Events

Register your home for this year's Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Contest!

Munster Education Foundation's fourth-annual Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Experience is ready to make your holidays a delight! This year's fundraising event is scheduled for Dec. 1 - Dec. 31.

The Holiday Lights contest begins with Light the Night, an annual tree-lighting ceremony sponsored by the Munster Education Foundation, the Munster Civic Foundation, and the Munster Chamber of Commerce, on Dec. 1 at Munster Town Hall. This event will feature festive food, local vendors, and fun for all ages.

Here are five ways to support this seasonal event:

1. Vote for your favorite home!

2. Buy a ticket for a seat on a festive, fun bus tour of the Merry & Bright homes. Every rider will receive a pair of 3-D glasses and a sweet treat.

3. Reserve a private trolley. Every rider will receive a pair of 3-D glasses and a sweet treat.

4. Buy a Holiday Kit, which includes a map of participating homes, hot chocolate, 3D glasses to view lights, and more!

5. Download a map of the Holiday Lights homes!

Get a curated map of the Holiday Lights homes

Do you love looking at holiday lights and decorations? We’ve got a map for you! By making a donation to MEF, you can download a map of all the homes participating in this contest. The map also includes an easy-to-use link to Google maps so that you won't have to enter each home's address individually. Get your family in the holiday spirit as you tour the lights of Munster. Download your copy through Dec. 31.

Vote for your favorite home!

Each decorated home in our Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Contest is collecting votes to win our competition, with the proceeds benefiting Munster schools. Make a donation on their page to cast your vote!

$1 = 1 vote. Vote until Dec. 31.

Purchase a Holiday Lights Experience package!

Support the Munster Education Foundation with the purchase of a holiday lights viewing kit! Your kit will include everything your family needs to feel merry as you tour the lights of Munster. You'll receive a map of participating homes, hot chocolate, 3D glasses for viewing the lights, and more. Order your kit today! $20

(Holiday kit pickup will take place Dec. 1 at Munster Town Hall (from 5:30-6:30 p.m.) or Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Toluka Paperie)

Take a ride to view the Holiday Lights!

Ride a fun, festive bus or trolley around Munster and view the beautifully decorated homes participating in the Holiday Lights contest! Bus and trolley rides leave from Munster Town Hall on Dec. 8, 9, and 10, with each ride lasting one hour. Festive bus rides are $15 a person and 14-seat private trolleys are $300, while 34-seat private trolleys are available for $700. Every rider will receive a pair of 3-D glasses and a sweet treat.

Purchase a ticket for a festive bus ride.

Interested in reserving a private trolley? View our registration page.

MEF takes over Byway Brewing on Feb. 2!

Enjoy exclusive craft beer and gourmet food at Byway Brewing as MEF once again takes over the entire brewery. Relax in the company of only friends and supporters of Munster schools. Jeans & Jerseys is a casual, sports-themed event.

You can spread out in Byway's unique production area/event space or grab a table inside their spacious brewery. There are three different ticket options for you to get in on the action and support your Munster Mustang's education:

  • Super Fan tickets include unlimited mixed drinks/hard seltzer/craft beer/wine/soda and food. You will also take home a tote bag with 2 Mustang Stouts and 2 special MEF/Byway koozies. You can enter the event early at 6 p.m.
  • Mustang Fan tickets include unlimited food and craft beer/wine/soda. Sorry, only Super Fans will have access to the mixed drinks and hard seltzers. You can enter at 7 p.m.
  • Designated Fans will enjoy as much of Byway's scrumptious food/soda as you like. Sorry, there won't be any cash bar available during the event. You can enter at 7 p.m.

Education Foundation License Plate

Show your commitment to Munster education directly on your license plate. Approximately 60% of the license plate fee goes right to our schools. By selecting the Indiana Department of Education license plate, you are making a contribution that goes directly to the Munster Education Foundation.