Light It Up
It may be spring time here in Indianapolis, but this snow storm we had this past weekend (at the end of March) has me reminiscing about this past holiday season. The holidays are always one of my favorite times of the year and here in Indianapolis, there are always a ton of events and things to do to celebrate the season. This past December my husband and I were finally able to attend the Circle of Lights at the Soldiers and Sailors monument in downtown Indianapolis. This event is one I had always wanted to attend and is a popular event in Indianapolis. Every year on the circle downtown the Soldiers and Sailors monument is strung with lights enabling it to look like a giant Christmas tree. People come from all over the country and world to celebrate the lighting of Indianpolis' biggest and most unique Christmas tree.
This past year seemed like the perfect time to go since the weather was not too cold. The night that we attended the Circle of Lights it was a very warm December day. In fact it was so warm out that some people attending the event were not even wearing winter coats. It was one of the warmest December days and nights that I can ever remember having in Indianapolis. Because of this, the circle was packed and over 100,000 people attended the event. The circle and surrounding streets were jam-packed and it took some serious skills and pushing through hoards in order to maneuver yourself around the circle.
The circle was decorated to the 9's as always with giant peppermint sticks, nutcracker statues, and toy soldiers. The trees were all lighted with beautiful white lights. There was a stage set up on the one side of the monument with performances and there were multiple jumbo screens set at different points around the monument allowing everyone to watch the performers on stage. There was even a food truck providing the public with free hot chocolate and coffee. The circle and event were truly a beautiful sight to behold, but you had to be able to overlook the mobs of people in order to enjoy it in its full beauty. Here are some photos of the stage and monument before it was lit up:
The mood was set for the start to a perfect Christmas season. What can be better than free hot chocolate, beautiful Christmas lights, and performances of your favorite Christmas music? There was a countdown and at 7 pm Indianapolis' giant Christmas Tree lit up the heart of Indianapolis. The monument was lit with pretty lights of all colors and fireworks shot up the dark December night sky. The circle buzzed with excitement and everyone pulled out their cameras and phones to capture the special moment and get a selfie in front of the majestic tree. Below is a short video of the monument after the lighting and the fireworks show:
It was a very special moment that I was lucky enough to share with my husband and was enhanced by the fact that it was our first Christmas as a married couple. It was a fantastic experience and it was completely free. I mean what can be better than free entertainment that results in lifelong memories? I wish there had been snow on the ground and in the air to intensify the holiday spirit, but honestly if it had been snowing, I don't think I would have been able to convince my husband to attend the event.
While I don't know if we will ever attend the event again, even though I hope we do, it was one of those experiences that I will remember for all my life. It was magical from start to finish and I encourage everyone in the Indianapolis area to attend at least one time. Its one of those things that I don't think you can officially say that you are a Hoosier unless you have experienced it at least once.
Here are some more beautiful photos of the monument all lit up and my husband and I enjoying the event:
