OAK RIDGE, TN - Explore Oak Ridge welcomes residents and visitors alike to enjoy everything the holiday season has to offer in the Secret City.

With 13 festive events celebrating the enchantment of the holiday season, Oak Ridge offers something for everyone. There’s no better place to soak up the magic of the season and enjoy the warmth, joy and peace that makes this time of year so special.

New this year: “Light Up Oak Ridge” is a walkable winter festival of light in A.K. Bissell Park and the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Attendees will enjoy a different experience each evening in which illuminated pathways connect artistic installations and community-created displays. The festival is self-guided and completely walkable.

Grab your friends and family and experience holiday magic in Oak Ridge!

Saturday, November 28 Saturday, December 5
Saturday, December 12
Saturday, December 19
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Jackson Square

Celebrate the holiday season with produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, holiday goods, gifts, and art made by local crafters!

The F.A.R.M. Holiday Market takes place every Saturday, Nov. 28 - Dec. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, December 4
7 p.m.
A.K. Bissell Park

Join the City of Oak Ridge at its annual tree lighting ceremony at A.K. Bissell Park!

Enjoy the lighting of Oak Ridge’s official Christmas tree, a festive performance by the Oak Ridger Community Band, and children’s activities plus plenty of hot cocoa and coffee for all!

December 4 -December 30
Times vary (see below)
Oak Ridge Mall Parking Lot (in front of Bank of America)

Brighten up your holiday season with holiday ice skating presented by the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge!

This family-friendly event is open daily (closed Mondays) from December 4 to December 30, located in the Oak Ridge Mall Parking Lot in front of Bank of America.

Normal Rink Hours:
Wed - Fri: 5-9 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun: 1-9 p.m.


Special Holiday Hours (Dec. 14-30):
Tues: 1-7 p.m.
Wed - Sat: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun: 1-9 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 25: CLOSED

Tickets are $10 for adults and kids ages 13 and over and $5 for kids ages 12 and under.

December 5-6
Show times vary
Oak Ridge Playhouse

Get ready for the holiday classic that turns Christmas upside down! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, based on the beloved book by Barbara Robinson, tells the hilarious and heartwarming story.

When the Herdman kids - the worst kids in the history of the world - unexpectedly take over the annual church Christmas pageant, chaos, comedy, and unexpected moments of honesty unfold, revealing a fresh and forgettable look at the true meaning of Christmas.

Whether you’ve been coming to the Playhouse for years or it’s your first time, this show is the perfect holiday treat for the whole family!

For young audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.orplayhouse.com. 

Every Saturday, December 5 - March 27 (No market on Dec. 26 or Jan. 2) 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Coffey/McNally Building, Roane State Community College Oak Ridge Campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave.

Celebrating 11 years! Come by the Winter Farmers Market every Saturday from Dec. 5 through March 27 at the Roane State Community College Oak Ridge Campus.

This indoor farmers market features 30+ farmers, bakers and artisans. The event features live music and a free program for children ages 2-12 called “Nourish Kids,” through which they receive a vegetable tasting and $5 in Produce Bucks to spend at the market.

Open 9 a.m. to noon weekly on Saturdays, Dec. 5 - March 27.

Sunday, December 6
3-5 p.m.
Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center

Join the Oak Ridge Community Band for a Christmas sing-along!

This free, family-friendly event will feature seasonal music and give the audience a chance to sing along with familiar Christmas carols accompanied by the band.

Saturday, December 12
6 p.m.
Down the Oak Ridge Turnpike

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, the annual Oak Ridge Christmas parade is back for another year!

More than 120 parade entries will be showcased, including music, faith-based, youth groups, dance, animals, and business floats.

This year’s theme is “All-American Christmas” to honor America’s 250th Anniversary.

The route begins at Corporate Center (corner of Lafayette and Laboratory Road) and travels west down Lafayette to Oak Ridge Turnpike, and ends at Oak Ridge High School.

Saturday, December 12
9-11 a.m.
Fire & Salt, 792 Briarcliff Ave.

An event for the whole family to enjoy!

Enjoy all-you-can-eat waffles with toppings and a souvenir photo with Santa! Tickets are $15 (kids ages 3 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket).

Benefits Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of the Tennessee Heartland in honor of Judge Jennings B. Meredith.

Tickets available online at casatnh.org/waffles-with-santa/. 

Saturday, December 12
3-5 p.m.
First Baptist Oak Ridge, 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike

Celebrate the joy and wonder of the holiday season with an afternoon of beloved carols and holiday classics. Featuring choir, piano, brass, and organ, “Home for the Holidays” invites audiences to experience the sounds of Christmas that have brought families and communities together for generations.

The concert will also feature the Oak Ridge Youth Choir. Audience members will have the opportunity to sing along, making the afternoon a true community gathering.

More than a concert, this performance also benefits United Way’s mission of strengthening livelihoods throughout East Tennessee.

Tickets available online at https://www.orcma.org. 

December 13 - January 3
Every evening, dusk to 9 p.m.
A.K. Bissell Park and Oak Ridge Civic Center

New this year, Light Up Oak Ridge will create a “winter festival of light” featuring museum-quality artwork for three weeks starting Dec. 13 at A.K. Bissell Park and the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

Attendees will enjoy a different walk-through experience each evening in which illuminated pathways connect artistic installations and community-created displays.

The event features a tribute to Dolly Parton, including a life-size guitar slide for children, music from the famed performer, and iconography that represents Dolly herself, including a hot pink rhinestone cowboy boot.

In true Oak Ridge fashion, science-related exhibits are also planned for the event, including STEM-related stationary bicycles that teach the mechanics of energy transfer as riders pedal hard to convert their chemical energy into kaleidoscopic light displays. The harder the pedal, the more art is produced!

Local artist Lauren Strohacker plans to light up the event with animated animals of our local natural habitat using projected images to create 27-foot-tall creatures.

The festival is self-guided, completely walkable and free and open to the public. Weekends will feature choirs, musicians, and hot chocolate.

December 16-20
Show times vary
Oak Ridge Playhouse

Wrap yourself in the warmth and joy of the season with the return of The Holiday Variety Hour - and a half!, a playful and festive holiday celebration inspired by the golden age of classic Christmas television specials of years past.

This delightful evening blends favorite holiday tunes with lighthearted comedy, creating a cozy, feel-good experience for all ages. Gather your friends and family, settle in, and make this charming showcase of music and merriment part of a new holiday tradition.

For general audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.orplayhouse.com. 

Wednesday, December 31
9 p.m. - Midnight
A.K. Bissell Park

Celebrate the start of 2027 under the stars with a FREE NYE Countdown Party sponsored by Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge and Explore Oak Ridge!

The event will feature a dynamic live performance by Second Wind, a beer garden, and food trucks! When the clock approaches midnight, Oak Ridge will experience a one-of-a-kind Atomic Ball Drop and celebratory fireworks.

Bring a lawn chair and stop by this free, family-friendly event for a packed night of celebrating!