Christmas Events in Columbia, TN 2026: Every Date

The big Christmas weekends in Columbia this year are Nov. 20-22, for A Very Maury Christmas at The Factory, and Dec. 4-5, for the historic home tour, First Fridays and the 40th Columbia Christmas Parade. Around them are Breakfast with Santa, an 1800s-style Christmas Ball, a festive 5K and a run of holiday shows at the Mulehouse.

Here’s everything we’ve found for 2026, in date order. Dates and times come from the organizers or their listings, and we’ll update this page as more get announced.

November

• Sat., Nov. 14: SkillsUSA Holiday Market. Spring Hill High School students host local vendors at the school, 1 Raider Lane. Free to get in. Hours aren’t posted yet; last year it ran 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fri.-Sun., Nov. 20-22: A Very Maury Christmas. The 12th annual holiday market at The Factory at Columbia, 101 N. James Campbell Blvd. Friday is a ticketed preview party, 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ($10) and Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. ($5); kids 12 and under free. Santa is there Saturday 2-4 and Sunday 1-3.
• Starting Wed., Nov. 25: Garden Lights at the Polk Home. The President James K. Polk Home, 301 W. 7th St., lights up its gardens 5-9 p.m., with a hot drink included. Tickets are sold online, and kids under 3 are free. Visit Columbia lists it nightly through Dec. 23, but last year it ran on select nights, so check the Polk Home’s schedule before you go.
• Sat., Nov. 28: Jeff Allen: The Christmas Show. Clean stand-up from comedian Jeff Allen at the Mulehouse, 7:30 p.m.
• Sat., Nov. 28: Deck the Gingerbread. Gingerbread decorating at BAD Bakery, 106 E. 7th St. Check with the bakery for times and cost.

December

• Fri., Dec. 4: First Fridays. The December First Fridays on the square, 5-8 p.m., free. Visit Columbia lists a Merry Makers Market for the night.
• Fri.-Sat., Dec. 4-5: Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour. A self-guided tour of decorated historic homes, running since 1951. It starts at The Athenaeum, 808 Athenaeum St., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Tickets are $25 at the Maury County Visitors Center, Elm Springs or the Athenaeum.
• Sat., Dec. 5: Columbia Christmas Parade. The 40th annual lighted parade downtown at 6 p.m. Free. Route, parking and timing are here.
• Sat., Dec. 5: Columbia’s Most Wonderful Weekend. Holiday open houses at downtown antique shops.
• Sat., Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa. BAD Bakery & Cafe, 10:15-11:30 a.m., with breakfast, a visit with Santa and a photo. One listing mentions a second morning, so check with the bakery.
• Sat., Dec. 12: A Worthy Clause Christmas 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. A festive-attire run at Riverwalk Park, 104 Riverside Dr. Register on RunSignup; 75% of proceeds go to Maury County nonprofits.
• Sat., Dec. 12: The Christmas Ball. An 1800s-style dance with reels, waltzes, a live bluegrass band and lessons at the Memorial Building, 308 W. 7th St., 7 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door, $25 to watch. Dancers wear period dress.
• Sat., Dec. 12: One Christmas Evening. A children’s benefit concert with a 27-piece orchestra at the Mulehouse, raising money for Shop With a Cop.
• Sat., Dec. 12: Spring Hill Christmas Parade. Main Street in Spring Hill, 5 p.m., rain or shine.
• Sun., Dec. 13: Wizards of Winter. A holiday rock opera at the Mulehouse, 6:30 p.m.
• Thu., Dec. 17: A Tribute to the Sounds of Sinatra: Christmas Show. The Mulehouse, 7 p.m.
• Sat., Dec. 19: Mulehouse Holiday Market and Christmas Experience. A free family market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Mulehouse’s calendar also shows a private booking that day, so check before you go.
• Sun., Dec. 20: Christmas with Cord Martin and Friends. Holiday saxophone jazz at the Mulehouse.
• Thu., Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve at the Mulehouse. A party with Rubiks Groove starting at 9 p.m. and a champagne toast at midnight.

Looking for lights? Here’s where to see Christmas lights around Columbia.

Is the Mule Drop happening this New Year’s Eve?

The 2026 Mule Drop on the square hasn’t been announced. Last year it ran 9 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. on Dec. 31, free, raising money for the Center of Hope. We’ll add it when the date is confirmed.

When was the Columbia tree lighting?

The tree lighting was scheduled for First Fridays on Nov. 6. Here’s our guide to that night.

Every weekend’s events are on our calendar, and our Thursday email picks the best of them.

Sources: Visit Columbia holiday events, Experience Maury: A Very Maury Christmas, James K. Polk Home, The Mulehouse, Maury County Source: Breakfast with Santa, Maury County Source: The Christmas Ball, Maury County Source: Christmas 5K, Columbia Main Street, Visit Columbia: New Year’s Eve Mule Drop.

Photo: West 7th Street by Matt Locke, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.