The Amarillo area has 3 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Center City Electric Light Parade 2026: Christmas on Route 66 in Amarillo on December 4 to Civic Amarillo Holiday Market in Amarillo, which runs through December 6. 1 of them is free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in Texas, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 3 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Amarillo for 2026, in Amarillo
- First: Center City Electric Light Parade 2026: Christmas on Route 66, Amarillo, December 4. Runs latest: Civic Amarillo Holiday Market, Amarillo, through December 6
- Free: Center City Electric Light Parade 2026: Christmas on Route 66
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Amarillo
3 confirmed events for kids in Amarillo, soonest first.
Holiday paradeFree
Center City Electric Light Parade 2026: Christmas on Route 66
- When: Friday, December 4, 2026, 6 pm
- Where: Polk Street, Downtown Amarillo, Amarillo
- Cost: Free to watch
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
Center City of Amarillo kicks off December with its Electric Light Parade on Friday, December 4, 2026. The parade starts at 6 pm and runs on Polk Street from 11th Avenue down to 4th Avenue. This year's theme is Christmas on Rt. 66, tied to the highway's 100th anniversary.
Businesses, families, clubs, non-profits and schools enter lighted floats, and judges give awards such as Rudolph's Choice. Center City says the parade draws thousands of people downtown, so plan to arrive early for a spot along the route.
After the parade, the new Civic Amarillo Holiday Market is open nearby at the Santa Fe Depot pavilion. The page does not list a charge for watching the parade.
Parent tip: Come early, because crowds are large. The holiday market at the Santa Fe Depot is the natural next stop for families.
- Host
- Center City of Amarillo (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Polk Street, Downtown Amarillo, Polk St from 11th Ave to 4th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79101
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa visit
Civic Amarillo Holiday Market
- When: Fri December 4 (1 to 10 pm), Sat December 5 (1 to 10 pm) and Sun December 6 (1 to 8 pm), 2026
- Where: The Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot, Amarillo
- Cost: Adults $10, kids 12 and under free, weekend pass $20
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The first annual Civic Amarillo Holiday Market takes place December 4 to 6, 2026, at the Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Amarillo. It is presented by the Amarillo Civic Center Complex, Amarillo Parks and Recreation and Center City of Amarillo, with local vendors, live performances and a visit from Santa.
Amarillo Parks and Recreation will run activities for children throughout the weekend. Hours are 1 to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday and 1 to 8 pm on Sunday. The Friday opening follows the Electric Light Parade, which starts at 6 pm that evening.
Admission is $10 for adults 13 and over, children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, and a weekend pass for all three days is $20.
Parent tip: Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Pair Friday with the Electric Light Parade at 6 pm.
- Host
- Amarillo Civic Center Complex and Center City of Amarillo (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- The Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot, 401 S Grant Street, Amarillo, TX 79101
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast with Santa at the Civic Amarillo Holiday Market
- When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm
- Where: The Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot, Amarillo
- Cost: Tickets listed at $10 to $20
Details, tips and host
Breakfast with Santa is part of the Civic Amarillo Holiday Market weekend at the Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Amarillo. It takes place on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11 am to 1 pm.
The listing says the market brings local vendors, live performances and a visit from Santa, and that Amarillo Parks and Recreation will have fun activities for kids all weekend. The breakfast is ticketed, and the listing shows a price range of $10 to $20 with a Get Tickets link. The page does not break down which ticket price applies to the breakfast, so confirm on the ticket page.
The market itself continues through the afternoon and evening, so families can stay after breakfast to browse the vendors.
Parent tip: Confirm the breakfast ticket price on the ticket page, since the listing shows a range of $10 to $20.
- Host
- Amarillo Civic Center Complex (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- The Pavilion at the Santa Fe Depot, 401 S Grant Street, Amarillo, TX 79101
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
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Every event above was confirmed on the host’s own page, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Texas Christmas train rides page.
Amarillo Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 3 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Amarillo
- Season
- December 4 to December 6, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- holiday parade, Santa visit and breakfast with Santa
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Amarillo Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Center City Electric Light Parade 2026: Christmas on Route 66 in Amarillo on December 4; the last runs to December 6. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Center City Electric Light Parade 2026: Christmas on Route 66Amarillo · Dec 4
- Civic Amarillo Holiday MarketAmarillo · Dec 4 to Dec 6
- Breakfast with Santa at the Civic Amarillo Holiday MarketAmarillo · Dec 5
Looking further afield? Our Texas Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Arlington, TX, Plano, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Laredo, McAllen, Waco, Midland, Abilene, Beaumont, College Station, Tyler, Longview, New Braunfels, Denton, Galveston, San Marcos, Brownsville, Killeen, Odessa, Wichita Falls, San Angelo, Bryan, Temple, Victoria, Harlingen and Port Arthur. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November: unlock the list and we'll email you as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Amarillo
In Amarillo, Christmas comes with big Texas Panhandle skies and a whole lot of lights. Downtown Polk Street has been strung with holiday sparkle since at least the 1950s, and neighbors have been turning streets into light shows for more than twenty years.
How Amarillo celebrates
Amarillo's holiday lights go back a long way. Old photos show Polk Street in the 1950s and 1960s covered in lights while shoppers strolled past the downtown stores. Today Center City of Amarillo carries on that spirit with the Electric Light Parade, a long-standing downtown tradition that draws thousands of people. Neighbors add their own magic too: Dan Reed and Ernie McAnally started Candy Cane Lane on Gainsborough Road around 2002 by lining the street with candy canes, and other families joined in until it grew far bigger than they planned.
Christmas last year in Amarillo
The 2025 season started early. On November 9 the 53-foot red fir called Silver Bell, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, stopped at Arts in the Sunset on its way to Washington, D.C., and Amarillo Parks and Recreation handed out 500 small trees. A tree lighting at the Amarillo Civic Center was planned for Saturday, November 29. Then on Friday, December 5, dozens of decorated, western-themed floats rolled through downtown in the Electric Light Parade, whose 2025 theme was West Texas Christmas.
Fun facts about Christmas in Amarillo
Amarillo Botanical Gardens started as the Amarillo Garden Club in the late 1940s. Its Christmas light display began as a one-night event, grew to 23,000 visitors over two weeks in 2013 and 53,000 visitors in 2014, and in 2024 organizers said it had over 500,000 lights. Past parades have had themes like Winter Wonderland and March of the Toys, and after the 2018 parade families enjoyed free hot cocoa, photos with Santa and an after-party on an electric ice skating rink. The 2026 parade theme is Christmas on Rt. 66.
Traditions today
- Electric Light Parade: A long-standing downtown tradition where decorated floats light up Polk Street, presented by Center City of Amarillo.
- Civic Center tree lighting: The city's Christmas tree is lit at the Amarillo Civic Center, often with music, Santa and hot cocoa.
- Christmas in the Gardens: Amarillo Botanical Gardens glows with hundreds of thousands of lights, with Santa visits, cocoa and s'mores.
- Candy Cane Lane: A Gainsborough Road neighborhood display that neighbors started by lining the street with candy canes.
- Bishop Hills lights: One of the oldest neighborhood light displays in the Amarillo area, free to drive by.
- Downtown Polk Street lights: Holiday lights have lit Polk Street since at least the 1950s, and the parade still travels it.
A fact for kids
In Amarillo, a quiet garden turns into a glowing wonderland every December. In 2024 its owners said it had over 500,000 twinkling lights, which is more than anyone could count in a night.
Questions about Christmas in Amarillo
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Amarillo?
Downtown holiday lighting is one of the oldest traditions we can document: old photos show Polk Street covered in lights in the 1950s and 1960s, when shoppers walked past the downtown stores. The Electric Light Parade, which Center City of Amarillo calls a long-standing tradition, carries that same spirit down Polk Street today.
What is the Electric Light Parade in Amarillo?
It is Amarillo's big downtown Christmas parade, presented by Center City of Amarillo. Businesses, families, clubs, nonprofits and school teams decorate floats with lights, and thousands of people come downtown to watch. Past themes include Winter Wonderland, March of the Toys and, in 2025, West Texas Christmas.
When was the Electric Light Parade held last year?
The 2025 Electric Light Parade took place on Friday evening, December 5. Dozens of decorated, western-themed floats and vehicles from local organizations and businesses rolled through downtown, and the theme was West Texas Christmas. The 2026 parade is set for Friday, December 4, with the theme Christmas on Rt. 66.
Where does the Electric Light Parade go?
The 2026 route runs along Polk Street from 11th Avenue to 4th Avenue in downtown Amarillo, starting at 6 p.m. In earlier years the parade has ended near the Amarillo Civic Center, where the city's Christmas tree is lit. Check the Center City page for this year's exact details before you head downtown.
What happens at the Amarillo Christmas tree lighting?
The tree lighting at the Amarillo Civic Center is a community party. In past years it followed the parade with music, free hot cocoa, food vendors and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. In 2025 the city planned a tree lighting there on Saturday, November 29, under the name Lights, Camera, Christmas.
Did the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree visit Amarillo?
Yes. On Sunday, November 9, 2025, the 53-foot red fir named Silver Bell stopped at Arts in the Sunset in Amarillo on its way to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Families could sign the tree's banner and take photos, and Amarillo Parks and Recreation handed out 500 small trees.
What is Christmas in the Gardens at Amarillo Botanical Gardens?
It is an evening light display at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens. In 2024 organizers said it had over 500,000 lights, along with Santa, hot cocoa and s'mores. It began years ago as a one-night event and grew to two and then three weeks as more families came to walk the glowing paths.
How did the Botanical Gardens light display get so big?
It grew a little each year. It started as a one-night event, then in 2013 stretched to two weeks and drew more than 23,000 visitors. By 2014 attendance reached 53,000, and the display ran three weeks with more than 200,000 lights. By 2024 organizers described over 500,000 lights.
How did the Amarillo Botanical Gardens begin?
The Gardens began in the late 1940s as the Amarillo Garden Club. Over the decades it grew into a place with a tropical plant conservatory, a Monet-inspired garden and other themed gardens. At Christmas, its archways and pathways are covered in lights, which is how many Amarillo families now know it.
What is Candy Cane Lane in Amarillo?
Candy Cane Lane is a neighborhood light display on Gainsborough Road. Neighbors Dan Reed and Ernie McAnally started it by lining the street with candy canes, and other families joined until it grew bigger than the founders planned. It was about 14 years old in 2016, so it began around 2002, and it is free to drive past.
What is Bishop Hills known for at Christmas?
Bishop Hills is known as one of the oldest Christmas light displays in the area. It is free to view, and it accepts donations that benefit the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club. It is an easy stop for families who want to see lights from the car.
Did downtown Amarillo always have Christmas lights?
Downtown has been lit for the holidays for a long time. Vintage photos from the 1950s and 1960s show Polk Street with, as one local writer put it, lights galore, and shoppers walking past stores that once lined the street. The Electric Light Parade, Christmas in the Gardens and Candy Cane Lane carry on that tradition.
Does it snow in Amarillo at Christmas?
It can. Amarillo gets nearly eighteen inches of snow each winter, according to a Texas Monthly article, though a white Christmas is never guaranteed. Winter evenings can be chilly, so families dress warmly for evening events like the parade and the garden lights.
How can I explain the Electric Light Parade to a toddler?
Tell them it is a parade that glows in the dark. Floats are covered in twinkling lights, and the whole street sparkles when night falls. Toddlers can count colors and wave at the floats. Past parades have also come with hot cocoa and photos with Santa, which gives little ones something to look forward to.
What do the parade awards mean?
Center City gives awards to floats with names like Rudolph's Choice, Silver Bells, Golden Ticket, Dancing Elves and Best Community Spirit. Past winners have included businesses and nonprofits, from scout packs to builders supply companies. Kids can pick their own favorite float and see whether it wins.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Amarillo?
The city's Christmas tree stands at the Amarillo Civic Center, where it is lit after the parade or at a separate tree lighting night. In 2025 the Capitol Christmas Tree, a 53-foot red fir, also stopped in Amarillo. See our Amarillo Christmas events guide on this page for this season's dates.
Is there a Christmas parade in Amarillo this year?
Yes. Center City's Electric Light Parade is set for Friday, December 4, 2026, starting at 6 p.m. on Polk Street, with the theme Christmas on Rt. 66. Registration for floats closes November 20. For other dates and times this season, see our Amarillo Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Amarillo?
Amarillo has lights in many places: the Botanical Gardens, Candy Cane Lane on Gainsborough Road, Bishop Hills and the Polk Street parade. Local media also collect neighborhood displays each December. Our Amarillo Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates and times for the best-known ones.
Why is Route 66 part of Christmas in Amarillo?
Route 66 is part of Amarillo's story, and 2026 marks 100 years of Route 66 travelers. Center City chose Christmas on Rt. 66 as the 2026 Electric Light Parade theme to honor them. Kids can watch for how each float brings the theme into the holiday lights.
What makes Christmas in Amarillo different from other cities?
Amarillo celebrates with a Texas Panhandle flavor. Its parade carries western and Route 66 themes, its neighborhoods build light shows like Candy Cane Lane, and a botanical garden fills with hundreds of thousands of lights. The mix of downtown history and neighbor-made magic gives the season a friendly, homegrown feel.
Sources
- Watch: Amarillo's Electric Light Parade ushers in the holiday season, ABC 7 Amarillo
- Electric Light Parade, Center City of Amarillo
- Magical Christmas tree lighting at Civic Center Saturday, NewsChannel 10
- Amarillo Capitol Christmas Tree 2025, Mix 94.1 KMXJ
- It's been lit: Center City's Electric Light Parade 2019, Panhandle PBS / HPPR
- Getting in the holiday spirit: Center City Electric Light Parade lights up downtown Amarillo, NewsChannel 10
- A High Plains Holiday: Illuminated Amarillo Botanical Gardens, Texas Highways
- Christmas in the Gardens returns to Amarillo Botanical Gardens for December, NewsChannel 10
- Retro Christmas Amarillo, The Bull Amarillo
- Texas Panhandle neighborhoods light up with Christmas cheer, ABC 7 Amarillo
- Christmas Garden of Lights, Amarillo, Texas Monthly
- Amarillo holiday lights 2025, The Bull Amarillo
Amarillo Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Amarillo this year?
We confirmed 3 for the 2026 season, and 1 of them are free. Good places to start: Civic Amarillo Holiday Market (Dec 4 to Dec 6), Breakfast with Santa at the Civic Amarillo Holiday Market (Dec 5) and Center City Electric Light Parade 2026 (Dec 4). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Amarillo?
Yes, 1 of the 3. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.
Where can kids meet Santa in Amarillo?
2 events here include a visit with Santa. Breakfasts with Santa usually sell out first, so book those as soon as you pick a date.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 2 of the 3 events, yes: they sell tickets or ask you to sign up ahead. Meals with Santa and ticketed shows fill up first. Most library and park events are walk-in, and each listing says which is which.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Amarillo?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Amarillo Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 4, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.