Wintertime & Holiday Highlights
Your summer clothes may be packed away, and you may be dreaming of the beach, but there are still plenty of highlights in store for Elkhart County residents throughout the wintertime season!
Thanks to the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau you can find all the information you need in one convenient location. Check out upcoming highlights from the ECCVB’s Well-Crafted Event Calendar, and use the Calendar to plan exciting activities and outings with your friends and family all throughout the year!
Business owners and operators, seize the opportunity to put yourself squarely on the Elkhart County community’s radar! Post your upcoming 2026 events, gatherings, activities, clubs, concerts, and in-store business promotions on the Event Calendar using the ‘Submit Your Event’ button on the calendar page.
Enjoy the highlights below!
inspiring nights and lights in goshen!
Bring your friends and loved ones out to Goshen’s Shanklin Park, Nov. 27-Jan. 1, for a mesmerizing holiday display that turns ordinary nights into extraordinary memories! Goshen Night of Lights is a drive-through, bike-through, or walk-through light show full of animated light silhouettes, walk-through silhouettes, and tree wrappings. Join in on this fantastic winter wonderland!
enjoy wellfield’s winter wonderland
Wellfield Botanic Gardens’ 9th annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights event transports you to a magical setting with lights, sound, and beauty. Over 1.8 million lights accentuate the natural beauty of Wellfield, and the half-mile Promenade Pathway is aglow with color and texture, framing our Garden space as you’ve never seen it before! Experience this great event with family and friends while enjoying the sounds of the season around the Promenade. Purchase hot cocoa and treats for kids and adults alike from Navarre Catering & Events at the concession tent, presented by Everwise Credit Union.
experience toys through time!
The Ruthmere Museum’s 2026 Holiday Tours presents Toys Through Time, Nov. 29-Dec. 30. Designers and organizations throughout Elkhart County are once again invited to decorate rooms in the house for a friendly competition—this time, using vintage or antique toys. Each room will have a different toy-related theme, and visitors will be able to vote for their favorite! The winner will get a donation to a local non-profit of their choice, which will be included on the voting sheets. Make sure to visit the Havilah Beardsley House, too, which will also have toys on display!
it’s a wonderful free movie series!
On Dec. 12, the Goshen Theater presents its Free Movie Series and offers a special showing of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 – PG). George Bailey has so many problems to deal with around Christmas, and as the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George seems destined to drown in grief, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence—who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds over the years. Enjoy this holiday classic with friends and family!
tea with mrs. claus
Celebrate the holiday season at Ruthmere Museum, on Dec. 14, by attending Tea with Mrs. Claus. The tables are set with our best china and linens, and sweet teas, cookies, tea sandwiches, and other savories are on the menu! Come in your most festive attire and bring your lists, too, and hear the secrets that only the wife of the “jolly ole’ elf” himself would know! Make your reservations early, as spots will fill up fast (and she will need to get back to help the old guy)! Ages 4 and up.
a night of beautiful holiday music!
All ages will delight in the sounds, smells, and tastes of the season with a Dec. 14 holiday a cappella concert—at The Spohn in Downtown Goshen—featuring Luminos, the five member modern a cappella group from Northern Indiana. Attendees will also enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate and coffee bar and Shirley’s Popcorn will have a variety of popcorn for sale, including holiday flavors, to enjoy during the concert or take home for a special holiday treat.
the mistletoe market returns!
The Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds is the place to be, Dec. 18-20, for the wonderful Mistletoe Market—a magical addition to the 4-H Fairgrounds’ Holiday Lights event! Stroll through a festive wonderland featuring a variety of food and artisan vendors, perfect for holiday shopping and treats. Meet Santa and his reindeer, enjoy free activities for the kids, and relax in the Biergarten brought to you by Goshen Brewing Co. There’s something for everyone at this enchanting holiday experience!
party like it’s 2025!
The Big Little Holiday Party takes place Dec. 18 inside the Hotel Elkhart’s magical Aria Ballroom! Gather your team, friends, or a small group to celebrate the holiday season in style at this festive party that is perfect for everyone who wants to join in on an unforgettable evening of holiday cheer. Groups of eight or more will have their own table, groups with fewer than eight will be seated with other party guests. Grab your tickets now!
slow down and savor the holiday season
On Dec. 20, The Yoga Realm in Elkhart invites you to slow down and savor the spirit of the season with a special Christmas Candlelit Yin Yoga session. Surrounded by the soft glow of candles and the gentle sounds of classical Christmas music, you’ll be guided through a deeply restorative yin practice designed to release tension, calm the nervous system, and open the heart. Expect long-held, floor-based poses, mindful breathwork, and an atmosphere that feels like a warm embrace—perfect for reflecting, softening, and simply being.
dash those christmas blues away!
The Dash Away 5K, Dec. 27 at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, returns to transform a typical run into a dazzling and magical holiday experience! Participants of all ages and abilities run a route illuminated throughout the fairgrounds with sparkling lights and theme decorations. This family-friendly event encourages participants of all ages and skill levels. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed in festive attire and enjoy!
a roaring 20’s new years eve!
Get ready to step back in time on Dec. 31 and ring in the New Year Gatsby-style at the Hotel Elkhart’s Roaring 20’s New Year’s Eve celebration! Starting at 8 p.m., the celebration takes place inside the Aria Ballroom and tickets include deluxe overnight accommodations for two, dinner buffet for two, two drink tickets per person, live Entertainment by Bradley Sinclair, late-night snacks and a midnight champagne toast, and a New Year’s Day Hangover Brunch Buffet for two! Don’t wait, get your tickets today!
first hike of 2026!
On Jan. 1, kick off 2026 with a little outdoor therapy on a First Day Hike through the crisp, winter landscape of the River Preserve County Park in Goshen. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a stroll in the park as we celebrate the new year together. This free hike will last approximately one hour and will travel through a variety of habitats. Appropriate for all ages. Please come dressed for the weather!
be part of a nationwide event!
On Jan. 3, join the 30ᵗʰ Annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count, part of a nationwide Audubon event centered on the protection and conservation of birds. During the count, volunteers tally all the birds seen and heard within the survey area and help provide a one-day snapshot of bird populations across the county. The valuable data collected helps fuel research and guide conservation action for birds in the years to come.
