Christmas 2026 in Murfreesboro: lights at Cannonsburgh Dec. 4-19, the Oaklands candlelight tour Dec. 12, Santa at Patterson Park Dec. 18-19 and more.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Events come from the city’s calendar, Main Street Murfreesboro, Oaklands Mansion and Wreaths Across America.
Murfreesboro’s Christmas season opens with the county tree lighting on the Square on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, the same night Cannonsburgh Village switches on its holiday lights. The parade and the tree lighting have their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting. This page covers everything else: lights, Santa, tours and markets.
Who to call
- Cannonsburgh Village: 615-890-0355
- Christmas at Patterson: 615-848-8571
- Oaklands Mansion: 615-893-0022
- Main Street Murfreesboro: 615-895-1887
December at a glance
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. | Celebrate Christmas Downtown and tree lighting | The Square | Free |
| Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 4-19, 4 to 8 p.m. | A Charming Christmas (lights, carolers, Santa letters) | Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St. | $5; 5 and under free |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 4 to 8 p.m. | Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes | East Main Street and Oaklands Mansion | $30 adults, $10 ages 6 to 12 |
| Sun., Dec. 13, 2 p.m. | Murfreesboro Christmas Parade | Main Street | Free |
| Fri., Dec. 18, 6 to 8 p.m., and Sat., Dec. 19, 4 to 6 p.m. | Christmas at Patterson (Santa’s sleigh) | Patterson Park Community Center | Free |
| Sat., Dec. 19, noon | Wreaths Across America | Stones River National Cemetery | Free |
Christmas lights: Cannonsburgh Village
The city’s pioneer village at 312 S. Front St. becomes A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m., Dec. 4-19. Stroll the candlelit, rustically decorated buildings and the light displays, with carolers, live music, letters to Santa, holiday crafts, demonstrations and special guests. Admission is $5 a person; ages 5 and under are free. Tickets are nonrefundable and sold online or at the gate. The village stays open free Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to walk through the decorated buildings by day.
In 2023 and 2024 the city ran Cannonsburgh as a free drive-through light display; the 2026 listing is a ticketed evening you walk through on foot.
Santa visits
- After the tree lighting, Friday, Dec. 4: Santa moves into the courthouse for free photos from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., according to Main Street Murfreesboro.
- Christmas at Patterson, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, and 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.: free, with Santa and his sleigh for do-it-yourself photos, Christmas cookies, ornament decorating, story time with Mrs. Claus, Santa letter writing and character greetings.
- Cannonsburgh Village has letters to Santa on its Charming Christmas nights.
- Oaklands Mansion: Mrs. Claus shares cookies in Maney Hall during the candlelight tour.
Candlelight Tour of Homes: Dec. 12
Oaklands Mansion’s 43rd Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, through decorated homes and churches in the East Main Street Historic District and nearby streets, ending at Oaklands Mansion, 901 N. Maney Ave.
- Tickets: $30 adults, $10 ages 6 to 12, free for 5 and under. Buy online or in the museum shop by 6 p.m. Dec. 12.
- At the mansion: Murfreesboro Little Theatre members tell the house’s stories, the Home Sweet Home Band plays Christmas standards, food trucks park outside, and the museum shop is open.
- In Maney Hall: the Tennessee Valley Winds Brass Quartet plays two 45-minute sets from 4 p.m., and Mrs. Claus collects toy donations for Give a Little Christmas.
- Parking: drive yourself and park on the street, or use the free lots at the mansion and Oaklands Park. The visitors center lot is for guests with ADA needs, and the city no longer allows parking on the grass.
Downtown tree lighting and parade
Main Street Murfreesboro lights the Rutherford County Christmas tree on Friday, Dec. 4, and the city’s parade steps off at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Routes, parking and entry rules are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
Wreaths Across America: Dec. 19
Wreaths Across America holds its ceremony at Stones River National Battlefield at noon Saturday, Dec. 19, with wreaths placed on veterans’ graves in the national cemetery right after. Anyone can sponsor a wreath or sign up to volunteer on the group’s page. The battlefield is at 3501 Old Nashville Highway; call 615-893-9501.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4. We found no public menorah lighting in Murfreesboro announced for 2026 when we checked. If your congregation is holding one, tell us and we will add it.
What this means for you
- Best free night out: the tree lighting on Dec. 4, then Christmas at Patterson on Dec. 18 or 19.
- Book ahead: the candlelight tour sells admission online; Cannonsburgh tickets are nonrefundable.
- Trash: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on a Thursday and Friday this year, and the city’s holiday schedule shows no change to pickup. See our trash and recycling page.
More guides: Black Friday and holiday shopping, New Year’s Eve and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Christmas lights in Murfreesboro?
Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St., opens for A Charming Christmas on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 8 p.m., Dec. 4-19, 2026, with light displays, carolers and letters to Santa. Admission is $5; ages 5 and under are free.
When is the Oaklands Mansion Candlelight Tour of Homes 2026?
4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for ages 6 to 12 and free for 5 and under, sold online or in the museum shop until 6 p.m. that day.
Where can kids see Santa in Murfreesboro for free?
Santa poses for free photos in the courthouse after the tree lighting, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and brings his sleigh to Christmas at Patterson, free, 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 18 and 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 19.
When is the Rutherford County Christmas tree lighting?
Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, on the Square. Activities start at 6 p.m. and the stage show, with Santa lighting the tree, at 6:30 p.m.
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