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Indianapolis New Year's Eve route inspiration

Indianapolis New Year's Eve

Circle of Lights, St. Elmo and Broad Ripple

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3 days through Downtown Indianapolis, Broad Ripple.

Indianapolis New Year's Eve is a 3-day curated route with 2 destinations and 14 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Downtown Indianapolis on the Indianapolis New Year's Eve route

    Destination 01

    Downtown Indianapolis

    8 places

    Monument Circle lights, steakhouses and a ballroom countdown; 2 nights.

    • Monument Circle near Downtown IndianapolisPhoto: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Monument Circle

      The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at the city's center, strung with thousands of lights as the Circle of Lights each winter.

      Tip The lights stayed up through Jan 16 in the 2025-26 season; come after dark on Dec 30.

      SeeDowntownFree30 minAfter dark

    • Indiana Roof Ballroom

      1927 ballroom atop the Indiana Theatre with a domed, star-lit ceiling; it hosted a ticketed NYE party in 2025.

      Tip Tickets usually include a midnight toast; dress up.

      DrinkDowntown$$$4 hr9 pm – 1 am
    • Indiana State Museum near Downtown IndianapolisPhoto: Murphsdaughter · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Indiana State Museum

      State history and science museum on the canal; its family NYE party ended with a 3,000-balloon drop at 8:30 pm in 2025.

      Tip The family party is alcohol-free and sells out; buy tickets in early December.

      DoWhite River State Park$$2.5 hrDec 31, 6 – 8:30 pm
    • St. Elmo Steak House near Downtown IndianapolisPhoto: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0

      St. Elmo Steak House

      The city's oldest steakhouse, open since 1902, famous for a horseradish-heavy shrimp cocktail and a deep wine list.

      Tip Reserve weeks ahead for Dec 31; the bar seats walk-ins early in the evening.

      EatWholesale District$$$$2 hrDec 31 dinner

    • Harry & Izzy's

      St. Elmo's sister grill on Illinois Street, with the same shrimp cocktail in a livelier, more casual room.

      Tip Easier to book than St. Elmo on NYE and a two-minute walk from the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

      EatWholesale District$$$2 hrEvening

    • The Rathskeller

      German restaurant and beer hall in the 1890s Athenaeum building, serving schnitzel and steins since 1894.

      Tip The Kellerbar side has live music most weekend nights; good for Dec 30.

      EatLockerbie Square$$1.5 hrDec 30 evening
    • Canal Walk near Downtown IndianapolisPhoto: _J_D_R_ · CC BY 2.0

      Canal Walk

      Paved path along the 1830s Central Canal through downtown, with skyline views and bridges lit at night.

      Tip Walk the stretch between Washington and Michigan streets at dusk for the skyline reflections.

      DoDowntownFree45 minDusk

    • JW Marriott Indianapolis

      Glass 34-story tower beside White River State Park, with upper-floor rooms looking over the canal and skyline.

      Tip Ask for a skyline-facing room above the 20th floor.

      StayDowntown$$$
  2. 2
    Broad Ripple on the Indianapolis New Year's Eve route

    Destination 02

    Broad Ripple

    6 places

    Trail walks and a riverside art park on Jan 1, Winterlights after dark.

    • Monon Trail

      Paved rail trail running through the middle of Broad Ripple, busy with walkers and runners on Jan 1.

      Tip Walk north from Broad Ripple Avenue over the White River for an easy out-and-back.

      OutdoorsBroad RippleFree60 minLate morning

    • Indy Art Center

      Community art center on the White River with ARTSPARK, a free outdoor sculpture park reached from the Monon Trail.

      Tip The building keeps holiday hours, but the riverside sculpture park is the reason to come.

      SeeBroad RippleFree45 minMidday

    • Broad Ripple Park

      City park on the north bank of the White River with riverside paths and a view back toward the village.

      Tip Combine it with the Monon Trail for a loop of about two miles.

      OutdoorsBroad RippleFree45 minAfternoon

    • Holcomb Gardens

      Formal gardens and a canal-side lawn on the Butler University campus, a short drive south of the village.

      Tip Pair it with the towpath along the Central Canal, which runs right past the gardens.

      OutdoorsButler-TarkingtonFree45 minAfternoon

    • Vogue Theatre

      1938 movie house turned music venue on College Avenue; it hosted a 21+ NYE show in 2025.

      Tip Book a rideshare home in advance or stay nearby; Broad Ripple empties fast after 1 am.

      DrinkBroad Ripple$$4 hrDec 31, 9 pm – 1 am
    • Newfields near Broad RipplePhoto: Aiko, Thomas & Juliette+Isaac · CC BY 2.0

      Newfields

      The Indianapolis Museum of Art and its gardens; Winterlights fills the grounds with about 2 million lights into early January.

      Tip In the 2025-26 season Winterlights ran through Jan 4 and was open on the evening of Jan 1; buy timed tickets ahead.

      SeeButler-Tarkington$$2 hrJan 1 after dark

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Indianapolis New Year's Eve.

Indianapolis keeps New Year's Eve compact: everything downtown is a few blocks from Monument Circle, where the Circle of Lights stays up into January. Spend Dec 30 on the Canal Walk and at the Rathskeller's German beer hall, then book Dec 31 dinner at St. Elmo Steak House or Harry & Izzy's before the ticketed countdown under the starry ceiling of the Indiana Roof Ballroom. Families can do the Indiana State Museum's early balloon drop instead. On Jan 1 head north to Broad Ripple for a walk on the Monon Trail and the riverside Indy Art Center grounds, then finish at Newfields for Winterlights after dark. The Vogue in Broad Ripple is the late-night alternative if you prefer a band to a ballroom.

Good for Couples, friends and families who want a walkable downtown NYE with classic dinners and a lit-up Jan 1.

When to go

Arrive Dec 30. Indianapolis has no public midnight fireworks or ball drop; Dec 31 is ticketed parties and dinners. The Indiana State Museum's alcohol-free family party ran 6 to 8:30 pm in 2024 and 2025, ending in a drop of about 3,000 balloons. The Indiana Roof Ballroom and the Vogue both sold NYE parties in 2025, typically from about 8 or 9 pm to 1 am. The Circle of Lights stayed lit from Nov 28, 2025 to Jan 16, 2026. Winterlights at Newfields ran Nov 21, 2025 to Jan 4, 2026, including a Jan 1 evening. Expect highs around freezing, with snow or ice possible. Many restaurants and shops close on Jan 1.

Getting around

Downtown is walkable and mostly flat; Monument Circle, the Canal Walk and the main hotels are within 15 minutes on foot. IndyGo's Red Line rapid bus runs up College Avenue to Broad Ripple in about 30 minutes, but holiday schedules are reduced, so plan on rideshare after midnight and expect a surge. Parking garages downtown are plentiful; Broad Ripple has metered street parking and small lots. Newfields is a 10-minute drive south of Broad Ripple.

Tips for your crew

  • Book Dec 31 dinner at St. Elmo by early December; the shrimp cocktail is famously hot with fresh horseradish.
  • Pick up Indiana Roof Ballroom tickets with the right dress code in mind; it is the city's dressiest countdown.
  • Buy Winterlights tickets for a timed entry on Jan 1 before you leave home.

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