Christmas in Amish Country feels a little different. Twinkling lights fill the town, local shops are packed with one-of-a-kind gifts, and the season officially kicks off with the beloved Lighting of Shipshewana celebration. From the dazzling light parade and Christmas shows to cozy meals, family traditions and plenty of small-town holiday charm, Shipshewana is the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and soak up every minute of the season.
Come for the Lighting of Shipshewana Festival on November 6–7, or choose a later visit for the lights and holiday shows. However you plan your trip, here are nine reasons to make Shipshewana part of your Christmas season.
1. Start with Elf under the stars
Christmas weekend kicks off on Friday, November 6, 2026. Grab dinner from a food truck, explore hands-on holiday activities along Morton Street, then bring blankets and lawn chairs for a free outdoor showing of Elf at 6 p.m. Come dressed as Buddy, Jovie or your own favorite character if you feel like going all in.
2. Let the kids explore Jingle Junction
New for 2026, Jingle Junction Kids Adventure gives children and their grown-ups a Christmas experience made for them. Move through festive stations with games, crafts, treats and stories inspired by Amish Country. Make something together, let the kids play, and leave with more to talk about than what was under the tree.
While you are on Morton Street, look for Barnyard Christmas Comes to Town, with animals to meet and a hands-on activity. Check the festival page for Jingle Junction’s latest schedule and admission details.
3. Watch the Light Parade bring the town to life
Spend Saturday, November 7 enjoying the Lighting of Shipshewana Festival, with music, markets, food and activities around town. Then find your spot for the Light Parade at 6 p.m. Glowing floats and decorated vehicles make their way through Shipshewana as the holiday season begins. Arrive early so you have time to browse, eat and get settled.
4. Drive through Lights of Joy
Load the family into the car, tune the radio to the holiday music broadcast and follow the glowing scenes at Shipshewana’s Lights of Joy. The almost two-mile drive-through experience features more than two million LED lights and animatronics. Let everyone pick a favorite display; a spirited debate on the ride home is practically part of the tradition.
Plan your dates: Lights of Joy opens November 10, 2026, after festival weekend. Its posted season runs through December 31, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Check the attraction’s website for hours and vehicle admission.
5. Peek inside the gingerbread village at E&S
Take a closer look at Christmas in miniature. E&S Sales is unveiling its gingerbread village on Friday, November 6, and the display is scheduled to remain up through December 5, 2026, during regular store hours. Let the kids choose their favorite tiny detail, then browse for a few treats to bring home
6. Find gifts with a Shipshewana story
Start with the Shipshewana Holiday Gift Guide for ideas from local shops and makers, including pottery, chocolates, jams and popcorn. Then go visit the storefronts behind the gifts. During Lighting weekend, browse the Morton Street Holiday Market and Christmas Vintage Market.
Want a keepsake you helped create? Riverwood Pottery plans Christmas ornament painting on Friday and Saturday of festival weekend. Explore more local stops in the Stores & Shops guide.
7. Make something merry on Morton Street
Give your family a souvenir they actually made. During the Lighting of Shipshewana Festival weekend, Riverwood Pottery plans Christmas ornament painting on Friday and Saturday, and Teaberry on Morton is offering a wooden basket activity on Friday. Make a little time for the shops along Morton Street, too. The gifts are lovely, but the story of making one together is even better.
8. Stay for the Christmas tree lighting
Don’t head home when the last parade float passes. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony follows the Light Parade on November 7th, giving everyone one more moment to share as Shipshewana’s holiday celebration continues. Stick around with your family, watch the tree light up and take that Christmas photo before calling it a night. Check the Lighting of Shipshewana Festival page for the latest parade and ceremony information.
9. Blue Gate holiday performances
Check the Blue Gate Theatre’s 2026 schedule and make a holiday performance part of your getaway. The Christmas Rush and America’s 250th – Holiday Celebration are among the shows scheduled on select December dates. Choose a performance that fits your family, book tickets and turn dinner and a show into a full Shipshewana evening.
Plan your Christmas getaway in Shipshewana
Pick November 6–7 for the festival, parade and tree lighting, or plan a later visit for Lights of Joy and a holiday show. Check the holiday events calendar for your dates, then give yourself time to explore the shops and make a few unplanned stops.
Need help putting it all together? Stop by the Shipshewana Visitors Center at 350 S. Van Buren Street, Suite H for a map, a Visitor’s Guide and local tips. Tell us who is coming, and we’ll help you find a little Christmas fun for everyone.
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