First Friday: Harrison Center Holiday Window Displays Light Up Old Northside

Twenty-two of the brightest basement windows in Indy twinkle at the Harrison Center through December 31.

Curled up beside a crackling fire and twinkling Christmas tree, a green-eyed kitten playfully pawed the glass beneath the tagline “ADOPT OUR INTERNET SUPERSTAR” in one of the Harrison Center’s L.S. Ayres–like, artist-designed window displays in 2015. The artist studios, set up like miniature Macy’s storefront windows, showcased a toddler-sized gingerbread house and a grove of conical silver trees glistening in dazzling December displays.

The free, self-guided holiday window tour returns to the Harrison Center for a third year on Friday, December 1, with twinkling lights, miniature Christmas trees, and swirling, snowy scenes. The First Friday kickoff, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m., will serve complimentary mugs of hot cocoa and Tinker Coffee. Kids in tow? The Center hosts a scavenger hunt that winds through the holiday hoopla, with the first 10 finishers winning a prize.

Adults can weigh in on the 22 artist-designed displays—the two crowd favorites win $250 and $100, and an outside jury selects the “Best Window” winner of a $500 prize. But bundle up before grabbing a ballot—all 22 windows are viewed from outdoors.

Past displays have featured a working mini Ferris wheel, an adoptable kitten corner, and child-sized gingerbread house confections. This year’s offerings? You’ll have to see for yourself.

Just stock up on cat food beforehand—you know, just in case.

The Harrison Center’s First Friday Holiday Window Tour kickoff event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, December 1 (1505 N. Delaware St.). The free storefront window displays light up Indy’s north side from dawn to dusk through December 31.