Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration at Hilbert Circle Theatre

Friday night can belong to tap-dancing Santas, an orchestra and the surprises of Yuletide Celebration. On December 11 at 7:30 PM, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration fills Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis with a full orchestra, vocalists, cirque artists and choreography. It is a holiday night built to be watched, not just heard. Music, movement and spectacle share one stage.

The 40th-anniversary edition brings back favorites, including ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and tap-dancing Santas. That is the kind of tradition that turns a night out into a shared memory. Jack Everly conducts, and Curtis Bannister hosts. Bannister's background spans Broadway, opera and concert performance, and he co-hosted the 2025 production. Expect a guide who knows how to bring a room together.

Then comes the surprise factor. Cyr wheel performer Nick Hodge and rolla bolla performer Ermiyas Muluken join the program as specialty artists, adding daring physical artistry to the orchestral sound. ISO violinists Kevin Lin and Sherry Hong are also announced in a duet, giving the evening a more intimate musical moment among the bigger set pieces. It is not an instrumental-only concert. It is a holiday show with variety, personality and a few moments that may make you gasp before you applaud. If you want December to feel like more than errands and screens, make a date with this celebration. Reserve your seats for Yuletide Celebration at Hilbert Circle Theatre and give your holiday season a night worth remembering.