Winter Festival and Holiday Events
Saturday, December 6, 2025 • 3 - 10 p.m. • Downtown
The 39th annual Winter Festival - a Celebration of Lights, Music and the Arts will fill downtown Tallahassee with merriment on Saturday, December 6, from 3 - 10 p.m. Visitors can enjoy delicious food vendors, unique arts and crafts merchants and sparkling holiday displays, including Candy Cane Lane in McCarty Park. There will be a children's activity area on Kleman Plaza that will show family-friendly holiday movies from 6 - 10 p.m. Four stages of live entertainment will dot downtown and highlight local actors, dancers, musicians and more. The Lighting Ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. on the parade announcers' platform, located on South Monroe Street at Bloxham Park. The Capital Health Plan Jingle Bell Run begins at 6:15 p.m. The Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:10 p.m.
REGISTRATION FOR PARADE, ENTERTAINMENT, VENDORS, AND EXHIBITORS WILL OPEN AUGUST 11, 2025.
Jingle Bell Run
Sponsored by Capital Health Plan
The Jingle Bell Run is a family friendly 1.53 mile Fun Run/Walk taking place before the Winter Festival Parade in our wonderful Downtown area (South Monroe and Park Avenue) on Saturday, December 6 at 6:15pm. Please register in advance for this amazing event that you will not want to miss.
After registration, please plan to pick up your packet at the Myers Park Office at 1201 Myers Park Drive.
Look for the signs leading you to the small office in the back where we will be outside with tables.
Pickup days and times:
Sunday, November 30 from 1 - 5 p.m.
Monday, December 1 from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
*If you are unable to make either of these dates you can pickup on the day of the Jingle Bell Run in the Capital City Bank parking lot at the corner of South Monroe Street and Tennessee Street from 3 - 6 p.m.
You may pickup before the Jingle Bell Run in the Capital City Bank parking lot at the corner of South Monroe Street and Tennessee Street from 3 - 6 p.m.
Due to the bustling activities of Winter Festival, traffic will be heavy downtown on December 6, and many roads will be closed. StarMetro’s Saturday routes will be impacted. Patrons attending Winter Festival are encouraged to arrive early.
Road closures along Adams Street and the Chain of Parks will begin at 7 p.m. on event day. Parade staging will take place on Monroe Street from Brevard to Tennessee streets with intersections closed in the area from 4 - 11 p.m. The Nighttime Holiday Parade and Jingle Bell Run routes will be closed from 5 - 11 p.m. Detour roads will include Brevard, Bronough, Gadsden and Gaines streets.
Road Closures/Detours Associated with Winter Festival 2025
College Avenue - No access from Duval Street or Adams Street from 3 p.m. on Friday, December 5, through 12 a.m. on Sunday. December 7.
Adams Street & Chain of Parks Festival, closed from 7 a.m. - 12 a.m.
The following intersections will be blocked starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 6:
- Monroe Street & Park Avenue (westbound)
- Monroe Street & Park Avenue (eastbound)
- This intersection will remain a 2-way route to access the Doubletree Hotel until 5 p.m.
- Monroe Street & College Avenue - No access to Adams Street
- Jefferson & Adams streets - No access to Adams Street
- Pensacola & Duval streets - No northbound on Duval Street. All traffic must turn west on Pensacola Street.
- Bronough Street & College Avenue - No access to Duval Street and Adams Street
- Bronough Street & Park Avenue (eastbound) - No access to Duval Street and Adams Street
- Adams & Call streets - No southbound on Adams Street from Call Street
Parade Staging Area, closed from 4 - 11 p.m.
The Parade Staging Area will be on Monroe Street from Brevard Street to Tennessee Street. The following intersections will be blocked to ensure the Staging Area is closed:
- Brevard Street & Monroe Street - No southbound traffic on Monroe Street. Brevard Street remains open.
- Tennessee Street & Monroe Street - No northbound traffic on Monroe Street. Tennessee Street remains open until 5:00pm then closes until 11:00pm
- Adams & Georgia streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Adams & Carolina streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Adams & Virginia streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Georgia streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Carolina streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Virginia streets - No access to Monroe Street
Parade Route/Jingle Bell Run Route Closed 5 - 11 p.m.
The Parade Route/Jingle Bell Run Route will close at 5 p.m. (See map for Routes)
- Tennessee Street & Monroe Street - Tennessee remains open (east and west) until 5 p.m. then closes until 11 p.m.
- Monroe Street & Gaines Street - No northbound traffic on Monroe Street
- Tennessee & Calhoun streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Call streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun Street & Park Avenue(s) - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun Street & College Avenue - No access to Monroe Street. All traffic must turn east.
- Calhoun & Jefferson streets - No access to Monroe Street
- Calhoun & Pensacola streets - No access to Monroe Street. No access to Apalachee Pkwy.
- Gadsden & E. St. Augustine streets - No access to Calhoun Street
- Gadsden & E. Madison streets - No access to Calhoun Street
- Gaines & Calhoun streets - No access to Calhoun Street north of intersection
- Duval & Gaines streets - Must turn east or west for Jingle Bell Run (until 7:15 p.m.)
- Madison & Bronough streets - Must turn south on Bronough Street
- Madison & Duval streets - No access to Adams Street or Monroe Street
- Duval & St. Augustine streets - No traffic allowed on Duval Street
- Pensacola & Duval streets - No northbound on Duval Street. All traffic must turn west on Pensacola Street
- Apalachee Pkwy. & Franklin Blvd. - No eastbound from this intersection. All eastbound will be diverted onto Franklin Blvd.
Nighttime Holiday Parade
Sponsored by City of Tallahassee Utilities
The Nighttime Holiday Parade begins at 7:15 p.m. The parade will be held on Monroe Street.
Follow us on a walk down Candy Cane Lane. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through McCarty Park as you embrace the sights and sounds of the holiday season.
- Candy Cane Lane opens to the public on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 10 p.m.
- It will remain open nightly through Dec. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m.
- On Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, hours will extend until 11 p.m.