It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Boone County has some pretty special ways to celebrate the season. (We might be biased but we’re okay with that!) In the spirit of giving, our team is sharing with you our favorite things to do around town and with our loved ones this time of year.
Molly’s Favorite Things
- Shop Small. Fivethirty Home in Zionsville is perfect for home décor and I’ve been meaning to purchase some of the bread mixes from Zionsville Olive Oil too.
- Do family activities. Jamestown has a tree decorating contest downtown this year and you can also write and receive a letter from Santa if you drop it off in the special mailbox in front of Samson Family Leather in Lebanon.
- Give back As an office, we’re putting together some Family FUN PAKs for the Caring Center, meant to provide activities that bring families together to create memories. Another way to give back is to the Boys & Girls Club of Boone County, which has a $35,000 matching grant opportunity. And personally, we support Traders Point’s Foster and Adoption Ministry, a cause near and dear to our hearts.
- Not cook. I’m looking forward to trying out a few new restaurants soon, 1830 Chophouse and Harmony Steakhouse (sushi is a favorite in our house!). And there are always our old standbys, Salty Cowboy (mmm – that queso…) and Fundae’s (why not enjoy ice cream year-round?).
- Stay inside. Once we’ve checked off these activities, I like to stay indoors until summer. We are big fans of the Lebanon Public Library. During the pandemic, they’ve offered weekly take-home storytime bundles and STEM activity kits that my daughter loves. In addition to reading, I enjoy modern quilting and do quite a bit of it during the winter months (so I’m extra excited to have Quilts Plus in downtown Lebanon!).
Rachel’s Favorite Things
- Shop at the Bargain Boutique in Thorntown for those unique and perfect one-of-a-kind gifts
- Stop by Tru Finds Treasures for some of their homemade baked goods and to find gifts perfect for my mom & sister
- Take a drive in Memorial Park and see the Christmas lights
- Pick up a Sugar Crème Pie from My Sugar Crème Pie shop in Zionsville for holiday meals
- Take a walk on the Hazelrigg portion of the Big Four Trail to get away from the hustle & bustle of the season
Amy’s Favorite Things
- There’s no better way to start the season than with a visit to Dull’s Tree Farm. We choose a pre-cut tree (I’m partial to Fraiser Firs), choose wreaths for gravesites of our loved ones, snap a family photo and enjoy the ambiance that is uniquely Dull’s
- Christmas Lights Driving Tour. There are so many to choose from!
- Lebanon Memorial Park
- Braner’s Christmas Light Display – 960 John Bart Road, Lebanon (Donations benefit local charities).
- Dancing & Musical Holiday Lights – Take SR 47 East to N. 1000 East. Turn north and the house is on the right. Tune in on your radio and enjoy the show! (Donations benefit a local charity).
- Salvation Army Bell Ringing. My daughter and I are a part of the Kiwanis team that rings bells in Lebanon. She brings her trombone and plays holiday songs to add some Christmas cheer! You can even ring virtually this year.
- Music & Movies. We have our holiday playlist and list of movies that we watch every year including “A Christmas Story” & “Christmas Vacation”
- Decorating the tree. It’s definitely a team effort at our house. My husband sets up the tree then my daughter and I add the lights and ornaments.
Chassity’s Favorite Things
- We love to take in all of the great events that are part of Christmas in the Village.
- My husband and I got pretty big into making our own homemade gingerbread house several years ago (I love gingerbread!). Now, it’s a family tradition we carry on with our kids. We home-make the dough, cut out the shapes, and make our own icing. Then we go to town and customize it with various candies.
- Themed Movie Nights! I feel like this tradition is even more important as we spend more time as a family in our home this holiday season. We do The Grinch, Elf, Polar Express, and White Christmas.
- Giving back is important for us. For the last few years, we’ve shared my family’s coveted sugar cookie recipe with the first responders in Boone County. While we may not be able to do that safely this year, we plan to do something special to thank the men and women who protect our communities.
- Christmas Light Drive – I make peppermint popcorn and hot chocolate for us to consume during our drive. We also use scorecards and give fun little “awards” to houses.
