Holiday Events in Tallahassee 2026: Lights, Festivals & Family Fun
Discover Holiday Events, Festivals, and Lights in Tallahassee
What are some family-friendly holiday events in Tallahassee?
‘Tis the season for festivals, glowing lights, live music and plenty of shopping. Planning a holiday trip to Florida’s Capital City? Use this month-by-month guide to Tallahassee holiday events in 2026, from November through New Year’s Eve.
November Holiday Events in Tallahassee
November 14 – December 24: LeMoyne Arts’ 63rd Annual Holiday Show
When: November 14 – December 24, 2026
Where: LeMoyne Arts, 125 N. Gadsden Street
LeMoyne Arts’ 63rd Annual Holiday Show turns the gallery into a festive marketplace filled with original works by regional artists, including fine art, ceramics, jewelry, textiles and handcrafted gifts. It’s a great place to find one-of-a-kind presents.
November 16: Hearth & Soul Holiday Window Reveal, “Woodland Wonder”
When: Monday, November 16, 5 to 7 PM
Where: Hearth & Soul, 1410 Market Street, Market District
Hearth & Soul’s Holiday Window Reveal unveils the store’s eleventh annual holiday window. This year’s theme, “Woodland Wonder,” turns the storefront into a warm, whimsical winter forest with twinkling lights, lush greenery, pinecones and woodland creatures, with 25 Advent Calendar gifts tucked throughout the scene. Follow @shophearthandsoul for daily giveaways December 1 through 25, and stop back for the Hearth & Soul Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 5, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Make a day of it with more shops and restaurants in our Market District guide.
November 26 – January 1: Holiday Light Display at Dorothy B. Oven Park
When: Thanksgiving evening, November 26, through Friday, January 1 (weekdays 6 to 10 PM, weekends 5:30 to 11 PM)
Where: Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road
Cost: Free
The Holiday Light Display at Dorothy B. Oven Park premieres on Thanksgiving evening (Thursday, November 26) and runs nightly through the New Year (Friday, January 1), weather permitting. Motorists inside the park and traveling along Thomasville Road in the vicinity of the park are urged to drive with caution. The light display is free and open to the public. Be sure to check out Elf Night on Sunday, December 13, listed below.
December Holiday Events in Tallahassee
December 5: 40th Annual Winter Festival
When: Saturday, December 5, 3 to 10 PM
Where: Downtown Tallahassee
The 40th Annual Winter Festival – a Celebration of Lights, Music and the Arts – will fill downtown Tallahassee with merriment. Visitors can enjoy delicious food vendors, unique arts and crafts merchants and sparkling holiday displays, including Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park, which stays open nightly through December 20. Four stages of live entertainment will dot downtown and highlight local actors, dancers, musicians and more. The Lighting Ceremony takes place at 6 PM on the parade announcers’ platform, located on South Monroe Street at Bloxham Park. The Capital Health Plan Jingle Bell Run begins at 6:15 PM, and the Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:10 PM.
Make a night of it with dinner at The Edison in Cascades Park, or browse more Tallahassee restaurants. Check Talgov.com/WinterFestival and our Travel & Weather Alerts page for weather updates.
December 5: Winter Open House at The Grove Museum
When: Saturday, December 5, 10 AM to 2 PM (museum open until 4 PM)
Where: The Grove Museum, 902 N. Monroe Street
Join The Grove Museum for the annual Winter Open House, a celebration of the holiday season with festive décor, community partners, treats, crafts, special tours and a choral performance by the Leon High School Melodears. Parking is located at 902 N. Monroe St.
December 5 – 6: Market Days at the North Florida Fairgrounds
When: Saturday and Sunday, December 5 – 6
Where: North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 E. Paul Russell Road
Quintessentially Tallahassee, Market Days is one of the Southeast’s largest and best-juried arts and crafts shows, featuring the unique, handmade creations of over 300 artists and top-quality artisans and craftspeople. Market Days offers a beautiful array of works in various price ranges, from breathtaking fine art to charming stocking stuffers. The works include fine arts, ceramics, country furniture, stained glass, woodwork, glasswork, dolls, clocks, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, metalwork, clothing, photography and calligraphy. This event is volunteer-run, and all proceeds go to support the Tallahassee Museum, whose mission is to inspire people to transform their lives, community and the world through an enhanced understanding of our region’s natural and cultural environments.
December 10 – 11: 40th Annual Victorian Christmas in Thomasville
When: Thursday and Friday, December 10 – 11, 6 to 9 PM each night
Where: Downtown Thomasville, Georgia
The 40th Annual Victorian Christmas is a short drive north of Tallahassee. Journey to the past on the historic streets of Downtown Thomasville, with visits with St. Nick, a Christmas movie, train rides for children and holiday entertainment.
December 11: Cookies with Santa
When: Friday, December 11, 6 to 8:30 PM
Where: Jack McLean Community Center, 700 Paul Russell Road
Cookies with Santa brings families together for free cookies and hot cocoa, a holiday-themed movie, and photos and letters with Santa Claus.
December 11 and 13: Handel’s Messiah
When: Friday, December 11, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 13, at 3 PM
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 120 W. Park Avenue
Handel’s Messiah – “Hallelujah!” The Tallahassee tradition returns to the sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church. Few musical works are familiar to as many, and Messiah remains Handel’s best-known piece. There is no better time of year to enjoy this beautiful, sacred oratorio that has long been associated with good will and charity.
December 12: Holiday Magic with the Tallahassee Symphony
When: Saturday, December 12, at 3 PM
Where: Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 222 S. Copeland Street
The Tallahassee Symphony performs timeless classics and seasonal favorites in a world of holiday wonder at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
December 12: Holiday Stroll through Cascades Park
When: Saturday, December 12, 6 to 7:30 PM
Where: Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden Street
The annual Holiday Stroll invites you to sing aloud, or simply listen, to merry melodies as they fill the air of Cascades Park. About a dozen different acts will showcase their talents throughout the winding trails of the park, including the Smokey Hollow Commemoration. Free hot cocoa will be available. A beautiful show at the Imagination Fountain will play every fifteen minutes during the event.
December 13: Elf Night at Dorothy B. Oven Park
When: Sunday, December 13, 5:30 to 8 PM
Where: Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road
Cost: Free
Elf Night is your chance to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. Check in on the front lawn upon arrival to be assigned a ticket number, which will allow you to enjoy the festivities until your number is called. Hot cocoa and cookies will be provided by Santa’s little helpers while supplies last. Vehicles are not allowed to drive through or use the parking lot on Elf Night, but parking is available next door at Thomasville Road Baptist Church. While enjoying Elf Night, parents will want to have their cameras ready to record all the smiles and wonderment on their children’s faces. Both Elf Night and the holiday light display are free and open to the public.
December 19 – 20: The Nutcracker, 40th Anniversary
When: Saturday, December 19, at 10:30 AM (abbreviated) and 7:30 PM, and Sunday, December 20, at 10:30 AM (abbreviated) and 2:30 PM
Where: Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 222 S. Copeland Street
Tallahassee Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ celebrates 40 years of this holiday classic, a memory-making performance that is not just about what is behind the curtain but about the magic of the experience. Generations of families mark the holiday season by dressing up and introducing bright-eyed youngsters to the most frequently performed ballet in America and worldwide. Dancers float across the stage to the iconic score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed by a live orchestra, and Tallahassee Ballet alumni join the party scene for this milestone year. The 7:30 PM and 2:30 PM performances feature the live orchestra.
Plan Your Tallahassee Holiday Trip
Make the most of your visit with our guides to Tallahassee restaurants, hotels and places to stay and the full Tallahassee events calendar. Request your free Visitor Guide to start planning before you head out.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Tallahassee Winter Festival in 2026?
The 40th Annual Winter Festival is Saturday, December 5, from 3 to 10 PM in downtown Tallahassee. The Lighting Ceremony is at 6 PM, the Capital Health Plan Jingle Bell Run starts at 6:15 PM and the Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:10 PM.
Where can I see holiday lights in Tallahassee?
Dorothy B. Oven Park has a free light display from November 26 through January 1, with weekday hours of 6 to 10 PM and weekend hours of 5:30 to 11 PM. Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park is open nightly from December 5 through December 20.
What are the free holiday events in Tallahassee?
Free options include the Dorothy B. Oven Park light display, Elf Night on December 13 and Countdown at Cascades on December 31. Cookies with Santa on December 11 offers free cookies and hot cocoa.
When is Elf Night at Dorothy B. Oven Park?
Elf Night is Sunday, December 13, from 5:30 to 8 PM. Vehicles are not allowed in the park or parking lot that night, but parking is available next door at Thomasville Road Baptist Church.
What is there to do on New Year’s Eve in Tallahassee?
Countdown at Cascades: America’s Next 250 is a free, family-friendly celebration at the Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park on Thursday, December 31, with live music starting at 6 PM and fireworks at 7:45 and 9:45 PM.
Where can I find holiday concerts and performances in Tallahassee?
The Tallahassee Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah on December 11 and 13, and the Tallahassee Ballet performs The Nutcracker on December 19 and 20.
Where can I shop local for the holidays in Tallahassee?
Try the LeMoyne Arts Holiday Show (November 14 through December 24), Market Days (December 5 – 6) and the boutiques in the Market District.
Where should I stay for holiday events in Tallahassee?
Browse hotels and places to stay on our Stay page. Staying downtown puts you close to the Winter Festival, the Holiday Stroll and Countdown at Cascades.
