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Christmas Events in Murfreesboro, TN (2026)

Every Christmas and holiday event in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County for the 2026 season, from the tree lighting on the Square to the Christmas Parade, Santa visits, lights and concerts. The dates below update from the Only in Murfreesboro events calendar.

By the Only in Murfreesboro local team · Last updated:

What Christmas events are in Murfreesboro in 2026?

Murfreesboro's 2026 Christmas season centers on the Rutherford County Christmas Tree Lighting on the Public Square on Friday, Dec. 4, the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 PM, A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village on December weekends, and free Christmas at Patterson with Santa on Dec. 18 and 19.

Upcoming Christmas and Holiday Events

19 holiday events (46 dates in all) on the calendar, in date order. Events with several nights show the first date. Each listing links to the organizer's page. Browse everything else on the Murfreesboro events calendar.

What are the biggest Christmas traditions in Murfreesboro?

Rutherford County Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square

Friday, Dec. 4, 2026 (first Friday of December)

Historic Rutherford County Courthouse, Public Square

Main Street Murfreesboro organizes the lighting of the county Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn, presented by Middle Tennessee Electric. In 2025 free children's activities and hot cocoa started at 6 PM, the stage program began at 6:30 PM with Santa lighting the tree, and Santa posed for free photos inside the courthouse from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Carriage rides were sold separately. Main Street has not yet posted the 2026 schedule.

Christmas on the Square guide

Murfreesboro Christmas Parade

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, 2 PM

East Main Street, from MTSU to Walnut Street

The City of Murfreesboro holds its parade on the second Sunday of December. Floats, bands and dancers travel East Main Street from MTSU and finish on Walnut Street, one block past the Square. The 2026 theme is "A Country Christmas." The city suggests watching along Main Street between Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Maple Street.

Christmas Parade guide

A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village

Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19, 2026, 4-8 PM

312 S Front St, Murfreesboro

The city-run pioneer village opens on December Friday and Saturday evenings with candle-lit buildings, light displays, carolers, music, letters to Santa, holiday crafts and demonstrations. Evening admission is $5 per person, and ages 5 and under are free. Regular free daytime admission continues Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM.

Cannonsburgh Village guide

Christmas at Patterson

Friday, Dec. 18 (6-8 PM) and Saturday, Dec. 19 (4-6 PM), 2026

Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation hosts a free Christmas event for all ages. Santa and his sleigh are set up for do-it-yourself pictures, and the evening includes Christmas cookies, ornament decorating, story time with Mrs. Claus, Santa letter writing and character greetings.

Patterson Park guide

Holly Jolly Festival of Lights at Lucky Ladd Farms

Select nights, Nov. 27 - Dec. 23, 2026

4306 Rocky Glade Rd, Eagleville

Lucky Ladd Farms lights a mile-long walking trail of Christmas displays. The farm lists Santa photos nightly from 6 to 8 PM, a letters to Santa station, campfires and pony rides. Tickets for ages 2 and up are $12-$16 online or $19-$23 at the gate; children under 2 and parking are free.

Christmas lights guide

Christmas at Oaklands Mansion

Dinner Dec. 4; Candlelight Tour of Homes Dec. 12, 2026

900 N Maney Ave, Murfreesboro

Oaklands Mansion holds its Annual Christmas Dinner on Friday, Dec. 4, with a sponsor pre-party at 5:30 PM and dinner at 6:30 PM. The Candlelight Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 12, 4-8 PM, visits homes in the East Main Street Historic District and ends at the decorated mansion. Oaklands also plans guided evening Christmastime tours on dates it has not yet set.

Oaklands Mansion guide

Discovery Center Holiday Open House

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 10 AM - 5 PM

502 SE Broad St, Murfreesboro

The children's museum's Cultural Heritage Day features a museum-wide hunt for the Yule Lads of Icelandic folklore, a giant gingerbread house to decorate, winter traditions from around the world and a visit from Santa. Admission is reduced to $5 per person for the day.

Discovery Center guide

Santa, Holiday Concerts and Christmas Lights

Santa makes several stops around Murfreesboro in December, from the tree lighting on the Square to Christmas at Patterson and Cookies & Cocoa with Santa at Lucky Ladd Farms. See where to see Santa in Murfreesboro for dates, prices and photo details.

The holiday concert season includes the MTSU School of Music's free Messiah Sing-Along on Nov. 29, the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra's Christmas Spectacular on Dec. 3 and Carols and Cocktails at the Center for the Arts. See holiday concerts in Murfreesboro, or browse every show on the Murfreesboro concerts page.

For light displays, including drive-through shows within an hour of town, see the Murfreesboro Christmas lights guide.

Christmas Events in Smyrna and La Vergne

Smyrna Christmas Tree Lighting

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026, 6-8 PM

The Town of Smyrna lights its tree at the Smyrna Train Depot. The free event includes music, treats, performances, a kids' sing-along and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Smyrna Christmas Parade

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, 2 PM

Floats, bands, performers and community groups travel Lowry Street in downtown Smyrna. The parade is free to attend.

History After Dark: Curious Christmas

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 7 PM

The Historic Sam Davis Home in Smyrna leads an adults-only evening tour on 19th-century Christmas customs, from ghost stories at parties to firecrackers on Christmas morning. Tickets must be bought online in advance.

La Vergne Parade of Lights

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 5 PM

La Vergne's holiday parade starts at City Hall and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, where a tree lighting follows.

More in each town: Smyrna, TN, the Sam Davis Home and La Vergne, TN.

Plan the Rest of the Holiday Season

Shopping

Downtown After 5's holiday edition on Nov. 6 and the Holiday Market at Stones River Mall on Nov. 21 open the gift season. See holiday markets in Murfreesboro.

Thanksgiving to New Year's

Start with Thanksgiving in Murfreesboro, add ice skating, and finish with New Year's Eve in Murfreesboro.

Parking downtown

For the tree lighting and parade, organizers point to the Judicial Center garage at 223 N Maple St and the Civic Plaza garage at 111 W Vine St. Public Square parking closed at 4 PM on tree lighting night in 2025.

Christmas in Murfreesboro FAQ

When is the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade in 2026?

The Murfreesboro Christmas Parade is Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, at 2 PM. It travels East Main Street from MTSU to Walnut Street, one block past the Public Square. The 2026 theme is "A Country Christmas."

When is the Christmas tree lighting on the Murfreesboro Square?

Main Street Murfreesboro lights the Rutherford County Christmas tree on the first Friday night of December, which is Dec. 4, 2026. The 2025 program began at 6 PM, and Main Street has not yet posted 2026 times.

What Christmas events in Murfreesboro are free?

The tree lighting on the Square, the Christmas Parade, Christmas at Patterson and the MTSU School of Music's Messiah Sing-Along are free. In Smyrna, the Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade are also free.

Where can you see Christmas lights near Murfreesboro?

The Public Square's courthouse tree, A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village and Lucky Ladd Farms' Holly Jolly Festival of Lights in Eagleville are the closest displays. See the Murfreesboro Christmas lights guide for more.

Are there Christmas events for adults in Murfreesboro?

Yes. Carols and Cocktails at the Center for the Arts on Dec. 17 and 19 is adults-only, as is the Sam Davis Home's History After Dark: Curious Christmas tour on Dec. 5. Oaklands Mansion's Christmas Dinner is Dec. 4.

Related Guides

Christmas on the Square

The tree lighting and downtown

Christmas Parade

Route, parking and times

See Santa

Photos and cookies with Santa

Events Calendar

Everything happening in Murfreesboro