Trees, wreaths, garlands, luminaries and lights have been the beacons of holiday cheer for generations in American households. This Christmas, visit Lilly House to see how yuletide evergreens, fruiting plants and lights were incorporated into 1930s and '40s home décor to minimize the feel of Depression frugality and wartime shortages. See the whimsical Christmas decorations and modernist design of a bygone era that complement the beauty of this historic home.

Brighten up the darkest day of the year by bringing the family to the Winter Solstice Celebration on Dec. 17 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Winter Solstice marks the midwinter point when days begin to lengthen and sunlight increases. Merrymakers around the globe have celebrated this holiday with rituals and festivities, but IMA will celebrate with ice carving, music, film, cold-weather animals and art activities for the whole family!

President Benjamin Harrison started the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree at the White House in 1889. The tradition continues today at the home of the nation’s 23rd president. Visitors are invited to tour the home in its holiday splendor, reminiscent of Christmas in the White House in the late 1880s.

Experience a Family Christmas at the President’s Home on Dec. 12. Enjoy a unique holiday tour of the President Benjamin Harrison Home in the year 1888. President Harrison, some of the family from Ohio and the household staff will be "home for the holidays" talking about the excitement of Christmas Day and personally offering their good wishes to you and yours.

Enjoy A Candlelight Evening on Delaware Street on Dec. 29 as the Harrison Home hosts an evening of historic home tours and elegant dining. Guests begin their tour at the historic Harrison Home and then enjoy verbal histories and brief tours of several other architectural jewels in the Old Northside neighborhood. Dinner will be served at the Indianapolis Propylaeum Club. Reservations required.

Take a fanciful trip through the imaginary town of Celebration Crossing aboard the "Santa Claus Express" train. The kiddies can visit with Santa in his cozy home for a photo or stop by his workshop for daily activities, while the adults reminisce of holidays past while looking at the moving figurines in the replicated L.S. Ayres store windows. Stop by the auditorium for a festive holiday performance courtesy of Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio. The two-story Museum Store will be fully stocked with traditional toys and unique gifts for holiday shoppers, too.

Visit the world’s largest children’s museum for annual holiday favorites like the Yule Slide, a full-story slide that curves down from the second floor to the first, and visits with Santa. A winter wonderland Snow Castle allows interactive play and features a toddler-sized version of the popular Yule Slide. Try ice fishing in the fishing shack or stop by the cookie café for creative cookie fun! This winter wonderland is a family favorite for the young and the young-at-heart.

Experience a Victorian Christmas in historic Lockerbie Square with festive Christmas greenery and wreaths. Riley spent the last 23 years of his life in the late Victorian preserved home that was built in 1872. The home itself features simple, elegant decorations and small gifts and party favors that would be typical of the period. The Christmas tree is special because it includes actual Christmas postcards that citizens from across the country sent to Riley after he was recovering from a stroke in 1911.

Start a new holiday tradition! Feast your eyes on colorful gingerbread creations of all shapes and sizes during Conner Prairie’s Gingerbread Village. Admission to Discovery Station, the indoor play and learning area for children and toddlers, is included.

Embark upon a festive journey into 1836 Prairietown during Conner Prairie by Candlelight on Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. The date is Dec. 24, 1836 and the customs and beliefs of another era come alive. Travel lantern-lit paths and explore the historic homes during this one-hour, guided experience. Visit the Campbell’s as they prepare for a Christmas party and stop by a Jewish home as they unpack their menorah. Reservations required.

The Indianapolis Zoo is illuminated with nearly a million twinkle lights during Christmas at the Zoo. All of the Zoo’s indoor exhibits will be open and you’ll see another side of the animals that don’t mind the cooler weather. Holiday activities include a seasonal dolphin show, traditional carolers performing your favorite requests and a festive train ride. Be transported to a far away land to meet Santa, see a real reindeer up close, write a holiday letter and decorate cookies in the enchanting Santa’s Village.

This year marks the 24th production of this cherished Broadway-style holiday tradition. Featuring singers, tap dancing Santas and flying reindeer in a magical theatrical setting, Yuletide is Indiana's greatest holiday tradition. This season, look for Grammy Award-winning pop singer Maureen McGovern as host, special guests and Indiana natives Martin Preston as Liberace and Tony Hoard and his dog Rockin' Rory, who were semifinalists on the popular television show America's Got Talent.

Enjoy the elegant trappings of a Victorian Christmas Tea at the Morris-Butler House. Tour the 1865 landmark, lavishly decorated for the holidays, and learn about Victorian Christmas traditions both familiar and unfamiliar. The tour ends with old-fashioned flavored tea, raisin-cinnamon scones, cucumber sandwiches, spice cookies, gingerbread and the making of a special holiday craft. Reservations required.

Celebrate the Mexican festival of Las Posadas (Spanish for "the inns"). Visitors begin at the Indiana History Center for traditional activities and crafts before taking part in a procession that ends at the Eiteljorg Museum. During the procession, visitors’ will sing "haciendo rama," or Christmas carols, while following a strolling guitarist. The revelers will stop along the canal to hear traditional stories. Once inside the Eiteljorg, visitors will hear live music while snacking on traditional foods, such as ponche, bizcochos and buñuelos (fried, sugar-coated pastries).