schools Weekend Backpack Program.
Annual bird count slated for Dec. 15
The annual Christmas Bird Count will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Brown County State Park Nature Center.
Volunteers should bring binoculars and plan to canvass the park’s natural areas, trails, lakes and shores to estimate the numbers and kinds of birds wintering in Brown County.
Christmas carols featured Dec. 16 at church
BEAN BLOSSOM — An acapella vocal quartet, singing madrigals and old Christmas carols, will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 at St. David’s Episcopal Church, state roads 135 North and 45.
Bean Blossom Music Series concert programs have been offered free to the community for more than 20 years. Typically, the church hosts four to six free concerts each year, with variations in style, music and compositions. All music series events are free and open to the public; donations are welcome.
