Christmas in Canton, GA, 2026: parade, tree lightings and shows

Canton’s holiday season has three hosts. The City of Canton runs the downtown tree lighting and Christmas in Canton in Cannon Park. The Canton Optimist Club presented the 2025 Christmas parade. The Mill on Etowah, a private property by the river, runs its own festival, tree lighting and ice rink. The City-run Canton Theatre adds holiday shows. As of Nov. 1, 2026, all of them have 2026 dates, the parade included.

The Christmas parade: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026

The 2026 Canton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6 PM in downtown Canton. The City calendar’s Merry Market listing puts the 39th annual Downtown Canton Merry Market in Cannon Park from noon to 6 PM that day and says the parade kicks off at 6 when the market ends. Explore Canton lists the same day. Neither names a 2026 route or organizer. Last year’s parade, the 34th annual, was on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM in downtown Canton, presented by the Canton Optimist Club. The City listed it at 130 East Main Street, the address of Cannon Park. Floats, local clubs, businesses and Santa paraded through downtown after that day’s Merry Market, which began at noon.

• The 2026 Canton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Downtown Canton, after the Merry Market in Cannon Park (noon to 6 p.m.). The Canton Optimist Club presented the 34th parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. City of Canton calendar: Merry Market (Dec. 12, 2026; parade at 6 p.m.)

Some third-party calendars carried other 2026 dates, such as Sunday, Dec. 13. Go by the City listing: Saturday, Dec. 12. We checked it on Nov. 1, 2026. Last year’s listing is still on the City calendar.

Two tree lightings: do not mix them up

The 2026 date and times are on the City calendar. Explore Canton’s tree lighting page still describes the 2025 event, so go by the City listing.

Confirmed for 2026

• Wed., Nov. 18: Holiday Tree Lighting and Drone Show, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The City of Canton’s tree lighting in Cannon Park, 130 E. Main St.
• Sat., Nov. 21: Rink on the River opens at The Mill. Opening day 11 AM to 9 PM; $15 per person including skates.
• Fri., Nov. 27 and Sat., Nov. 28: Christmas at The Mill, 10 AM to 7 PM. The Mill’s sixth annual festival, with more than 85 vendor booths, skating, Santa and football on the big screen. Tree Lighting Program on Saturday at 6 PM.
• Thursdays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17: Mistletoe on Main, 5:30 to 8 PM. Free wagon rides downtown each night. Dec. 3 brings live reindeer, Dec. 10 a special holiday activity the City has not detailed yet, and Dec. 17 Christmas Pete.
• Dec. 4 to 13: A Dickens’ Christmas Carol by the Cherokee Theatre Company at the Canton Theatre, 171 E. Main St. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2:30 PM.
• Fri., Dec. 11: Christmas in Canton, 6 to 10 PM. The City’s downtown holiday evening in Cannon Park.
• Sat., Dec. 12: Merry Market, noon to 6 PM, then the Christmas Parade at 6 PM. Vendors, downtown shops and Santa in Cannon Park, with the parade starting when the market ends.
• Fri., Dec. 18: Grinchmas at The Mill, 5 to 9 PM. Free, with Christmas train rides, a Stuff the Limo toy drive for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and The Grinch on the green at 7 PM.
• Sat., Dec. 19: holiday movies at the Canton Theatre. Elf at 3 PM and White Christmas at 7 PM.

Each event card below shows its source. Past holiday events, such as last year’s parade, are marked as over.

Christmas in Canton and Mistletoe on Main

Christmas in Canton is the City’s downtown holiday evening in Cannon Park, with Santa, a petting zoo, wagon rides, crafts and late shopping. The City calendar lists the 2026 evening for Friday, Dec. 11, 6 to 10 PM. In 2025 it was Friday, Dec. 12, 6 to 9 PM. In December 2025 the City also ran Mistletoe on Main, with wagon rides on Thursday evenings, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, from 5:30 to 8 PM. For 2026, the City calendar lists Mistletoe on Main for three Thursday evenings, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 5:30 to 8 PM, with a free wagon ride each night and a visit with Santa at the Gazebo in Cannon Park. Dec. 3 features live reindeer, Dec. 10 is a special holiday activity still to be announced, and Dec. 17 brings Christmas Pete (Explore Canton lists it too). The Merry Market is Saturday, Dec. 12, noon to 6 PM, ahead of the parade.

Rink on the River through the holidays

After opening day, the rink at The Mill lists Tuesday to Thursday 4 to 8 PM, Friday 4 to 9 PM, Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM and Sunday noon to 8 PM. It is closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and open noon to 6 PM on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Every skater signs a waiver, with a parent or guardian signing for anyone under 16. The rink page gives no 2026 to 2027 closing date. Check the rink page for changes.

• Rink on the River is a seasonal outdoor ice rink at The Mill. The 2026 season opens Saturday, Nov. 21. Admission is $15 per person and includes skate rentals. The Mill on Etowah: Rink on the River

Closures to know

The Cherokee County History Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, on top of its usual Sunday and Monday closing. We found no downtown New Year’s Eve event for 2026.

• The History Center is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday. It is also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. History Cherokee: Visit the History Center

Veterans Day

No 2026 Veterans Day parade has been posted. In 2025, Canton American Legion Post 45 held a parade on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 PM, from Panera Bread into downtown, according to a Patch listing.

Parking and planning

Explore Canton says downtown parking is free, with a 102-space deck at 345-303 W. Marietta St., and warns that spaces near Main Street may be limited on event days. Neither the City nor The Mill has published parking or street closures for the 2026 holiday events. See the parking page for what we have verified, the Mill on Etowah page for The Mill’s full season, the Canton Theatre page for tickets and the events calendar for everything else.

• Explore Canton notes that street parking and lots on and around Main Street may be limited or unavailable on event days, such as First Fridays. Explore Canton: Parking in Downtown Canton

Questions

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Canton