The Indianapolis Museum of Art will have a Winter Solstice Celebration Dec. 16, 6-7 p.m. The IMA will light up the night with torches, and artist Stephan Koch will present an ice carving demonstration. Dress to be outdoors! 923-1331.

Restoration of the Bona Thompson Memorial Center caps several years’ efforts of the Irvington Historical Society, which raised over $1 million to bring the former Butler University Library back to life.

“We have a unique opportunity here to present the fine arts in a neoclassical building in the heart of our neighborhood,” says Steve Barnet, executive director of the Bona Thompson Center. “We serve the Irvington neighborhood and the broader Central Indiana community with programs about the arts and history and cultural events.”

Since 2002, the Bona Thompson Center has been hosting exhibitions of works by contemporary and well-known artists with connections to Irvington and Central Indiana.

On Friday, Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m., you’re invited to attend the opening reception for an exhibition of paper artifacts and other memorabilia commemorating the centennial of Abe Martin, a folksy cartoon character developed by Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard, who lived at 5070 Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive from 1909 to 1928.

Hubbard has been called Indiana’s foremost humorist and cartoonist. His Abe Martin cartoons, which appeared first in the Indianapolis News on Dec. 17, 1904, were eventually syndicated in as many as 200 city newspapers nationally. After his death, Will Rogers called him “America’s greatest humorist.” The exhibition, Hoosier Wit & Wisdom: The Centennial of Kin Hubbard and Abe Martin, runs through Jan. 23. Also on exhibition are works by Irvington women artists from the permanent collection of the Irvington Historical Society, including paintings by Constance Forsyth, Dorothy Morlan, Hilah Drake Wheeler, Doe Crapo and Denise Stuckey.

On Sunday, Dec. 19, the Irvington Artists Concert Series at the Irvington United Methodist Church presents “A Christmas Celebration” at 5:30 p.m. Following the concert, join the Historic Irvington Community Council for the Luminaria celebration from 7 to 9 p.m., with music and refreshments at the historic Benton House and a visit from Santa and caroling at Irving Circle Park.

Stop by the Irvington Presbyterian Church for the 6 p.m. evening worship service on the fourth Sunday of each month to experience “Sounds for the Soul,” which features some of Indy’s hottest musical talent.