Clarksville's Lighted Christmas Parade is 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, after the county tree lighting at 4:30 p.m. Christmas on the Cumberland opens Nov. 21.

Last checked Oct. 26, 2026. This page is updated each year. Sources: Clarksville Parks and Recreation’s Lighted Christmas Parade, Christmas on the Cumberland and Christmas Light Run pages, and Montgomery County Parks and Recreation’s events page and calendar.

The City of Clarksville and Montgomery County Lighted Christmas Parade steps off at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, from Austin Peay State University through historic downtown. Half an hour earlier, at 4:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Christmas tree is lit at Downtown Commons, 215 Legion St. Both are free. Questions: Clarksville Parks and Recreation, 931-645-7476, or Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, 931-648-5732.

Updated Oct. 26: Montgomery County now lists Spiritfest as 2 to 4 p.m., ahead of the 4:30 p.m. tree lighting.

Who to call

  • Clarksville Parks and Recreation (parade, Christmas on the Cumberland): 931-645-7476, parksrec@cityofclarksville.com
  • Montgomery County Parks and Recreation (tree lighting, Spiritfest): 931-648-5732

Saturday, Dec. 5: the big afternoon

Time What Where
2 to 4 p.m. Spiritfest: live music, Santa, kids’ activities, food trucks Downtown Commons and the corner of Third and Main streets
Same hours Cookies and hot chocolate Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall, 317 Franklin St.
Same hours Live nativity (dress up; camel, donkey and goats provided), art and nonprofit booths First Presbyterian, 213 Main St.
4:30 p.m. Montgomery County Christmas tree lighting Downtown Commons
5 p.m. Lighted Christmas Parade From Austin Peay through historic downtown

The 2026 parade theme is Santa’s Workshop. Businesses, civic groups, government agencies and churches can enter a float or a decorated vehicle; floats must follow the theme to be eligible for an award. Entry registration is open until Nov. 13 or until the parade is full. Food vendors apply separately.

Where to watch: spectators line the route for free. The city has not published a 2026 route map or road closure list; expect downtown streets to close in the afternoon. We will add the closures here when the city posts them.

Christmas on the Cumberland

The city’s light display along the McGregor Park riverwalk opens with a grand opening and Holiday Market, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21: local vendors and handmade gifts, then music, ornament decorating, treats, visits with Santa and a drone show after dark. The lights are on nightly from Nov. 21, 2026, through Jan. 2, 2027, but are turned off in rain or high winds; the city’s app has the latest status. Free.

More holiday dates

  • Christmas Light Run, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, through the Christmas on the Cumberland displays at McGregor Park, 640 N. Riverside Drive. Pre-registration required by Dec. 8; register by Nov. 15 for a shirt.
  • Photos with Santa at the Wade Bourne Nature Center, Rotary Park, on Dec. 5, 12 and 19.
  • Live ice sculpting and The Polar Express, 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, Downtown Commons.
  • New Year’s Eve Party, from 9 p.m. Dec. 31, Downtown Commons, with a live band and a balloon drop. Free.

Parking

Downtown street meters and city garages are free on weekends and city holidays, so parking for the Saturday, Dec. 5, events costs nothing at metered spaces, according to the city’s parking page.

What this means for you

  • Plan for one trip downtown on Dec. 5: Spiritfest at 2, the tree at 4:30, the parade at 5.
  • Want a float in the parade? Register by Nov. 13.
  • Christmas on the Cumberland is free every night from Nov. 21; check the app if the weather turns.

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

Frequently asked questions

When is the Clarksville Christmas parade 2026?

5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. The Lighted Christmas Parade runs from Austin Peay State University through historic downtown. It is free to watch.

When is the Clarksville Christmas tree lighting?

The Montgomery County Christmas tree is lit at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Downtown Commons, right before the parade. Spiritfest runs 2 to 4 p.m. the same afternoon.

When does Christmas on the Cumberland open?

Saturday, Nov. 21, with a Holiday Market from noon to 8 p.m. The lights along the McGregor Park riverwalk are on nightly through Jan. 2, 2027, except in rain or high winds.

How do I enter a float in the Clarksville Christmas parade?

Register through Clarksville Parks and Recreation by Nov. 13, 2026, or until it fills. The 2026 theme is Santa’s Workshop; floats must follow it to win an award.