At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15, Main Street Zionsville is asking people to come downtown with a rake or a leaf blower. The group's fall cleanup is listed in Current in Zionsville's November 2026 events roundup. Thirteen days later, a holiday parade comes down the same brick street.
The cleanup is the first step of a holiday season that the Village builds mostly by hand. The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce runs Christmas in the Village with support from the Town. Parks & Recreation runs the market. High school show choirs run the home tour, a philanthropic club runs the Santa breakfast, and local shops run the evening events. Each group handles one piece, and almost every piece happens within a few blocks of Main Street.
The Week the Village Gets Ready
The cleanup is one of three Village events in the middle of the month, and the other two are about how the Village looks.
On Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m., SullivanMunce Cultural Center will host a free lecture by Zionsville architect Todd Rottman. He'll talk about thoughtful design, historic preservation, and how adaptive reuse can protect the Village's character. The talk is meant to open a discussion about fitting new development next to historic buildings. Registration isn't required, and SullivanMunce is at 225 W. Hawthorne St.
Two days later, the same building starts its holiday art sale. SullivanMunce's Teeny Tiny Art Market runs Friday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Dec. 19. Every piece is original artwork that measures 6 by 6 inches or smaller, so it's a gift you can carry home in a coat pocket.
So during the week before the holidays start, the town rakes Main Street and then holds a public talk about how to keep it looking like itself.
Saturday, Nov. 21, Fills Up From Morning to Night
The Saturday before Thanksgiving is the busiest day on the November calendar that isn't a holiday event. Four things happen on it:
- 8 a.m.: The Zionsville Half Marathon and 5K start at Lions Park. Proceeds go to the Zionsville Community High School cross-country program, Gleans Food Bank of Indiana, and Fountains of Hope.
- 1 to 6 p.m.: CV Art and Frame, at 110 S. Main St., opens its exhibit marking Dr. Seuss's 70th anniversary. It includes rare work, early studies, and familiar Seuss imagery, and it runs through Dec. 5. The gallery asks guests to register by email at [email protected].
- 5 p.m.: Carpenter Nature Preserve hosts a campfire and walk. It costs $5 for residents and $7 for nonresidents, and registration is required.
- All day: the Teeny Tiny Art Market is in its second day at SullivanMunce.
Five days later, downtown fills with runners again. The Boys & Girls Club of Boone County holds its 10th annual Gravy Chase at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26, in downtown Zionsville. You can run or walk two or four miles, and registration is $50. Every dollar goes to the club. A second Gravy Chase runs in Lebanon at the same time.
Parade Night Starts at Eagle Elementary
Christmas in the Village begins with Small Business Weekend, Nov. 27 to 29, and the parade falls in the middle of it.
Here's how Saturday evening, Nov. 28, runs, based on the Zionsville Chamber's 2026 parade listing:
- 5 p.m.: The parade leaves Eagle Elementary and travels along Main Street.
- About 6 p.m.: The parade ends at Old National Bank, near South Main Street.
- Right after: The town Christmas tree is lit at Main and Pine streets.
- After the lighting: Santa takes selfies with families.
The whole program is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Because the parade route, the tree, and the Santa House are all on Main Street, families can watch the parade, see the lighting, and get in the selfie line without leaving the brick blocks.
Santa's first daytime visit is the next day. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, Santa and Mrs. Claus are at the Santa House at the corner of Cedar and Main streets. Families take their own photos with a phone or camera, and Chamber volunteers are there to help.
December Belongs to the Groups That Run It
After the parade, the season moves through the volunteer groups and businesses that host each event. Here's who runs what:
| Date | Event | Run by | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 29, then Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6, 12–13, 19–20 | Selfies with Santa, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Zionsville Chamber, with volunteers | Santa House, Cedar and Main |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Winterfest Open-Air Maker's Market, 9 a.m.–noon | Zionsville Parks & Recreation | Brick Main Street |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Holiday Home Tour, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Zionsville Show Choirs | Six private homes |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Santa Breakfast | Zionsville Tri Kappa | Main Street, ticketed |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | Ladies Night, 5–9 p.m. | Zionsville Chamber and Village businesses | Village shops |
| Thu., Dec. 17 | Christmas Crawl, 5–9 p.m., ages 21+ | Zionsville Chamber | Main Street |
Saturday, Dec. 5, is the busiest day, with four events run by four different groups, counting the Chamber's Santa House hours. The Parks department's Winterfest market brings local makers and artists, food trucks, seasonal music, and carolers to the brick street in the morning.
The Showchoir Holiday Home Tour used to be called Carol of Homes. It visits six decorated private homes, and Zionsville Community High School show choir students sing holiday solos and small-group pieces inside each one. Tickets are $25, and kids 10 and under get in free. Advance tickets are sold at Fivethirty Home, Great Lakes Ace Hardware, Village Mattress, and by show choir students. The homes also sell cash-only tickets on the day of the tour.
Zionsville Tri Kappa is a women's philanthropic group that supports Boone County nonprofits and Zionsville Community Schools. It holds its annual Santa Breakfast the same day, and tickets went on sale Nov. 1.
The two Thursday evenings are run by the shops and restaurants. On Ladies Night, Dec. 10, participating businesses offer specials, and the Chamber suggests stopping at downtown restaurants for an appetizer, dinner, or dessert. The Christmas Crawl on Dec. 17 is for ages 21 and up. It has seasonal specials at Village shops and restaurants, and an ugly sweater contest starts at 8 p.m. at participating locations.
The Food Lineup Changed Just Before the Season
Two changes to where people stop for food came at the end of October.
Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream had been at 620 S. Main St., just south of the brick-lined part of the Village. On Oct. 29, it announced it would close permanently on Nov. 1 after 13 years. Current in Zionsville reported that the Bub's locations in Carmel, Bloomington, and at Indianapolis International Airport would stay open. The restaurant was known for its Big Ugly Burgers.
Five days earlier, a new dessert shop opened on the town's commercial corridor. Stella's Ice Cream, owned by Sowjanya "Sowji" Panchumarthy, held its grand opening Oct. 24 at 11100 U.S. 421, Suite 120, according to Current in Zionsville. The menu includes eight dairy-free options and flavors like Eagles Nest, Speedway Sparkle, and Hoosier Creamsicle. It also sells push pops, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, cakes, and dog treats. Stella's is open noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
If you're planning holiday evenings out, it helps to know about both changes before the season starts. The Seuss exhibit at CV Art and Frame stays open through Dec. 5, the same day as the maker's market and the home tour, so one Saturday can cover all three.
If your family wants to host for the holidays in a house that fits how you celebrate, Home Strategy Group can show you what's available close to the Village. Request your personalized market consultation, and we'll walk through Zionsville with you before the parade season ends.
