Enjoy Holiday Magic All Around at the Circle of Lights

Kick-off the holiday season with Indy’s most honored holiday tradition–the Downtown Indy, Inc. Circle of Lights® presented by IBEW 481. The 63rd annual lighting of “the world’s largest Christmas tree” will be held Friday, Nov. 28 on Monument Circle.

Free activities, holiday activations, festive food and beverages, and more will start at 5 p.m. Live music and entertainment kicks off at 6 p.m. and will continue until 7 p.m., when Santa arrives to “flip the switch.” When he does, 52 strands of garland and 4,784 multi-colored LED lights will transform Monument Circle into one of the top visual presentations in the country. Each of the five bulb colors honors a branch of the United States military—green for the Army, clear for the Air Force, blue for the Navy, yellow for the Coast Guard, and red for the Marines. Adding to the festive holiday atmosphere are 52 larger-than-life toy soldiers and sailors and peppermint sticks that circle the Monument. And above it all, Lady Victory stands tall and proud as the “tree” topper.

Circle of Lights® is made possible by IBEW 481, which represents more than 3,000 electrical workers across Central Indiana. This year also marks IBEW 481’s 21st year as the event’s title sponsor, highlighting their longstanding commitment to this beloved tradition. From the very first Circle of Lights® in 1962, IBEW 481 has been the boots-on-the-ground team responsible for installing, maintaining, and dismantling the display. Doing so takes approximately 1,750 hours each year, and prepping the 284-foot-tall Soldiers & Sailors Monument–a structure just 16 feet shorter than the length of a football field–is no small feat. IBEW 481 union members carefully secure each garland strand from top to bottom, ensuring the Monument shines safely and spectacularly all season long. This year, the lights will be up until Jan. 11.

In addition to the Circle’s iconic “tree,” SPARK Holidays on the Circle brings extra holiday cheer. From 4-8 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 22, head to the northwest corner of Monument Circle to grab hot cocoa or coffee from the Container Cafe or write a letter to Santa. SPARK is made possible by Downtown Indy, Inc., Big Car Collaborative, and the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, with support from the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana War Memorials Commission.

P.S. Don’t forget to use Visit Indy’s Holiday Adventure Pass to check in at this location. More check-ins means more prizes!