Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 5 to 8 p.m. | Smith Park
Sponsored by Community Bank and Pruet Companies
Smith Park comes alive with holiday magic and sparkling lights in a beautiful downtown setting. Soul Santa will be in the park so children can share their wishes for the season while families snap a quick photo. Enjoy free horse-and-carriage rides past the city’s most significant buildings, including the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol, all lit up for the holidays. Live music on the Smith Park stage will keep the festivities going all evening, and pop-up shops, including the Mississippi Museum of Art Store, will offer gift-giving ideas.
Food trucks will serve up fare for the hungry, a hot chocolate bar by Just Vanilla will keep you warm and cozy, and Hal & Mal’s special holiday cocktails will make spirits merry and bright.
Live Music on the Smith Park Stage
5 p.m. – Kwame Cohran, violin instrumental
6 to 7:30 p.m. – Opera Mississippi performers
Ballet Mississippi’s The Nutcracker
Meet members and cast of Ballet Mississippi’s The Nutcracker and enter a raffle to win free tickets to the Sunday, December 6, 2 p.m. matinee at Thalia Mara Hall.
Food Trucks
- Shivers Creek Fish House
- Eddie Wright BBQ
- Jerk City Grille
- I Be Dog Gone
- Lil’ Tex
- Crooked Letter Kitchen
- Frost and Found Ice
Houses of Worship Tours and Programs
First Baptist Church
Experience the sights and sounds of Christmas, made famous by Carols by Candlelight, at First Baptist Jackson. Dating to 1844, First Baptist Church of Jackson is a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture, with towering spires and beautiful stained glass. Come take a peek!
Galloway United Methodist Church
Celebrate the holidays with Frank the Camel and his barnyard friends at a live nativity in the Galloway Courtyard, home to Jackson’s oldest Christian congregation. Warm your spirit with a bluegrass band, cookies, and hot chocolate.
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle
Join Father Nick for tours of this beautiful cathedral and its unique Venetian mosaic of Christ the Good Shepherd, and enjoy music from the historic and rare Reiger organ, dedicated in honor of Bishop Brunini in 1988. If you've never visited, don't miss this glimpse of an architectural wonder downtown.
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