Havre de Grace Christmas 2026: Holly Jolly Parade, Candlelight Tour & Every Holiday Event

Header photo: “Concord Point Lighthouse at Havre De Grace MD” by Chanilim714, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.

Last updated: Oct. 21, 2026

Havre de Grace's 2026 holidays come down to two big weekends, with markets and a train garden in between. The Holly Jolly Parade and Tree Lighting is Friday, Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m., and Santa Land opens right after at 450 Pennington Ave. Then Saturday, Dec. 12 is packed: the 54th Candlelight Tour, the Lock House Boutique, a Santa tea party and Beers with Santa.

Part of my 2026 guide to Christmas events in Harford County.

What's on the Havre de Grace holiday calendar for 2026?

* Posted only by the host so far. Confirm before you go.

When is the Holly Jolly Parade?

Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, 6-8 p.m. (Details from the city. Confirm before you go.)

Route: It starts at Union Ave. and St. John St., goes down St. John St. to Washington St., and ends at Congress Ave.

Tree lighting: After the parade, Santa helps Mayor Martin light the tree on stage at the corner of Washington, St. John and Green streets.

Local tip: The tree and Santa Land are in two different spots. The tree is at Washington and St. John. Santa Land is at 450 Pennington Ave. If you have little kids and want both, plan to walk between them.

When is Santa Land open?

Santa Land at 450 Pennington Ave. opens right after the Dec. 4 tree lighting. The city hasn't posted other 2026 hours yet. Confirm before you go.

More Santa spots: my where to see Santa in Harford County guide.

What's happening Saturday, Dec. 5?

The Havre de Grace High School National Honor Society holds its Holiday Craft Fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the high school. It's free to get in. Listings disagree on the street address, so map the school by name.

When is the 2026 Candlelight Tour?

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 3-8 p.m. This is the 54th year. (Details from the Lock House Museum.)

It's a self-paced tour of decorated historic homes, plus museums and churches. The Lock House Museum runs it, and the money supports the museum. The tour has about eight homes, and each guest gets a printed guide.

• Tickets: on sale Nov. 1 at thelockhousemuseum.org. 2026 prices aren't posted yet.
• Heads up: one older page on the museum's site lists 4-8 p.m. The museum's newer posts and Visit Harford say 3-8 p.m. I went with 3-8.

Where can I shop for the holidays in Havre de Grace?

• Cottage-Core Holiday Market: Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 116 N. Washington St. Joe's Mercantile and its co-hosts list handcrafted goods. The hosts say entry is free and no tickets are needed. Confirm before you go.
• Holiday Train Garden and Vendors at The Luckiest Light: Starts Fri., Nov. 27, at 220 N. Washington St. The Mason Dixon Large Scale Railroad Society brings back its train garden, with vendors. Hours are Fridays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays noon-8 p.m. and Sundays noon-4 p.m. The host says it runs through the holidays. Kids love this one. Confirm before you go.
• HdG High School Holiday Craft Fair: Sat., Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Meet the Artists & Holiday Shoppe Preview: Fri., Dec. 11, 5 p.m., at the Concord Point Lighthouse Keeper's House, 714 Concord St. The Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse host it. Confirm before you go.
• Merry Marketplace on Franklin: Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., on the 400 block of Franklin St. The flyer lists festive vendors and store specials. Blue Heron Gifts & Boutique and Marie + Rae Boutique host it. Confirm before you go.
• Lock House Holiday Boutique: Sat., Dec. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Lock House Museum. It's the 34th year, the same weekend as the Candlelight Tour. Confirm before you go.

What holiday shows are on?

• Tidewater Players: A Christmas Spectacular!: Nov. 28-Dec. 6 at the Opera House. Shows are Sat., Nov. 28 at 2 and 7 p.m., Sun., Nov. 29 at 2 p.m., Sat., Dec. 5 at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. It's a family musical with Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves. Confirm before you go.
• Chris Pinnella: Christmas by Candlelight: Fri., Nov. 27, 8 p.m., STAR Centre.
• My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical: Fri., Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Opera House.
• A Tropical Christmas Wayfinding Adventure and Tea Party with Santa & Friends: Sat., Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Opera House.

Prices aren't posted yet for these.

What's happening at Steppingstone Museum?

• Christmas Open House: Sat., Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free, with donations welcome. Confirm before you go.
• Natural Wreathmaking workshop: Sun., Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $45.

Steppingstone is at 461 Quaker Bottom Rd. in Susquehanna State Park.

What other December events are there?

• Beers with Santa and The Grinch: Sat., Dec. 12, 1-3 p.m., at Hopkins Farm Brewery, 3833 Rider Ln. The brewery says admission and photos with Santa and the Grinch are free, with food trucks and live music. Fun for families, and a laid-back date stop too. Confirm before you go.
• Wreaths Across America: Sat., Dec. 19, with a ceremony at noon at Angel Hill Cemetery, then wreath laying.
• Kwanzaa Celebration: Sat., Dec. 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum & Cultural Center.

Is there a Duck Drop on New Year's Eve?

The Duck Drop at Concord Point Park ran on Dec. 31, 2025, its 26th year. There was a DJ, a duck drop at midnight and fireworks. The city's listing showed 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The city hasn't posted the 2026 Duck Drop yet. I'll update this when it does. For a grown-up night out, the Sons of the American Legion Post 47 host a New Year's Eve Party with Eclipse, Dec. 31, 7:30-11:59 p.m., $65. Confirm before you go. More in my New Year's Eve guide.

How should I plan the two weekends?

Weekend 1: Dec. 4-5

1. Fri.: Grab dinner downtown, then catch the parade at 6.
2. Watch the tree lighting at Washington and St. John.
3. Walk to Santa Land on Pennington Ave.
4. Sat.: The craft fair at the high school, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Weekend 2: Dec. 11-13

1. Fri.: Lighthouse artists preview at 5, then the Hallmark musical at 8.
2. Sat.: Tea Party with Santa at 11 or Steppingstone's open house.
3. Merry Marketplace on Franklin (10-4), Beers with Santa at Hopkins Farm (1-3), or the Lock House Boutique.
4. Do the Candlelight Tour from 3 to 8. Start early. It gets busy after dark.
5. Sun.: Wreathmaking at Steppingstone.

Also see our list of Harford County winter light displays.

Thinking about living in Havre de Grace?

December is a great time to see it. The downtown is walkable, and the town packs a lot into two weekends. For year-round ideas, see The Harford County Mom's guide to things to do in Havre de Grace with kids. Learn more on my Havre de Grace page, or look at nearby Aberdeen, Darlington and Churchville. Questions? Call or text me at (443) 617-2099.

FAQ

When is the Havre de Grace Christmas parade in 2026?

The Holly Jolly Parade and Tree Lighting is Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, 6-8 p.m., per the city. Confirm before you go.

What is the Holly Jolly Parade route?

It starts at Union Ave. and St. John St., follows St. John to Washington St., and ends at Congress Ave.

Where can I see Santa in Havre de Grace?

At Santa Land, 450 Pennington Ave., after the Dec. 4 tree lighting. Also at the Opera House tea party (Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., ticketed) and Beers with Santa at Hopkins Farm Brewery (Dec. 12, 1-3 p.m., free).

When is the 2026 Havre de Grace Candlelight Tour?

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 3-8 p.m. The Lock House Museum runs it. Tickets go on sale Nov. 1.

Is there a Christmas market in Havre de Grace?

Yes. The high school Holiday Craft Fair is Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and it's free. The Lock House Holiday Boutique is Dec. 12-13.

Does Havre de Grace have New Year's Eve fireworks?

The Duck Drop at Concord Point Park had midnight fireworks on Dec. 31, 2025. The 2026 date hasn't been posted yet.

Back to the full 2026 Harford County Christmas events guide.

Watch more on my YouTube channel, Josh Talks Harford, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Josh Tessier, Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty | (443) 617-2099

Sources

Checked Oct. 21, 2026.

1. Explore Havre de Grace, Holly Jolly Parade & Tree Lighting
2. Explore Havre de Grace, events calendar (Nov. 20-Dec. 26, 2026)
3. Lock House Museum, Candlelight Tour
4. Lock House Museum, Annual Events
5. Lock House Museum, Advertising Info (tour details)
6. Steppingstone Museum, Wreathmaking workshop
7. Explore Havre de Grace, Wreathmaking workshop
8. RunSignup, Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot
9. Explore Havre de Grace, Fightin' 55 Turkey Trot
10. Explore Havre de Grace, Chris Pinnella
11. Havre de Grace Opera House, My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical
12. Explore Havre de Grace, My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical
13. Havre de Grace Opera House, Tropical Christmas Tea Party with Santa
14. Explore Havre de Grace, Tropical Christmas Tea Party with Santa
15. STAR Centre, Chris Pinnella: Christmas by Candlelight
16. Visit Harford, Havre de Grace Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting (annual listing)
17. Explore Havre de Grace, Santa Land
18. Steppingstone Museum, Christmas Open House
19. Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse, Meet the Artists & Holiday Shoppe Preview
20. Joe's Mercantile and co-hosts, Cottage-Core Holiday Market (Facebook event)
21. The Luckiest Light, Holiday Train Garden and Vendors (Facebook event)
22. Havre de Grace Opera House, Tidewater Players Present: A Christmas Spectacular!
23. Franklin Street Festivals, Merry Marketplace on Franklin (Instagram)
24. Lock House Museum, Candlelight Tour and Holiday Boutique (boutique hours)
25. Lock House Museum, Calendar of Events (boutique hours)
26. Hopkins Farm Brewery, Beers with Santa and The Grinch
27. American Legion Post 47 (Sons of the American Legion), New Year's Eve Party with Eclipse
28. Explore Havre de Grace, events calendar
29. Wreaths Across America, Angel Hill Cemetery
30. Havre de Grace Colored School Museum, Events (Kwanzaa)
31. Visit Harford, Havre de Grace Candlelight Tour
32. Explore Havre de Grace, Duck Drop (2025)
33. PropTalk, New Year's Eve 2026 roundup (2025 Duck Drop)