The Huntsville Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, on Monroe Street. The Rocket City Tree lights at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 in Big Spring Park.

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. This page is updated each year. Sources: Tinsel Trail by Downtown Huntsville Inc., the Von Braun Center’s Huntsville Christmas Parade page and Sept. 1 announcement, the Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Galaxy of Lights page and the Huntsville Police Department’s 2025 parade notice.

Huntsville’s Christmas season downtown starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, when Downtown Huntsville Inc. lights the Rocket City Tree in Big Spring Park and opens Tinsel Trail, more than 450 decorated live trees that stay up through Dec. 31. The Huntsville Christmas Parade follows at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, on a route changed this year for downtown construction.

Updated Oct. 19: the Von Braun Center and Mix 96.9 set the parade for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, starting on Monroe Street at Holmes Avenue.

Who to call

  • Tinsel Trail and the tree lighting: Downtown Huntsville Inc., karla@downtownhuntsville.org, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
  • The parade: the Von Braun Center’s parade page and facebook.com/HSVChristmasParade
  • Parade road closures and traffic: Huntsville Police non-emergency, 256-722-7100
  • Emergency: 911

Tree lighting: Friday, Nov. 27

From Tinsel Trail:

Time What
3 to 9 p.m. Black Friday Market: local vendors and food trucks throughout Big Spring Park
Evening Performances by the Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre and other local performers
6 p.m. Lighting of the Rocket City Tree
6 to 8 p.m. Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Big Spring Park is at 200 Church St. NW. Tree reservations for 2026 are sold out; Downtown Huntsville Inc. says registration for 2027 opens Aug. 1, 2027. A calendar of Tinsel Trail events, including the Tinsel Trail Trot, is due closer to the season.

The Christmas parade: Tuesday, Dec. 1

The 12th annual Huntsville Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, Mix 96.9 and the Von Braun Center, which organize it, announced on Sept. 1. The theme, picked in an online vote, is “A Rocket City Christmas.” Food City is the presenting sponsor.

  • Route: from Monroe Street at Holmes Avenue, heading south through downtown and ending near A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard, the parade page says. The organizers changed the route this year because of construction projects downtown; the map is on the parade page.
  • Cost: watching is free. The parade page lists more than 80 floats, animals and marching bands.
  • Where to watch: there are no official viewing areas apart from a VIP area at the Pre-Parade Party.
  • Pre-Parade Party: moves this year to the Propst Arena lobby at the Von Braun Center, with food, holiday activities and pictures with Santa. Entry is limited and goes to people who donate an item for Manna House, the parade’s nonprofit partner, at a WRSA live remote before parade day. The time and the drop-off details are still to be announced.
  • Road closures: the Police Department had not posted the 2026 closure list as of Nov. 1. In 2025 the department closed streets along the route at 5:30 p.m. and reopened them by about 8 p.m. Our road closures page will carry the 2026 list.
  • Grand marshal: to be announced.

Galaxy of Lights

The Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Galaxy of Lights, in its 31st season, runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 31, 2026, at 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. SW. Walking nights cover 1.75 miles of lights; driving nights let you stay in the car. There are six dog walking nights, an Evergreen Express tram ride on select walking nights and sensory hours at 4:30 p.m. on four walking nights. The Galaxy of Lights 5K is Monday, Nov. 30, and the 3K Fun Run is Tuesday, Dec. 1. Tickets are sold by the Garden; prices and the nightly calendar are on our Galaxy of Lights page.

What this means for you

  • Put Friday, Nov. 27, on the calendar for the tree lighting; come at 3 p.m. for the market.
  • Tinsel Trail stays up in Big Spring Park through Dec. 31.
  • The Christmas parade is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, from Monroe Street. Plan on downtown streets closing in the late afternoon.

More guides: holiday lights and Christmas events, things to do this month and getting around Huntsville.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Huntsville Christmas tree lighting in 2026?

The Rocket City Tree in Big Spring Park lights at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, opening Tinsel Trail, Downtown Huntsville Inc. says. A Black Friday Market runs 3 to 9 p.m., and Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for pictures from 6 to 8 p.m.

When is the 2026 Huntsville Christmas parade?

The 12th annual Huntsville Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, the Von Braun Center says. It starts on Monroe Street at Holmes Avenue, heads south through downtown and ends near A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard. The theme is A Rocket City Christmas, and watching is free.

How long is Tinsel Trail open?

Nov. 27 to Dec. 31, 2026, in Big Spring Park, 200 Church St. NW. More than 450 live Christmas trees are decorated by local businesses, nonprofits and families.

When does Galaxy of Lights open in 2026?

Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Garden runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 31, 2026, with walking nights, driving nights, dog nights and sensory hours. Tickets are sold by the Garden.