Local Events

Note: 

Don’t forget to apply for the Access Pass! The Access Pass program allows qualifying families to visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and participating locations for $5 per family member, per visit, for up to two adults and all dependent youths in the household. Eligible families must receive one of the following:

• Hoosier Healthwise Insurance (Indiana’s health care program for low-income families, pregnant women and children)

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

• Apply at: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/hours/access-pass

Museums

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

First Thursday Night- First Thursday every monthDec. 4, 4:00-8 p.m.

On the first Thursday of every month, we open our doors from 4–8 p.m. for just $6 admission per person! Why should you visit?

Admission is just $6 per person for the entire museum. That’s a savings of more than 75% per ticket!

It’s the ONLY time the museum is open to the public in the evening, so it’s a perfect after-hours night for your family.

It’s not as crowded as you might think! We have limited capacity on First Thursday Nights.

Parking is always free!

Our Food Court is open, so you can grab a quick and easy dinner for the whole family. Low cost. Low crowds. Late night play! https://www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/calendar/event/273

Museum My Way An adaptive museum experience

Dec. 9

This special event is an opportunity for visitors with disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities to experience the museum in a new way. Families and groups of all abilities are welcome to play and learn together!

Limited capacity. Quiet area with sensory items. Some music is turned down or off. Edited lighting effects in some areas.Tickets go on sale 6 weeks before events. https://www.childrensmuseum.org/museum-my-way

Santa’s Magical Morning -Ticket Required

Dec. 14, 20, or 21, 8:-10 a.m.

Celebrate 100 years of wonder with an Indianapolis holiday tradition like no other! Santa has landed at the museum to put a magical twist on your favorite wintertime activities. From enchanted snow slides to festive photo ops, this event brings the season—and your imagination—to life. 

Limited capacity – advance ticket purchase required  https://www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/calendar/event/212

Various Events scheduled through the month Opens at 10 a.m.

3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, 317-334-4000

https://www.childrensmuseum.org

Conner Prairie — Indiana’s Living History Museum

Sensory-Friendly Hours

Dec.14, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

The second Sunday of every month, from 10 AM to noon, are sensory-friendly hours at Conner Prairie! Enjoy a calm environment. Check-in with Guest Relations, stating that you are here for sensory-friendly hours. You will get free admission and may stay as long as you wish.

A Merry Prairie Holiday

Nov 28 through Dec. 23, 5:30-10 p.m.

Join us for Central Indiana's most beloved holiday festival and make the season magical at A Merry Prairie Holiday. Surround yourself amongst thousands of lights and celebrate the holidays in Prairietown with Historic Holidays. Capture picture-perfect moments all around as you celebrate the season.

Various Events scheduled through the month 

10 a.m.-10:p.m.

13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038. Phone: 317-776-6000 or 800-966-1836  https://www.connerprairie.org/calendar

Indiana State Museum 

Sensory Friendly Afternoon 

Dec. 7, 3:-5: p.m.

650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204

Experience the Indiana State Museum in a sensory-friendly way. Each month, the museum lowers the lights and reduces distractions to create a welcoming environment for children and adults with sensory processing differences.

Guests can enjoy interactive learning in a comfortable, accepting setting. Social narratives are available at the ticket counter, and sensory-based activities are spaced throughout the museum. Sensory Bags are also available to enhance your visit.

https://9529a.blackbaudhosting.com/9529a/tickets?tab=3&txobjid=ec16dc0b-45af-4c86-987b-2150481851de

Check the calendar for upcoming December fun and various events through the month: https://www.indianamuseum.org/calendar/

Family Fun

Christmas Nights of Lights

Nov. 7 through Dec. 31, Open nightly rain, shine or snow

Enter Christmas Nights of Lights at: Indiana State Fairgrounds 1698 E 42nd St. (Gate 3).

The Indiana State Fairgrounds once again hosts Christmas Nights of Lights, Indy’s largest drive thru light show synchronized to music broadcasting through your car radio!ONLINE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!

No cash or credit will be accepted at the ticket booth. With our new reservation system in place, wait times should be under an hour. However, since there are limited tickets each night, there are NO REFUNDS. Exchanges for a different night or time slot based on availability and must be made no later than 10pm on the day the ticket is valid.

Tickets purchased using a discount code can only be exchanged for show times between 11/7/2025 - 11/22/2025.

Carload Passes and Group Passes apply to SINGLE VEHICLES only. We are not able to admit multiple vehicles under the same Carload Pass or Group Pass. The height restriction of the entrance tunnel is 11 ft. WE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE FULL SIZE BUSES OR LARGE RVS! For tickets visit https://www.christmasnightsoflights.com/tickets

Indianapolis Zoo

Christmas at the Zoo

Nov. 22, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026 | 5-9 p.m. Sun-Thu & 5-10 p.m.  Fri-Sat | Closed Nov. 28, Dec. 24 & 25, Dec. 31 & Jan. 1

1200 West Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46222

Experience Our Beloved Holiday Tradition!

A light sprinkling of snow and the glow of twinkling lights will fill the sky, creating a magical nighttime experience that has become one of Central Indiana’s most beloved holiday traditions.

Dating back to 1967, the Indianapolis Zoo was the first zoo in the nation to hold a holiday lights event. Year after year, Christmas at the Zoo presented by Indiana Members Credit Union continues to grow. For our 57th year, we’re adding beautiful new decor and experiences, to enhance your next holiday trip to the Zoo. And the best part is it’s all included with regular admission! Don't forget to visit Santa's Village!

Various events scheduled daily through the month

https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/

Sky Zone South Sensory Play

Dec. 1, 5-7 p.m. Every first Monday of the month

Sensory Fun Fridays runs every Friday from 9:-10 a.m.

4150 Kildeer Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46237

Jump and socialize in a comfortable, friendly environment. Enjoy the freedom of jumping. Sensory hours provide a quieter, toned-down jumping experience for those with special needs.

https://www.skyzone.com/programs/sensory-hours/

Sensory Sensitive Saturdays at Smiley Indoor Play

Dec. 6 and Dec. 20, 9-11 a.m.

5729 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46250

Smiley Indoor Playground in Indianapolis offers Sensory Sensitive Saturdays, a special playtime for children with sensory sensitivities, autism, or other special needs. Held on the first and third Saturday of each month.

During Sensory Sensitive Saturdays, several adjustments are made to create a more soothing experience:Reduced Sensory Stimuli – Music, certain lights, and air compressor guns will be disabled or set to minimal levels.Play Areas Open – All play areas inside the facility will be available, except for the arcade.

https://www.smileyindianapolis.com/.

Sensory Friendly Play at Urban Air Noblesville

Dec.7, 9-11 a.m.

14450 Mundy Dr, Noblesville, IN 46060

Urban Air’s Sensory Friendly Play day is typically held on the first Sunday of the month. Check the Noblesville calendar for the latest info. https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=hi8j9brk94jgnc71kmslc13js8@group.calendar.google.com

Tangram Social Clubs

5155 Pennwood Drive,Indianapolis, IN 46205

Tangram offers a variety of social clubs for everyone to enjoy! Whether you're into games, books, or advocacy, there's something for everyone and it’s all free!

Bingo - 1st & 3rd Mondays at 6 PM: Play a classic game of bingo and connect with friends!

Self Advocates - 3rd Thursday at 6-7 p.m. : Discuss self-advocacy topics and empower yourself with like-minded peers.

Game Night - 3rd Tuesday at 6 PM: Card games, board games, and more! Feel free to bring your favorites too!

Book Club - 2nd & 4th Mondays at 6 PM: Read and discuss books with a fresh pick each quarter!

Check out the schedule below and join us for some fun, learning, and great conversations. We can’t wait to see you there! For more information about Tangram's clubs, please email jrice@thetangramway.org.

#TangramClubs #CommunityConnection #InclusiveFun #JoinUs #TheTangramWay 

AMC Theatres

Check website for location, date and times.

AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Wednesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month.

Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don't forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly. https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films

The Arts

Wishes Dance Studio

12810 Ford Dr, Fishers, IN

Abilities Dance Class Free

Every Monday 5:15-5:45 p.m.

This movement class is designed for exceptional learners age 3+. This class is great for students with autism, down syndrome, or other developmental disabilities. Dancers will have fun in class while building gross motor skills, gaining confidence in rhythm, and expressing creativity. No fee for this class but pre-registration is required.

Wonders on Wheels Free

Every Monday, 5:45-6:15 p.m.

This class is designed for dancers in a wheelchair. We’ll place an emphasis on upper body dance technique. The choreography will also give dancers the opportunity to move around the dance floor working on rhythm and patterns. Wonders on Wheels is a fun environment in which dancers build confidence and express creativity. No fee for this class but pre-registration is required. https://www.wishesdance.com/adaptive

The ARC of Hancock County Adaptive Dance ( Adaptive Ballet Coming Soon)

Dec. 4, 5-6:00 p.m.

Hancock Wellness Center, 8505 N Clearview Dr, McCordsville, IN 46055

Join us for an adaptive dance class every 1st Thursday of the month at Hancock Wellness Center, McCordsville! This program is designed for individuals with disabilities of ALL ages. Siblings are welcome to join. To Register: https://thearcofhancockcounty.com/adaptive-dance. Parents/Guardians must stay for the duration of the class.

Jubilate Choir

Butler University, Lilly Hall, Room 133

Thursdays, 6:30-7 p.m.

The Jubilate Choir is for singers with special needs in grades 3-9. Singers with varying abilities meet each week to grow musically. This tuition-free choir focuses on proper singing techniques, music theory and sight-reading, part-singing, and social skills involved in being a member of a musical ensemble.

Though Jubilate has, at its core, the same goals as other choirs in the Indianapolis Children's Choir (ICC), singers in Jubilate engage in additional activities like visual and tactile experiences that are catered specifically to the current members of the choir.

Director: Lauren Southard

For more information, contact Lauren Southard at 

317-940-8065 or lsouthar@icchoir.org.   https://icchoir.org/special-needs/

Gigi’s Playhouse 

Various classes during the week.

5909 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46250  317-288-8235

indy@gigisplayhouse.org  https://gigisplayhouse.org/indianapolis/sfcalendar/

Events

Bounce Into the Holidays: Sensory-Friendly Event with Uniquely You & Urban Air-Plainfield

Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park (392 Plainfield Commons Dr, Plainfield, IN

You're invited to a festive, sensory-friendly holiday experience designed for the special needs & disability community!Join us for:Photos with Santa — capture magical holiday memories!  Sensory Play Activities — specially designed with comfort and inclusion in mind. 

Urban Air Play Adventures including: Trampolines & freestyle bounce areas. Indoor playgrounds & climbing walls. Warrior obstacle courses. Ropes courses & balance adventures. Tubes, tunnels & imaginative free play zones. Dodgeball & slam dunk basketball. Sensory-friendly spaces for kids to relax and explore safelyEvent Details:

Ask The Arc Webinars Series

Dec. 11, 6-7:00 p.m.

Our Ask The Arc webinar series will provide information and discussion on timely topics relevant to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and their support systems.

Webinars take place on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. EST. Past webinars will be recorded and posted to view on your own schedule in The Arc of Indiana Academy and on our YouTube channel.

Registration is for the complete webinar series. You can pick and choose which ones you want to attend without having to register each time. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hTnwxka_S--MknIpiQoNrA#/registration

More info: https://www.urbanair.com/indiana-plainfieldLink to register: https://buytickets.at/uniquelyyou/1837702Cost is $10 per child and can be paid upon arrival to Urban Air: Parents & caregivers can jump and join the fun for free!

Ordainment, Cookie Decorating Open Play, and Caregiver Connection hosted by Uniquely You, Connie's Clubhouse, Prana Play, and Cocktails & Caregivers.

Dec.12, 6-8 p.m.

Prana Play, 1019 Third Ave SW, Carmel, IN

Come celebrate, connect, and enjoy a night of creativity, community, and holiday cheer

To Register: https://form.jotform.com/251985173961165

ACC Breakfast with Santa

Dec. 20, 9-11 a.m.

New Hope Church5307 W. Fairview Rd. Greenwood, IN

Our annual Breakfast with Santa will have a delicious breakfast, “reindeer” games, holiday crafts, carriage rides, and a chance to meet with Santa Claus! Breakfast with Santa is for families affected by autism. Lots of fun for all ages and everyone in the family to enjoy. Registration is required to attend Breakfast with Santa. Our carriage ride sign up is first come, first served. Breakfast with Santa registration will open after Thanksgiving. https://autismcc-in.org/breakfast-with-santa/

Is there a local event for the special needs community you would like us to promote in an upcoming issue? Email us at Jamie.Olson@n2co.com