Roundup: New holiday event at IMS, new hosts for ISO’s Yuletide Celebration

—In the midst of the Indy 500 hoopla this week, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has announced a new event—one that doesn’t involve high-speed riving. Tentatively set for Nov. 18-Dec. 31, “Lights at the Brickyard” will feature 400 light displays featured in 40 scenes along a 1.7 mile course. It will be created by Winterland Inc., of Marion, IN, which numbers the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Detroit Zoo, and the city of Dubai among its clients around the world.

The drive-thru portion of “Lights at the Brickyard” will only be a portion of offerings, with yet-to-be-announced racing-themed interactive activities available. Early bird tickets—not yet available—will start at $20 per car but will increase to $30. 

—Speaking of the holidays, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is mixing it up a bit with this December’s Yuletide Celebration. Hosts announced for the holiday extravaganza are Indy’s own Josh Kaufman (known nationally from TV’s “The Voice” and the man charged with singing “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the Indy 500 this year) and musical theater’s Mandy Gonzalez, star of Broadway’s “In the Heights.” It will be the first-time hosting for both.

If you miss frequent Yuletide hostess Sandi Patty, you can catch her at a Dec. 2 concert at the Palladium in Carmel or at December gigs throughout the Midwest and Texas.

In other A&E news:

—Indiana Black Expo has announced that its Living Legend Award will go to singer Dionne Warwick. The July 15 presentation will occur during the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon at the Indiana Convention Center during IBE’s Summer Celebration.

—If you’ve had trouble figuring out where to go to eat before or after a concert at Klipsch Music Center, here’s yet another option. Live Nation and CID Entertainment will now be offering a pop-up restaurant The Supper Club prior to select Klipsch concerts. With a menu and chefs that vary from show to show, The Supper Club promises local, seasonal ingredients crafted by some of the area’s leading chefs, beginning with Jeff Smith of Georgia Reese’s and Tyler Herald of Patachou at the June 16 Joe Walsh/Bad Company show. IBJ's North of 96th blog has more details here.

Although the $125-$135 per guest doesn’t include a ticket to the show, it does include VIP parking, a full bar and handcrafted cocktails or local beer and wine pairings (depending on the menu), and an excuse to beat the traffic and get to Klipsch early.