Whether you’re visiting family or you’re a local enjoying some time off work, Indianapolis is a wonderful place to spend the Christmas season. With holiday events taking place both before and after Christmas, you’ll have plenty of activities to choose from whenever you find yourself in the area.
If you’re trying to figure out how to make the most of your holiday, we’re here to help. At Bowdie’s Chophouse in Zionsville, we know Indianapolis and its surrounding areas pretty well, so we’re sharing some of the 2026 events we think are worth putting at the top of your list this holiday season—and, of course, why dinner at Bowdie’s Chophouse is the perfect way to round out your night.
When: November 28–December 24, 202
Of course, we have to kick things off with a Christmas tradition right here in Zionsville. Every year, the town welcomes the holiday season with a parade and tree lighting, then keeps the festivities rolling with concerts, Santa visits, and plenty of shopping and dining along its brightly lit, brick-paved Main Street. And we’re not just putting this at the top of the list because it’s our hometown—it’s a holiday celebration you won’t want to miss!
When: November 21–December 24, 2026
Head to Carmel, Indiana, for a taste of Christmas in Germany—with traditional German food, handcrafted gifts, mulled wine, and much more to enjoy as you browse this festive market!
When: November 14–December 26, 2026
If you’re looking for an indoor activity to escape the Indiana winter weather, why not catch a show at Indiana Repertory Theatre? Every year around Christmastime, the theatre brings Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to life onstage. A classic story in a classic theatre—it doesn’t get much better!
When: November 20, 2026–January 3, 2027
Out of all the holiday traditions in Indianapolis, this one might be the brightest! Every year, Newfields—a museum and garden campus in Indianapolis—illuminates its gardens with nearly two million lights that twinkle beneath your feet and over your head. And this year marks the event’s 10th anniversary, so they’re bringing out some brand-new displays to celebrate!
When: November 21, 2026–January 3, 2027
If you’re looking for an option that’s geared toward the whole family, head to the Indianapolis Zoo! It’s a family favorite year-round, but when Christmas comes to town, sparkling lights and festive displays give you a whole new way to experience it.
Of course, any night out in Indianapolis feels incomplete without a meal that ties the evening together. Whether you need a place to fuel up before strolling through Winterlights or a place to share stories and reconnect with loved ones after catching a show, Bowdie’s Chophouse in Zionsville—about a 25-minute drive from downtown Indianapolis—is the perfect dining experience to pair with your holiday plans. From a menu worthy of the most magical time of the year to an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else in Indiana, here’s why Bowdie’s belongs on your Christmas list.
We’ll open at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with our last seating at 8 p.m. We’ll be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
With plenty of hearty main courses and shareable sides, your stockings won’t be the only things getting stuffed. Here’s a little taste of the Bowdie’s Chophouse Zionsville menu:
No holiday meal is complete without a toast. Whether you’re raising a glass to Christmas, the new year, or simply a long-overdue evening together, there’s something on our cocktail menu for you. Here are just a few fan favorites:
With rich woodgrain, leather seating, crisp linens, and attentive service that makes you feel right at home, the Bowdie’s Chophouse experience strikes the perfect balance of elegance and warmth.
That balance carries across all our locations, but our Zionsville location has a character all its own. Located on the Graham Rahal Campus, it channels Indiana’s motorsports spirit. Here, checkered black-and-white tile offers a subtle nod to the Indy 500, while a glass wall provides a one-of-a-kind view into the Graham Rahal Performance car collection and WheelHouse Social Club’s member vehicles.
Add our holiday decorations, and you have a blend of classic chophouse elegance, Indiana motorsports, and Christmas magic you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. For a celebration that only comes around once a year, doesn’t your dining experience deserve to feel just as unique? We think so.
If you know someone who’d love the Bowdie’s experience, wrap it up and give it to them this Christmas in the form of a gift card!
With many people taking time off work and gathering with family, spots at one of our tables tend to fill up fast around the holidays. So, if you want your holiday visit to Indianapolis to include the meal it deserves, reserve your table now so you don’t miss out!
10814 Creek Way, Suite 2
Zionsville, Indiana 46077
Friday–Saturday: 5 p.m.–11 p.m.
Sunday–Thursday: 5 p.m.–10 p.m.
Christmas Eve: Opening at 4 p.m., with the last seating at 8 p.m.
Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day: Closed
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