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All times are local to the venue · America/Indiana/Indianapolis
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A child chosen through the AES Indiana Coloring Contest will help light the Soldiers and Sailors Monument during Indianapolis’s annual holiday gathering.
All times are local to the venue · America/Indiana/Indianapolis
The switch at the center of Circle of Lights® belongs to a young artist: a child selected through the AES Indiana Coloring Contest will take the stage to illuminate the monument. The free celebration returns to Monument Circle on Friday, November 27, 2026.
The lighting is planned before 7 p.m., though an exact switch time has not been announced. Around it, Downtown Indy Alliance has announced live music, vendors and holiday activities, with Santa, artists and food trucks also mentioned. Individual performers and vendors have not been named.
Children from around Indianapolis can enter the AES Indiana Coloring Contest for an opportunity to flip the switch. The organizer offers a downloadable coloring page and says entries can be dropped off from November 1 through noon on November 16. Check the contest details before submitting.
Further reading: Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
The 2026 gathering marks 64 years of the monument’s holiday lighting. The familiar display also has a practical future to consider: its strands of lights and garland have aged after years of use.
Downtown Indy Alliance’s separate Keeping Spirits Bright fundraiser is intended to help restore or replace those decorations and support broader improvements to seasonal decor on Monument Circle.
Further reading: Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
The switch is the evening’s focal point; activities around the Circle continue afterward.
WTHR Channel 13 will broadcast the lighting ceremony from 6 to 7 p.m., a shorter window than the in-person festivities.
Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
The celebration is around Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. Use the map links for directions from your starting point.
IndyGo serves downtown; consult its trip planner and rider alerts for your journey. Downtown Indy Alliance also has a parking directory. Check current rates and arrangements with the facility you choose.
Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗ · Get Around | Explore | Downtown Indianapolis ↗ · IndyGo - Boldly Moving Our City Forward ↗ · Parking | Explore | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
The switch is planned before 7 p.m. on November 27, but an exact time has not been announced.
Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
Yes. WTHR Channel 13 will broadcast the lighting ceremony from 6 to 7 p.m.
Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
Download the coloring page and drop off the completed entry between November 1 and noon on November 16. Check the contest details for submission and eligibility information.
Circle of Lights® | Signature Events | Events | Downtown Indianapolis ↗
Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-10-29 against the linked sources.