Saturday, December 5, 2026 • 3-10 p.m. • Downtown
The 40th annual Winter Festival - a Celebration of Lights, Music and the Arts will fill downtown Tallahassee with merriment on Saturday, December 5, from 3-10 p.m. Visitors can enjoy delicious food vendors, unique arts and crafts merchants and sparkling holiday displays, including Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park. Four stages of live entertainment will dot downtown and highlight local actors, dancers, musicians and more. The Lighting Ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. on the parade announcers' platform, located on South Monroe Street at Bloxham Park. The Capital Health Plan Jingle Bell Run begins at 6:15 p.m. The Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:10 p.m.
Registration for the parade, entertainment, vendors and exhibitors are now open for 2026.
ALL REGISTRATIONS CLOSE OCTOBER 12, 2026
Parade Application
Entertainment Application
Vendor Application
Arts & Crafts, Exhibitor Application
Follow us on a walk down Candy Cane Lane. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through McCarty Park as you embrace the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
- Candy Cane Lane opens to the public on Saturday, December 5, from 3:00 - 10:00pm
- It will remain open nightly through December 20
- 12/6 –12/10 – 6-9pm
- 12/11 – 12/12 – 6-11pm
- 12/13 – 12/17- 6-9pm
- 12/18 – 12/19 – 6-11pm
- 12/20 – 6-9pm
You can sing aloud, or simply listen, to merry melodies as they fill the air of Cascades Park, 1001 South Gadsden Street, from 6:00 - 7:30pm on Saturday, December 12 at the annual Holiday Stroll. About a dozen different acts will showcase their talents throughout the winding trails of Cascades Park, including the Smokey Hollow Commemoration. Free hot cocoa will be available. A beautiful show at Imagination Fountain will play every fifteen minutes during the event.
The City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Department has made special arrangements with Santa! He will be making phone calls from his North Pole Workshop to all of the good little boys and girls this year!
Registration will open on Monday, November 30.
Santa will begin making phone calls on Thursday, December 10.
Dorothy B. Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road
The holiday light display will premiere Thanksgiving evening (Thursday, November 26) and run nightly through the New Year (Friday, January 1), weather permitting.
Weekday hours are 6:00 - 10:00pm with extended hours on the weekends from 5:30 - 11:00pm. Motorists inside the park and traveling along Thomasville Road in the vicinity of the park, are urged to drive with caution.
This year, Elf Night is Sunday, December 13 from 5:30 - 8:00pm. If you’d like to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, check-in on the front lawn upon arrival to be assigned a ticket number. Ticket distribution will close once we reach maximum capacity - you are welcome to enjoy the festivities until your number is called. While enjoying Elf Night, parents will want to have their cameras ready to record all the smiles and wonderment on their children’s faces.
Hot Cocoa and cookies will be provided by Santa’s little helpers while supplies last.
Please remember vehicles will not be allowed to drive through or use the parking lot on Elf Night but parking will be available next door at the Thomasville Road Baptist Church.
Both Elf Night and our holiday light display are free and open to the public and we look forward to seeing you.
For more information, call our holiday line at 850-891-3555.
Jack McLean Community Center, 700 Paul Russell Road
Gather up the family for an evening of FUN!
Join us, Friday evening, December 11; from 6:00 - 8:30pm, for free cookies and hot cocoa, a holiday-themed movie, plus photos and letters with Santa Claus!
For more information, call Jack McLean Community Center at 850-891-2505.
The City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs Department will be making spirits bright with Soul Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Registration opens on December 1. This event is for children 10 years and under. Children must be registered to participate and must be present to receive gifts.
Walker-Ford / Smith-Williams Soul Santa event will take place Saturday, December 19 | 10:00am - 2:00pm
Register for the Bond Community Soul Santa event
LeVerne Payne Soul Santa event will take place Saturday, December 19 | 2:30 - 6:00pm.
Register for the LeVerne Payne Community Soul Santa event
For more information, please contact LeVerne Payne Community Center at 850-891-3930 or Walker-Ford Community Center at 850-891-3970.