Christmas in Brown County
by Paige Langenderfer
Nashville will celebrate Christmas in the Village in signature style this year with a festive calendar of events. From the iconic Christmas Light Parade, to Breakfast with Santa and a Christmas sing along, this small town Christmas has something for everyone.
Santa Claus will be taking visitors at the Pioneer Village, Mrs. Claus will be visiting with children at Bear Hardware, and the new Town Christmas tree, located in front of the new History Center, will be lit for the first time on December 5. The streets and shops will be decorated with lights and garland, creating a winter wonderland for residents and visitors.
Stuff a Stocking is one of the community’s newest traditions. Participating children receive a custom made stocking from For Bare Feet and collect treats from 30 Nashville merchants.
Last year, the Brown County Art Guild gave children a water color painting kit and later displayed the children’s completed art. Other merchants gave children small, wrapped gifts.
The second annual Stuff a Stocking will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 5. Advance tickets can be purchased for $15 online at BrownCountyGives.org. If still available, tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $20 each at the Brown County Community Foundation or the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Only 300 tickets will be sold. For more information, visit https://browncountygives.org/bcgives/stuff-a-stocking.
Tree Lighting Ceremony with Santa—6 p.m. November 27 at the Brown County History Center.
Visits with Santa—Noon to 5 p.m. November 27 and 28 and December 5 at the Visitors Center Patio. Bring your camera and take advantage of free picture opportunities with Santa! Don’t forget about the free rides on the Nashville Express Tour Train during these times too!
Visitors Center Holiday Open House—Noon to 5 p.m. November 27 at the Visitors Center. Join Santa and his elves at the Brown County Visitors Center for free hot chocolate and cookies. Take your photo with Santa and warm up with some hot chocolate while you wait.
Holiday at the Farm—5 to 7 p.m. November 27–29 and December 4–6, 11–13, and 18–23 at the Shireman Homestead. Take a lighted wagon ride to the holiday village, visit Santa, the holiday treat house, and the holiday workshop. Have your letters ready for Santa’s mailbox so you can get a letter back.
Believe, A Brown County Christmas—November 27–29 and December 4–6, 11–13, 18–20 at the Brown County Playhouse. A “one of a kind” holiday show featuring Christmas songs and Broadway classics and some comedy.
Children’s Christmas Benefit Auction—6 p.m. December 4 at Out of the Ordinary. Proceeds from auction items ensure that children in need have a new clothing item for Christmas.
Santa Train—December 4 in Helmsburg. The Indiana Rail Road Company proudly presents the Santa Train. Come out and get into the spirit of the season when Santa’s train makes a stop near you.
Breakfast with Santa—8:30 to 11 a.m. December 5 and 6 at the Brown County Inn. Enjoy the Brown County Inn’s hearty breakfast buffet while the kids visit with good ol’ Saint Nick. Drawings for gifts, a hot chocolate bar, and more.
Holiday Lights Parade and Toy Drive—6 p.m. December 5 in Nashville. The Christmas Light Parade offers a variety of unique and brightly lit floats traveling through the Village of Nashville. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided along the parade route.
Steele’s Country Christmas—Noon to 4 p.m. December 5 at T.C. Steele State Historic Site. Go back in time to the early 1920s, when the Steele’s celebrated the holidays at the House of the Singing Winds, inviting neighbors into their home.
Christmas Music Sing-Along—7:30 p.m. December 12 at the Brown County Inn. Listen to beautiful voices and guitar, but don’t be shy about singing out loud to your favorite holiday tunes.
Charlene Marsh Christmas Open House and Weekend Exhibition—10 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 12 and 13 at the Charlene Marsh Studio and Gallery. Enjoy seasonal cheer, new paintings, organic refreshments, and the studio and gallery decked out in holiday finery.
Christmas Bird Count—8 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 13 at the Brown County State Park Nature Center. Canvas the park’s natural areas, trails, lakes, and shores to estimate the numbers and kinds of birds spending their holidays in Brown County. (Bring binoculars)
Santa’s Zip & Sip—December 1–25 at eXplore Brown County. Santa is at eXplore Brown County to zip with your family and find out if you’ve been good this holiday season.