INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers know there is nothing better than welcoming in the holiday season with the Downtown Indy, Inc. Circle of Lights® presented by IBEW 481.
The towering Soldiers and Sailors Monument is beautifully lit as tens of thousands of people cheer on the start of the holiday season.
Hoosiers have been gathering in downtown Indianapolis for the occasion for 60 years.
It was 1962 when lights were first strung on the monument.
In 1972, the celebration was called "Christmas on the Circle." In addition to the lights around the monument, small Christmas trees lit up around the circle.
A million-dollar winner is going to perform at the Circle of Lights.
Richard Goodall, the "singing janitor" from Terre Haute who won the latest season of "America's Got Talent," will perform at the annual holiday tradition on Monument Circle.
Other acts include:
- Spenser Johns (Tom Wood Talent Search winner)
- Fever Inferno Dance Team
- Josh Kaufman with Cliff Ritchey (Kaufman won season 6 of NBC's "The Voice")
- Indianapolis Men's Chorus
- Angela Brown, Joshua Thompson and Jared Thompson — Spectrum
- Achera Jones (Tom Wood Talent Search winner)
The annual celebration wouldn't happen without the talented workers from IBEW 481, who string 52 garland strands with more than 4,700 lights.
The show starts at 6 p.m. with the arrival of Santa and the flipping of the switch just after 6:50 p.m.
With construction now moving to the south steps of the monument, the stage for this year’s Circle of Lights will be relocated to the north side and face inward towards the crowd.
IMPD and IFD will have extra officers and firefighters monitoring traffic flow and crowd size.
Friday night, the city is also hosting an Indiana Pacers home game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the IHSAA Football State Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Officers will be actively assisting with traffic flow to help everyone reach their destinations safely and efficiently. Please exercise caution and watch for officers directing traffic in intersections. Be mindful of road and interstate closures and plan your route in advance. Once again be patient if you are coming downtown,” IMPD Commander Charles DeBlaso said.
You can also sign up for Indy’s public safety alert system by texting “COL 2024” to 67283.
The Circle of Lights is a finalist for the USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice 2024 for Best Public Holiday Lights Display.
Click here to vote. Voting ends Monday, Dec. 2, and you can submit one vote each day.
Don't forget to join us for the big show LIVE on Monument Circle on Friday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. You can also watch it on Channel 13 and WTHR+.