🎄 Christmas Lights & Hometown Nights: Holiday Fun in Christian County
Bundle up, grab something warm to sip and make room on your calendar for a little hometown holiday magic. From Christmas parades and carriage rides to a drive through glowing holiday displays, there are plenty of ways to celebrate in Christian County.
Plan an evening on the square, wave to Santa along a parade route or take the scenic way through Finley River Park. Here’s a little inspiration for your 2026 holiday calendar.
Festival of Lights in Ozark
Finley River Park | 891-961 N Riverside Rd, Ozark, MO
📅 November 21–December 27, 2026
🎟️ Free admission; donations welcome
Make a drive through the Festival of Lights part of your holiday traditions. More than a mile of drive-through displays follows the park road at Finley River Park, offering a festive outing you can enjoy from the warmth of your car.
Discover twinkling lights and displays celebrating the season and Ozark’s local history. Pair your drive with dinner or a stop on the square for a full evening of holiday fun.
Donations are welcome at the end of the route to help maintain and grow the display.
Ozark Christmas Parade: Stars, Stripes & Christmas Lights
Downtown Ozark, MO
📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ Parade begins at 5:30 PM, once it’s dark enough
Start the season with one of Ozark’s longest-running holiday traditions. The 61st Annual Ozark Christmas Parade returns with the theme “Patriotic Christmas: Stars, Stripes & Christmas Lights.”
Arrive early to explore Santa Village on the Square from 2–5:30 PM, with Santa available for family photos in the gazebo from 3:30–5 PM. Then find your parade spot and enjoy an evening of lighted floats and community Christmas cheer.
Sparta Christmas Parade
📍 Sparta, Missouri
📅 Saturday, December 5, 2026
⏰ Parade begins at 6 PM | Santa photos begin at 3:30 PM
Make an afternoon of it in Sparta, where the holiday fun begins before the parade. Meet Kindhearted Santa and Mrs. Lizzie Claus and take photos beginning at 3:30 PM. Check with organizers for the confirmed photo location before heading out.
Then settle in for the Christmas parade at 6 PM. It’s a chance to gather with friends, wave to familiar faces and enjoy a little Christmas cheer together.
Participating in the parade? Lineup begins at 5 PM at Sparta Middle School, 217 Division Street.
Nixa Christmas Parade: Red, White & Blue Christmas
📍 Nixa, Missouri | Parade departs from The X Center
📅 Sunday, December 6, 2026
⏰ 2 PM
Celebrate the season with a patriotic twist at Nixa’s 72nd Annual Christmas Parade, themed “Red, White, & Blue Christmas.”
Presented by Nixa Parks and sponsored by Walmart, this afternoon parade offers a daytime outing for families looking to add a little holiday fun to their weekend. Bring your Christmas spirit and keep an eye out for Santa aboard the Gateway Real Estate float.
View Nixa Christmas Parade details and route
Friday Night Lights
Downtown Ozark, MO
📅 Friday, December 11, 2026
⏰ Begins at 5 PM; end time to be confirmed
Spend an evening surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas at Friday Night Lights. Planned festivities include carriage rides, carolers, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa on the historic Ozark Square.
Celebrate the season with the Historic River District, Christian County and the City of Ozark, and make time for a drive through the nearby Festival of Lights before heading home.
Check with organizers for the final activity schedule and confirmed event end time.
Clever Christmas Parade
📍 Clever, Missouri
📅 Saturday, December 12, 2026
⏰ 6 PM
Keep the holiday traditions rolling with an evening in Clever. Held on the second Saturday in December, the Clever Christmas Parade brings the community together for a festive night during the countdown to Christmas.
Bundle up with your favorite people and enjoy the parade beginning at 6 PM.
Participating in the parade? Lineup begins at 5 PM.
Billings Christmas Parade
📍 Billings, Missouri
📅 Saturday, December 19, 2026
⏰ 6 PM | Santa at the fire station after the parade
With Christmas just around the corner, Billings offers one more reason to get out and celebrate. The Billings Christmas Parade starts at the school at 6 PM, followed by a visit with Santa at the fire station.
Watch the parade, then stop by to share those last-minute Christmas wishes.
Participating in the parade? Lineup begins at 5:30 PM at the school.
🎄Make a Little More Merry
Turn your holiday outing into a tradition of your own. Browse local shops for a thoughtful gift, meet up for dinner or pick up a warm drink before finding your parade spot. Sometimes the best holiday memories happen close to home.
Looking for more ways to celebrate? Browse our local events calendar for more seasonal fun across Christian County.
Event details are subject to change. Check with organizers for the latest updates, parade routes and weather announcements before heading out.
