Christmas 2026 around Gainesville: the Christmas Train in Williston from Nov. 27, the Garden Club market Dec. 5, The Nutcracker Dec. 18-20 and Santa visits.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: each organizer’s own page, linked below, the City of Gainesville’s 2025 Holiday Lights Celebration listing and the Visit Gainesville calendar. The holiday parade and the city tree lighting have their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting.
The Gainesville holiday season runs from the weekend after Thanksgiving to the day after Christmas. The biggest light display in reach is the Christmas Train at Kirby Family Farm in Williston, which opens Nov. 27. In town, the city lights the Thomas Center gardens on parade day, the Hippodrome and the Phillips Center stage their holiday shows, and the Garden Club holds its market on Dec. 5.
Before you go
- Parade and city tree lighting: Christmas parade and tree lighting
- Event listings: Visit Gainesville calendar
- Gainesville city services: 352-334-5000
- Emergencies: 911
Light displays
The Christmas Train at Kirby Family Farm, Williston. The farm’s 15th Christmas Train is a 20-minute ride on a 100-year-old narrow-gauge locomotive through thousands of lights, with Santa’s Cottage, a magic show, a tractor ride, an Italian carousel, an antique Ferris wheel and a gift for children 10 and under. Ticket money supports the farm’s programs for at-risk, foster and special needs children. Gates open at 6 p.m., the first train leaves at 6:30 p.m. and trains run about every half hour until 9 p.m.
2026 nights:
- Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28
- Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5
- Friday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 13
- Friday, Dec. 18, through Wednesday, Dec. 23
- Saturday, Dec. 26 (no Santa visit after Christmas)
The farm says many nights sell out and recommends booking ahead online.
Holiday Lights Celebration, Historic Thomas Center, 302 NE Sixth Ave. The city lights the Thomas Center gardens on the evening of its holiday parade. In 2025 it ran from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, with the garden lighting and Santa at 6 p.m., luminarias from the Duckpond Neighborhood Association, kids’ crafts, live entertainment and free horse and carriage rides. The 2026 date has not been announced; it will be on our parade and tree lighting page.
Know a neighborhood display or a light show we should add? Send the address and dates through our contact page.
Santa visits
| Where | When |
|---|---|
| Kirby Family Farm Christmas Train | Train nights from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23; photos with your own phone are free |
| Holiday Lights Celebration, Thomas Center | From 6 p.m. on the city’s parade day (2025 timing) |
| Holiday at Santa Fe | 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, Santa Fe College |
Holiday at Santa Fe is a family show from Santa Fe College Performing Arts, the Teaching Zoo, the planetarium and the Little School, following Perry the Mouse and Santa Claus as they try to make it snow, according to its listing.
Holiday shows
| Date | Show | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 5 to 21 | A Twistmas Carol, a new comedy by Kevin Rainsberger that moves Dickens to a retirement home for actors | Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place |
| 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19; 2 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 | The Nutcracker, Dance Alive National Ballet with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra | Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road |
Holiday markets
The Gainesville Garden Club’s free Holiday Market runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1350 NW 75th St., with local artisans, plant vendors and food. Shoppers are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for local pantries. More shopping is on our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, and runs through Saturday, Dec. 12. Public menorah lightings in Gainesville are announced closer to the date; we will add them here with the organizer’s link.
What this means for you
- Book Christmas Train nights early, especially the weekends before Christmas.
- Alachua County Public Schools’ winter break runs from Monday, Dec. 21, to Friday, Jan. 1, so weeknight light shows that week are a good option with kids.
- Watch our parade and tree lighting page for the city’s 2026 dates, usually announced in late November.
Related: New Year’s Eve in Gainesville and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Christmas lights near Gainesville in 2026?
The Christmas Train at Kirby Family Farm in Williston runs a 20-minute train ride through thousands of lights on select nights from Nov. 27 to Dec. 26. The city’s Holiday Lights Celebration at the Thomas Center follows the holiday parade.
Where can kids see Santa in Gainesville?
Santa visits are part of the Christmas Train nights at Kirby Family Farm through Dec. 23, and in 2025 Santa met families from 6 p.m. at the city’s Holiday Lights Celebration at the Thomas Center.
When is The Nutcracker in Gainesville in 2026?
Dance Alive National Ballet performs The Nutcracker with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra at the Phillips Center at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20.
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, and ends Saturday, Dec. 12. We add Gainesville’s public menorah lightings when organizers post them.
Have your say