Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration at Hilbert Circle Theatre

Midweek December plans do not need to be ordinary when the orchestra’s holiday production is onstage. On December 9 at 7:30 PM, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Yuletide Celebration fills Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis with a full orchestra, vocalists, cirque artists and choreography. That's not a concert where everyone sits and listens in the same way for two hours. It's a holiday show built to keep you leaning forward.

Then there are the surprises. Cyr wheel performer Nick Hodge and rolla bolla performer Ermiyas Muluken are among the named specialty artists, so the stage promises movement and daring alongside the music. Returning favorites include 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and tap-dancing Santas, the kind of details that make a family point and grin. ISO violinists Kevin Lin and Sherry Hong are also announced in a duet, a quieter moment of live musicianship in the middle of the spectacle.

This year marks the 40th-anniversary Yuletide Celebration, with Curtis Bannister hosting and Jack Everly conducting. Bannister's background spans Broadway, opera and concert performance, and he co-hosted the 2025 production. That gives the evening a seasoned guide through the fun. Bring your parents, your kids, your best friend or the person you want beside you when the lights dim. Shared holiday memories are made in the room, not on a screen. Choose your seats for the December 9 performance and make Yuletide Celebration part of your Indianapolis holiday plans.