Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: Yuletide Celebration at Hilbert Circle Theatre

A Sunday matinee before Christmas gives families a live holiday memory to carry into the week ahead. On December 20 at 2:00 PM, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra brings its Yuletide Celebration to Hilbert Circle Theatre, and it isn't built like a standard sit-and-listen concert. A full orchestra, vocalists, cirque artists and choreography share the stage, so your afternoon moves, sparkles and surprises you.

That variety is the big draw. Cyr wheel performer Nick Hodge and rolla bolla performer Ermiyas Muluken are among the named specialty artists, which means you may find yourself watching a performer spin and balance while live orchestral music fills the room. Returning features include ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and tap-dancing Santas. ISO violinists Kevin Lin and Sherry Hong are also announced in a duet, adding a quieter, more intimate moment to the show. It's the sort of mix that gives everyone in your group something to point at, whisper about and talk over on the way out.

This year carries extra weight, too. The ISO is advertising the 40th-anniversary Yuletide Celebration, with performances running December 4–23, 2026. Curtis Bannister, whose background spans Broadway, opera and concert performance, hosts, and Jack Everly conducts. For families, couples or friends looking for a holiday tradition worth making together, this is a chance to share a downtown Indianapolis afternoon you'll remember long after the decorations come down. Pick your seats and reserve your place at the ISO's Yuletide Celebration.