Many seasonal attractions and events are available around Indianapolis to keep you entertained over winter break, including some with IU Indianapolis connections.

Jaguars basketball

IU Indianapolis vs. Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 11, 2024. Both the women's and men's teams have games scheduled over winter break. Photo by Ethan Levy, IU Indianapolis AthleticsThe IU Indianapolis women’s and men’s basketball teams will each host two home games during winter break.

The women’s team will take the court Dec. 28 vs. Youngstown State and Jan. 4 vs. Robert Morris. Both games tip off at 2 p.m. in the Jungle at the IU Natatorium. Tickets are general admission and cost $10.

The men’s team will play Youngstown State at noon Jan. 1 at Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Detroit Mercy at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 in the Jungle. Tickets for both games start at $15.

New this season: Tickets are mobile only and will not be sold on site.

Christmas at the Zoo

Visitors can enjoy the spirit of the season at the Indianapolis Zoo through Jan. 5. Christmas at the Zoo includes dazzling light displays, festive foods, winter-themed animal encounters and Santa’s Magic Cottage. IU Indianapolis employees and students are eligible for discounted zoo tickets.

Lexia: An AI Opera

Scott Deal, left, and Jason Palamara worked together to create a program developed using AI that can play music along with a human instrumentalist. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana UniversityA groundbreaking opera created by Scott Deal, a professor in the Department of Music Technology in the Herron School of Art and Design, will premiere Jan. 11 at The Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis. Deal combined music and artificial intelligence technology to pen the performance.

The story is set 200 years in the future when climate change has made much of the planet uninhabitable, forcing the displacement of millions of people. The main character, Lexia, is a midwife whose husband and son were both taken away. Free tickets are available online.

Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure

The unique holiday display at the Eiteljorg Museum features model trains traveling through scenes of landscapes and landmarks of the American West and Indianapolis. For the first time, this year’s display includes the iconic Madam Walker Theatre that still stands on Indiana Avenue. The exhibit is open through Jan. 20, and tickets purchased in advance are discounted.