Hoosier holiday happenings: Indiana boasts a number of festive activities

Forget photos with Santa at the mall. Hoosier holiday celebrations can be so much more. Here are some of our favorite ways for tapping into the Christmas spirit.

Hesston Steam Museum

Mark your calendars for the first two weekends in December. That's when the Hesston Steam Museum located in Hesston fires up their Candy Cane Express. It's a time to drink hot chocolate and visit with Santa in the train's caboose before settling in for a trip through the museum's 155 acres of woods and fields and into the scenic countryside. When visiting this Christmas season, consider bringing a wrapped present for Toys for Tots and receive a free ride.

FYI: (219) 778-2783 or www.hesston.org

Barker Mansion

Enjoy learning about "Holidays Everywhere" at the 38-room Barker Mansion in Michigan City, an elaborate mansion built in 1837 and now a museum and civic center. From Dec. 3 to 18, the mansion, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, showcases the best of traditional holiday customs and celebrations in 11 countries. At the front door, meet St. Nicholas and Pete of the Netherlands, also known as Zwarte Piet or Dark Pete because of the chimney ash covering him. A three-tiered Italian ceppo (tree of light) displaying candles, greenery and the holy family can be found in the formal dining room while in the library features a Christmas tree festooned with German ornaments. The entire three floors are decorated for the holidays.

Washington Park Festival of Lights

While you're in Michigan City, visit Washington Park Festival of Lights, an extravaganza of holiday lights and luminaries along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Enjoy horse and buggy rides during the fest, which runs every Saturday, Dec. 3 to Jan. 7.

FYI: www.michigancityparks.com 

20th Annual Prairie Pride at Christmas Folk Art Show

Also on Dec. 3 and 4, head over to Rolling Prairie for the 20th Annual Prairie Pride at Christmas Folk Art Show where almost 30 local artisans and vendors display their wares including folk art, primitive antiques, culinary treats, freshly roasted coffee and traditional crafts in the handcrafted barn at Fawn Run Farm. Owned by artist Marcy Dailey, the farm is the perfect place for those looking for primitives to accessorize their homes.

FYI: (219) 873-1506 or www.michigancitylaporte.com/

Santa Claus, Indiana

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than by visiting a town named Santa Claus? This Southern Indiana town takes their name seriously during their month-long Christmas Celebration.

Get lit at The Santa Claus Land of Lights, which at 1.2 miles long is the largest campground holiday light show in North America. Nightly Dec. 2-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 1

Enjoy a traditional family-style Christmas dinner and photo with Santa in the Celebration Room at Santa's Lodge (dinner dates are Dec. 2, 9 and 16). Reservations required by calling (812) 937-1902

Don't miss the Santa Claus Arts & Craft Show every Saturday and Sunday during Christmas Celebration — it's the perfect place for finding special artisan and locally crafted gifts.

Always wondered what chestnuts roasting over an open fire really means and what those darn things taste like? Find out 6 tp 8 p.m. Dec. 3, 10, and 17 at Santa's Candy Castle, a historic castle-like building that's been part of this Santa oriented community since the 1930s. While you're there, stock up on candy, enjoy gourmet hot chocolate and write a letter to Santa.

FYI: (888) 444-9252 or www.SantaClausInd.org

Pioneer Village

On Dec. 2, visit Christmas past at Pioneer Village, Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Ind., for a stroll through this restored village, once a major stagecoach stop in the early 1800s. Stroll through the candlelit village with its 1816 grain mill, stone houses and businesses including an apothecary and tavern, shop for Christmas gifts at the Mercantile and meet Father Christmas.

FYI: (812) 849-3534 or www.limestonecountry.com

Bedford Christmas Parade and Festival of Lights

Stay a day for the Bedford Christmas Parade and Festival of Lights in downtown Bedford square, just a few miles north of Mitchell. The annual parade, at 6 p.m. Dec. 3, also includes horse and buggy rides, a chili supper, live music, the lighting up of the downtown and the "Christmas Lights the Heart" parade.

FYI: www.bedfordchristmasparade.com

Victorian Candlelight Christmas

Story, Ind., an 1851 pre-Civil War village, is holding annual Victorian Candlelight Christmas dinners Dec. 16, 17 and 18. The old general store will be lit by candlelight and dinner is served by waitstaff in Victorian-era costumes. Live music.

FYI: (812) 988-2273 or www.storyinn.com

Splash into New Year's

Looking for a fun way to spend New Year's Eve with the family? Consider Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park & Resort's Splash into New Year's featuring two celebrations each geared for families at this 40,000-square-foot indoor water park, one of the retractable roof water parks in the world. 8505 West State Road 56, French Lick, Ind.

FYI: (877) 936-3866 or www.bigsplashadventure.com

French Lick Resort and West Baden Springs Resort

Go for the gold — standard that is — in luxurious resorts with a New Year's Eve celebration at either French Lick Resort or West Baden Springs Resort, two embellished and elaborate restored grand resorts from the early 1900s. Package rates includes an overnight stay for two and admittance to French Lick Resort's celebration, Planet New Year's Eve 2011 in the Windsor Ballroom or West Baden for a multi course meal with wine service and dancing to the Stardusters Jazz Orchestra and a champagne toast at midnight.

FYI: (877) 422-9925 or www.visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com

Watermelon Drop on the Wabash River

Check out the rather unique 4th annual Watermelon Drop on the Wabash River in Vincennes this New Year's Eve. At midnight an 18-foot, 500-pound watermelon drops 12 Knox County watermelons (Knox is known for its multimillion dollar melon crops so losing a few on New Year's Eve won't hurt the local budget) as fireworks explode. Get there at 9 p.m. for music, a chance to meet the Illiana Watermelon Queen and a stop at the beer and wine garden. Be sure to get your commemorative T-shirts at Mojo's in the city's historic downtown. Riverfront Pavilion on Second & Busseron Streets.

FYI: (800) 886-6443 or info@vincennescvb.org