INDIANAPOLIS — The arrival of the Christmas season looked a little different at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis this year.
Santa Claus made a much quieter arrival than his usual trip in an IndyCar two-seater, but the day was no less festive. Santa joined the "Jolly Days Parade" down the museum's spiral ramp, led by REX the museum's mascot and IndyCar drivers Ed Carpenter and Tony Kanaan, who pedaled IndyCars down the ramp.
After the parade, Santa settled in to the Jolly Days Winter Wonderland exhibit, waiting to greet children from his socially distanced sleigh. Kids who visit Santa at the museum can bring their wish lists and drop them off in a special mailbox at the exhibit.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some traditional Jolly Days exhibits have been canceled or changed, including the Yule Slide, which is now only open to the museum's special stuffed animal collection, who are ready for families to take pictures at the bottom of the slide.
Attractions put on hold this season include faux ice-fishing, pretend holiday baking and reindeer group, but there are some new exhibits, including a new Christmas tree light display and an interactive Menorah.
Santa's Workshop activities, the Jolly Days breakfast and the Holiday Show will go on as usual, as will the New Year's Eve "Countdown to Noon," which will ring in 2021 at a more reasonable hour for little ones.
Click here for more information about some of the holiday events.
To promote safety, the museum is temporarily closing some exhibits for cleaning and is offering hand sanitizer at stations throughout the facility.
