AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration

The AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration returns to the Hilbert Circle Theatre this December, running from December 4 through December 23. It's the 40th anniversary of the show, which has become one of Central Indiana's most enduring holiday traditions. This year's edition is hosted by Curtis Bannister, with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly.

Everly has been the show's music director since 1994, and he writes original music for it every year. The production also brings in Nick Hodge on the Cyr Wheel and Ermiyas Muluken on the Rolla Bolla, so it's as much about the movement as the music. The whole thing is held together by a central host who anchors the evening.

It's a long-running one, and the history is part of the draw. It started back in 1986 when the Butler Ballet performances left a gap in the Symphony's December calendar. Those early years were a community collaboration between the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, the Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Dance Kaleidoscope, with a finale of A Christmas Carol staged with large puppets. Over the decades, it shifted from four separate acts into the seamless, Broadway-style production it is now. More than 400 families have attended at least ten years in a row.

Beyond the stage, the lobby adds its own layer to the experience with seasonal treats, costumed characters, and live music on the theatre's historic Wurlitzer organ. If you're bringing the kids, there's also Brunch with Santa: $65 for adults and $30 for children 12 and younger. The main run goes from December 4 to December 23 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Cir, Indianapolis, IN 46204.