10 Free, Fun, & Festive Holiday Deals in Madison, Indiana

Tami Hagemier, Owner & CEO of Lanthier Winery | Visit Madison Guest Blogger

2024 has been a year filled with inflation, change, and uncertainty, but one thing is certain: nowhere are the holidays more magical than Merry Madison, Indiana. You can find great deals in any of Madisons wonderful shops, antique malls, or mercantile. But, to truly experience the holidays, be sure to unwrap any – or all! – of these FREE destinations for shopping, sampling, and memory making:

1. Madison, Indiana’s 30^th Annual Festival of Trees is a nationally-recognized visitor and local favorite featuring over 1,000 Christmas trees of various sizes. This spectacular event is FREE, and welcomes visitors from throughout the Midwest. The festival premiers the day after Thanksgiving and runs through Christmas Eve. The Festival of Trees is hosted by Lanthier Winery & Distillery at their Mill Street location and is open 7 days a week.
2. Host of Angels is FREE display of Christmas-themed angels, cherubs, and celestial seraphines. The heavenly hosts grace Lanthier Winery’s tasting room and Loft Gallery and are mingled amidst one thousand magnificent Christmas trees. On loan from a private collector, most are rare or antique pieces that cannot be purchased elsewhere. This can also be found at the 123 Mill Street location.
3. FREE Christmas Tea Tastings at HH Apothecary at 112 East Main Street in the LeFleur Building. HH goes all out with their Winter Wonderland theme, making this merchant a top shopping destination in Historic Madison. Sip some Christmas spirit at HH Apothecary.
4. Olde Tyme Marketplace offers scrumptious treats from their Holiday Sample Bar. Free tastings before you buy means every gift you select will be perfectly tasteful. Olde Tyme Marketplace is a favorite shopping experience year-round but is especially so during the gift-giving season. Located on 801 West Main Street.
5. Rudy’s Garden is a magical, FREE, twinkling stroll through Lanthier Winery’s Garden. Thousands of lights shine, and guests are free to stroll sundown to 11pm, 7 days a week. It’s an effortless walk for holding hands, family outings, and even pets. Rudy’s Garden is also the perfect backdrop for magical photos.
6. FREE holiday wine tasting at Lanthier Winery include Warm Rudy, a traditional spiced wine. Warm Rudy is a must for those visiting Merry Madison; it erases winter chills and thaws even the coldest of holiday hearts. A steaming cup is perfect if you are strolling Rudy’s Garden. While visiting, also sample any of Lanthier’s specialty vodkas, gins, or wineshines.
7. Galena Garlic is a must stop for gourmet and decadent food items. FREE samples of epicurean delights make Galena Garlic the destination for foodie fun. Galena is easy to find just across from the Broadway Fountain.
8. Broadway Fountain is beautiful any season, but Merry Madison lights up Fountain Park with stunning results. Pose for the perfect photo near the towering fountain and tree of lights. This stunning photo op is FREE!
9. Sweet Magnolia is Madison’s sole proprietor of Simply Southern apparel. This high quality, relaxed lifestyle brand is moderately priced for clothing connoisseurs of all ages. This exclusive shopping destination offers an annual holiday shopping spree for one lucky winner. Enter to win at the boutique located at 205 East Main Street.
10. Window watching along Madison’s Main Street is an adventure in the unexpected. The multitude of small shops, antique malls, and boutiques makes gift shopping a holiday treasure hunt. Enjoy the lights, window displays, and surprise activities which pop up on different days. You might run into Santa, hear carolers, watch an angel flit from shop to shop, or take a picture with the Ice Queen. It’s possible to even have a friendly spat with the Grinch on your way to one of Main Streets few coffee shops – who knows! It’s FREE fun in Madison.