Circle of Lights will return the day after Thanksgiving to celebrate its 62nd anniversary. The beloved Indianapolis tradition, presented by IBEW Local 481, turns Monument Circle into a giant Christmas tree.

Each year, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 481 assemble the lights and decorations. Look for more than 50 strands of lights that include more than 4,000 LED-colored lights. The tradition dates back to 1962, though the monument was decorated for Christmas annually for more than a decade before that.

Here’s what to know about this year’s performers, street closures, times and festivities.

Who will perform in 2024

Still fresh off his win on Season 19 of America’s Got Talent, Richard Goodall, a school janitor from Terre Haute, will sing at the celebration. The performances also will include local performers and musical acts chosen from the Tom Wood Talent Search.

This year, the performance stage will be on the north side of the Circle because of construction on the south steps of Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

The Hoosier who won big: Richard Goodall chased dreams on ‘America’s Got Talent.’ And then he got back to work.

After Circle of Lights, Spark Holidays on the Circle will hold additional free activities within the northwest bollards of Monument Circle. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22, look for musical performances, appearances from Santa Claus and hot cocoa and coffee for purchase.

When is Circle of Lights?

The festivities begin at 6 p.m., and the winner of the AES Coloring Contest will help Santa turn on the lights just after 6:50 p.m. The event will air on WTHR Ch. 13.

What streets will be closed for Circle of Lights?

Between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Friday, Monument Circle and all of its spokes will be closed to vehicles, according to Downtown Indy’s weekly traffic alert. Closures on Friday include:

• Meridian Street between Ohio and Washington Streets,
• Market Street between Pennsylvania and Illinois Streets,
• a partial closure of Meridian’s northbound land between Maryland and Pearl Streets from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

People can enter and exit Circle of Lights from Market Street on the east and west sides as well as on the Circle’s south side off Washington Street. The ADA drop-off area will be on Market Street, and those who need accessibility will be directed to a dedicated viewing area.

The stage, on the north side of the Circle this year, will face the monument. No one will be able to access the event from the north side of the Circle.

Want to see more lights? 6 big Christmas light displays in and around Indianapolis in 2024

How long will Circle of Lights be up?

The public can see the lights each night for free through Jan. 10.

From 5 a.m. Jan. 11 to 11:59 p.m. Jan. 17, the inner curb lane of Monument Circle will be partially closed to remove the lights.

Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more — and the stories behind them

Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-7) will be on the road in Week 13 to visit their old rivals New England Patriots (3-9).

Gillette Stadium hasn’t been a favorable venue for Indianapolis. The last time they left New England with a victory came back in 2006. This should be viewed as a must-win for the Colts. It can give them some momentum heading into their bye week, but a loss would make it challenging to push for a playoff spot in the season’s final weeks. 

The Indy offense will likely be without their leading receiver, Josh Downs. It has been reported that it is a long shot for him to suit up with the shoulder injury he is dealing with. 

The Colts open the week as two-and-a-half point road favorites against the Patriots. Most experts have Indianapolis winning and covering the spread but there is one that thinks New England can get the victory.

NFL picks, predictions Week 13: Colts vs. Patriots

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Colts 19, Patriots 14

Bender: “The Colts are road favorites at New England, where the Patriots have lost three of four since turning to rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson also is still developing, and that makes this a low-percentage passing attack on both sides. New England is 1-1 ATS as an underdog of three points or less, so there is a toss-up feel to it.”

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Patriots 23, Colts 20

Iyer: “The Patriots can become more competitive here as they face an inconsistent offense at home. They will be able to run the ball well and get Drake Maye comfortable in the intermediate passing game at home. Jonathan Taylor’s running gets a little better, but the Patriots outrush the Colts to win with help from Maye.”

Jeremy Cluff, USA Today Sports: Colts 20, Patriots 17

Cluff: “This is pretty much a must-win game for the Colts if they want any chance at making the NFL postseason. Anthony Richardson will make a big play late to keep Indianapolis’ playoff chances alive.”

Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: Colts 27, Patriots 21

Johnson: “The Indianapolis Colts at least made things a little competitive for three quarters with the Detroit Lions. Now, Anthony Richardson draws a much easier matchup against the New England Patriots. Offensively, this should be one of the Colts’ best games this season and Indianapolis should also have a fair amount of success getting pressure on Drake Maye.”

Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network: Colts 23, Patriots 20

Rolfe: “This is another game where trusting either team with your money feels somewhat foolish. The New England Patriots have shown multiple times this year that they are capable of laying an absolute egg at any point, and the Indianapolis Colts’ performances swing wildly from week to week, regardless of who is under center.

It’s impossible to put money on Anthony Richardson as a road favorite, but backing the Patriots at all feels very risky. Numerically, this game favors the Colts slightly, but the weather could be the equalizer for a quarterback with a warm-weather background in Florida playing in close-to-freezing conditions.”

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) is set to introduce the PRI Hall of Fame—a platform dedicated to recognizing, celebrating, and preserving legacies. A complete announcement of the inaugural class of the PRI Hall of Fame will take place in conjunction with the Grand Opening Breakfast live from the Indiana Convention Center on Thursday morning (Dec. 12) at 7:30 a.m., during the 2024 PRI Show held Dec. 12-14 in Indianapolis.

Inductees will be recognized not only for career achievements, but also for their impact on the sport, contributions to innovation and sportsmanship, leadership characteristics, and influence in the racing community, all criteria having been publicly available in transparent selection processes.

“The PRI Hall of Fame not only aims to recognize the individuals who have made a significant impact on the industry but also preserve the history and heritage of racing, inspire future generations of industry leaders, and foster a sense of community within the motorsports world,” said PRI President Michael Good. “We invite the entire racing industry to join us during the Grand Opening Breakfast at the PRI Show to celebrate the inaugural class of the PRI Hall of Fame and their contributions to the industry.”

PRI has created criteria to determine eligibility and select its honorees. Inductees will be ultimately decided by a committee of voters established by PRI. Selected candidates will have exemplified and modeled innovation and positive change within the industry and contributed to its success through individual effort and passion.

Considerations for qualification include:

• Their contributions must have extended to the national and/or international level.
• The candidate is/was involved with the motorsports industry and/or PRI for at least 10 years (15 years or more preferred).
• The candidate has made outstanding contributions toward enhancing the technology, professionalism, dignity and/or general stature, and growth of the motorsports industry and PRI.
• The candidate must have conducted themselves with a high degree of integrity both within and outside of the motorsports industry.

Doors to the Grand Opening Breakfast open at 6:30 a.m. in the Indiana Convention Center Sagamore Ballroom, and the program begins at 7:30 a.m. The breakfast is free to all PRI attendees, but guests are advised to arrive early as seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The PRI Show attracts attendees from all 50 states and all over the world, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers, and media.

To register for the 2024 PRI Show, secure hotel reservations, and for more information, visit the PRI website.

Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies, and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier motorsports trade show, the PRI Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education, and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology.

The inaugural PRI Hall of Fame class will be revealed at the 2024 PRI Show, December 12-14 in Indianapolis, during the Grand Opening Breakfast.