Martin Luther King Jr. Day
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 15
Free admission for all guests
Lunch options available at The Overlook; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join us for the day to honor King’s vision of what could be achieved through non-violent protests. In collaboration with Asante Children’s Theatre, there will be special performances of short plays highlighting African-American stories in Indiana’s history. See connerprairie.org in January for the day’s program schedule.
President’s Day
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 19
Free admission for all guests
It’s George Washington’s birthday and his fellow presidents and first ladies have gathered to throw him a surprise party. All day long we’ll have history’s greatest POTUS’s and FLOTUS’s giving presentations and mingling with partygoers. Come play games, sing songs, and hear stories that celebrate the presidency.
American Heritage Chocolate Making
6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9
30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14
$55/non-member ($50/member)
Ages 18+
Enjoy time with your loved one with some traditional chocolate treats and drinks. You’ll learn about the history of chocolate and take part in its preparation from bean to cup. Grind on a traditional metate, grate brick chocolate and spices. Warm yourself by the fire as you help to prepare delicacies such as chocolate puffs and cracknels.
Holidays on the Prairie
Make Conner Prairie a part of your holiday traditions with family friendly experiences sure to get you in a festive spirit. Programs requiring reservations fill quickly, so get ahead of the holiday chaos and make your reservations now.
Tales at the Holidays: Letters from the Civil War
12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m., Saturdays, Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23
Free with general admission
Join us for a new holiday show at Conner Prairie. During the Civil War, soldiers on both sides yearned for letters from home, especially during the holidays. A soldier wrote in 1861 that getting a letter from home was more important to him than “getting a gold watch.” Many regiments sent out an average of 600 letters per day. The mail couriers became a courageous band of messengers heralding news to and from the battlefields. Utilizing song, stories, dancing and puppetry, “Tales at the Holidays: Letters from the Civil War” will amuse and regale all ages.
Gingerbread Village
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 24 to Dec. 23; Thursday through Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 26, 2017 to Jan. 7, 2018; Tuesday through Sunday
Closed Jan. 1, 2018
Free with General Admission
See a variety of gingerbread masterpieces created by both amateurs and professionals. Enter your own gingerbread house for a chance to win great prizes.
Breakfast with Santa
9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 9, 16, 23
10 a.m. to Noon, Sundays, Dec. 10, 17
$21.95/adult ($18.95/adult member)
$12.95/youth ages 2 to 12 ($9.95/youth member)
Have breakfast, decorate cookies and visit with Santa. Then, join Santa in song and listen to his beloved rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Breakfast items include scrambled eggs, mini muffins, honey glazed ham, freshly-made waffles and more. Find the full menu at connerprairie.org. Reservations required online at connerprairie.org or by calling 317-776-6000.
Dinner with Santa
6 p.m., Fridays, Dec. 8, 15, 22
Seating at 6 p.m., Saturdays, Dec. 9, 16, 23
$25.95/adult ($23.95/adult member)
$13.95/youth ages 2-12 ($11.95/youth member)
Enjoy a delicious dinner, decorate cookies and visit with Santa. Next, join Santa in song and listen to his beloved rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Menu items include Dr. Campbell’s mashed potato bar, a prairie salad bar, Golden Eagle Honey Baked Ham and more. Find the full menu at connerprairie.org. Wine and beer available for additional cost. Reservations required online at connerprairie.org or by calling 317-776-6000.
Conner Prairie by Candlelight
Fridays, Dec. 8, 15, 22
Saturdays, Dec. 9, 16, 23
Tours begin at 6 p.m. and run every 12 minutes until 9 p.m.
$16/adult ($14/adult member)
$13/youth ages 2-12 ($11/youth member)
$15/adult & $12/youth for groups of 15+ guests
This family-friendly, 90-minute walking tour takes you back in time to 1836 Prairietown where it’s the night before Christmas. Meet a variety of characters in their homes and learn how new settlers to Indiana’s frontier carried on their family traditions. Meet the Ullmans who are celebrating Hanukkah. Discover who Belznichol is at the Golden Eagle Inn, and then visit with the Curtis family to hear about Santa Claus and who he might visit that night. A new visitor to Prairietown will surprise the schoolmaster and add her own story about the holiday. Join Dr. Campbell at his home for dancing and singing as he and his family ring in the holidays! You can end your night by joining the rowdies outside for a song or story around the bonfire. This program is recommended for ages 7 and older and is ideal for guests who prefer a more structured program in the evening hours. Reservations required online at connerprairie.org or by calling 317-776-6000.
Holiday Cheers
6:30 to 10 p.m. Dec. 14
$40/adult
Ages 21+
Enjoy an adults-only evening of hors d’oeuvres, wine, craft beer and spirits, hosted by Conner Prairie Horizon’s Council, as you take a candlelit stroll through 1836 Prairietown. Participate in historical sausage making demonstrations, visit Doctor Campbell’s soiree, sample a historic German Glühwein, and explore multi-cultural 19th-century holiday traditions. Vendors include Tinker Coffee, Sunrise Baker, Cardinal Spirits, Scarlet Lane Brewery, Taxman Brewing Company, McClure’s Orchard and Smoking Goose. All ticket levels include entry into Conner Prairie, hors d’oeuvres, tastings from all brewers, wineries and distilleries, and a commemorative glass.
Hearthside Suppers
6 to 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 11 to 14, 2018
6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 16 to March 11, 2018
$65/adult ($60/adult member)
$60/youth ($55/youth member)
Our Hearthside Suppers invite guests to take part in an entertaining evening with our costumed interpreters. Hosted in the historic 1823 William Conner House, you’ll arrive just in time for a light appetizer then lend a hand with the final preparations of the meal. You might churn butter, grind coffee, prepare the vegetables, or more. Through work, conversation, and play, you’ll learn about 19th-century food and cooking techniques. Then, after instruction in proper etiquette, settle in and enjoy a delicious supper by candlelight, followed by 19th-century parlor games and dessert. This program is for ages 10 and older. Reservations required online at connerprairie.org or by calling 317-776-6000.
Foraging, Furs and Fun: An Indoor Winter Experience
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 26 to 31
Lunch options available at The Overlook; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Free with paid general admission to Conner Prairie.
Our outdoor grounds may be closed but we’re bringing the outside into our Welcome Center. Come to Conner Prairie and get an inside look at how settlers survived through winters of the past. Hear a fur trader from 1816 tell stories about hunting and learn how to start a fire. Help out with pickling, drying, and preserving foods, 1836-style. Forage with a Civil War soldier. Find out if you have what it takes to survive a 19th-century winter. Lunch options are available at the Overlook inside the museum’s Welcome Center.
December 2017 events
HOURS
Dec. 1 to 23
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Closed Monday through Wednesday.
Closed Dec. 24 and 25.
Dec. 26 to 31
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays.
Indoor exhibits and play spaces are open. Outdoor grounds closed except during a select number of special events.
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults, seniors ages 65 and older and youth ages 2 to 12: $8
Members and youth under age 2: Free
Group tours: Groups of 15 and more should call Guest Services at 317-776-6000 to make reservations. The group tour rate is $7 for adults and youth ages 2 to 12. Children under age 2 are free.
ACCESS PASS
$2
Conner Prairie is proud to partner with other local museums to make family fun available to more Indiana families. Families that participate in any of the state assistance programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps or Hoosier Healthwise Insurance, can visit for just $2 per family member per visit. Aides enjoy complimentary admission with employee ID or proof of employment.
MILITARY ADMISSION RELIEF
Free
Conner Prairie offers admission relief to the military by providing free daytime general admission to active-duty, retired and veteran military members and 50 percent off the general admission price for up to five immediate family members. Military ID is required. This discount is valid only for daytime general admission.
PROGRAMS AND CLASSES
Prairie Tykes
$12 per child, $11 per member
Connect one on one with your young children or grandchildren ages 3 to 6 while making crafts, dancing, singing and taking part in a special activity of the day. Younger siblings are welcome; ages 2 and older require a ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult at no charge. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Gingerbread Jamboree
9:30 to 11 a.m., 12:30 to 2 p.m., Dec. 8
Be a part of the Gingerbread Man story, decorate a cookie in his likeness and meet the lovable cookie in person.
Prairie Tots
$6 per child, $5 per member
Prairie Tots is a 45-minute program for 2-year-old children filled with fun, including crafts, singing and activities perfect for toddlers. Children must be accompanied by an adult at no charge. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Gingerbread Jamboree
9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and 11 to 11:45 a.m., Dec. 15
Be a part of the Gingerbread Man story, decorate a cookie in his likeness and meet the lovable cookie in person.
Prairie Pursuits
Prairie Pursuits offers how-to classes and workshops geared toward adults and teens on a variety of topics, and the classes are ideal for anyone wanting to discover new talents or perfect their current skill set. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Fun in the Forge
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2
$95 for non-members, $90 for members
Ages 14 and older. Be a blacksmith for a day. Learn to heat metal in a coal forge and shape it on an anvil. Complete several simple projects, such as barbeque skewers, a flint and steel fire starter and a dinner bell. All tools and materials will be provided.
HOLIDAYS ON THE PRAIRIE
Make Conner Prairie a part of your holiday traditions with family friendly experiences sure to get you in a festive spirit. Programs requiring reservations fill quickly, so get ahead of the holiday chaos and make your reservations now online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Tales at the Holidays: Letters from the Civil War
12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23
Free for members and with paid general admission to the museum. During the Civil War, soldiers on both sides yearned for letters from home, especially during the holidays. A soldier wrote in 1861 that getting a letter from home was more important to him than getting a gold watch. Many regiments sent out an average of 600 letters a day. The mail couriers became a courageous band of messengers, heralding news to and from the battlefields. Visitors will witness songs, stories, dance and puppetry.
Gingerbread Village
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 1 to 23 from Thursday to Sunday (closed Monday to Wednesday)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 26 to 31 from Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday)
Free for members and with paid general admission to the museum. See a variety of gingerbread masterpieces created by amateurs and professionals. Enter your own gingerbread house for a chance to win great prizes.
Breakfast with Santa
9 to 11 a.m., Dec. 9, 16, 23
10 a.m. to Noon, Dec. 10, 17
$21.95 for adults, $18.95 for adult members; $12.95 for youth ages 2 to 12, $9.95 for youth members
Have breakfast, decorate cookies and visit with Santa. Then, join Santa in song and listen to his beloved rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Breakfast items include scrambled eggs, mini muffins, honey-glazed ham, freshly made waffles and more. View the full menu online at connerprairie.org. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Dinner with Santa
6 p.m., Dec. 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 22 and 23
$25.95 for non-member adults, $23.95 for adult members; $13.95 for non-member youth ages 2 to 12, $11.95 for youth members
Enjoy a traditional holiday dinner, decorate cookies and visit with Santa. Then join Santa in song and listen to his beloved rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Find the full menu at connerprairie.org. Wine and beer available for additional costs. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Conner Prairie by Candlelight
6 p.m., Dec. 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 22 and 23
Tours begin at 6 p.m. and run every 12 minutes until 9 p.m.
$16 for non-member adults, $14 for adult members; $13 for youth members ages 2 to 12, $11 for youth members; group rates are available. For group rates, call Guest Services at 317-776-6000
This family friendly, 90-minute walking tour takes you back in time to 1836 Prairietown where it’s the night before Christmas. Meet a variety of characters in their homes and learn how new settlers to Indiana’s frontier carried on their family traditions. Meet the Ullmans, who are celebrating Hanukkah. Discover who Belznichol is at the Golden Eagle Inn then visit with the Curtis family to hear about Santa Claus and who he might visit that night. A new visitor to Prairietown will surprise the schoolmaster and add her own story about the holiday. Join Dr. Campbell at his home for dancing and singing as he and his family ring in the holidays. End your night by joining some rowdies outside for a song or story around a bonfire. This program is recommended for ages 7 and older and is ideal for guests who prefer a more structured program in the evening hours. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
Holiday Cheers
6:30 to 10 p.m., Dec. 14
$40 for adults; ages 21 and older
Enjoy an adults-only evening of hors d’oeuvres, wine, craft beer and spirits hosted by Conner Prairie Horizon’s Council. Take a candlelit stroll through 1836 Prairietown. Participate in historical sausage-making demonstrations, visit Doctor Campbell’s soiree, sample a historic German Glühwein and explore multi-cultural 19th-century holiday traditions. Vendors include Tinker Coffee, Sunrise Baker, Cardinal Spirits, Scarlet Lane Brewery, Taxman Brewing Co., McClure’s Orchard and Smoking Goose. All ticket levels include entry into Conner Prairie; hors d’oeuvres; tastings from all brewers, wineries and distilleries; and a commemorative glass.
Foraging, Furs and Fun: An Indoor Winter Experience
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 26 to 31
Free for members and with paid admission to the museum.
Our outdoor grounds may be closed but we’re bringing the outside into our Welcome Center. Come to Conner Prairie and get an inside look at how settlers survived through winters of the past. Hear a fur trader from 1816 tell stories about hunting and learn how to start a fire. Help out with pickling, drying and preserving foods 1836-style. Forage with a Civil War soldier. Find out if you have what it takes to survive a 19th-century winter. Lunch options from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be available for all visitors inside the Welcome Center.
CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY
Conner Prairie makes it easy to celebrate a child’s birthday by providing the scenery, crafts and party space for up to 20 guests ages 2 to 12. During our outdoor season, parties include private use of a picnic pavilion, access to the grounds, discounted tickets for the 1859 Balloon Voyage and a prairie-themed craft or scavenger hunt worksheet for each child. During the winter months, parties include use of an indoor party room with access to Create.Connect and Discovery Station and Craft Corner along with a prairie-themed craft for each child. Pricing can be found on connerprairie.org. Reservations are required and can be made online at connerprairie.org or by calling Guest Services at 317-776-6000.
HOST A GATHERING ON THE PRAIRIE
Whether it’s a family gathering or an end-of-year company celebration, you can plan a truly unique event at Conner Prairie. See our rental spaces and pricing at connerprairie.org. For more, call 317-214-4481 or email catering@connerprairie.org.