Christmas Events for Kids in Benton (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 3 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the Christmas events for kids in Benton, Arkansas for 2026. Downtown Benton lights its Christmas tree at Owens-Mooney Park on Sunday, December 6, and the Saline County Christmas Parade rolls through downtown the next evening, December 7. Both dates come straight from the City of Benton calendar. For the rest of the state, see our Arkansas Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Benton

  • 2 Christmas events for kids in Benton
  • Tree Lighting: Sunday, December 6, 5:30 pm at Owens-Mooney Park, free
  • Saline County Christmas Parade: Monday, December 7, 6 pm downtown
  • Downtown also offers lights, carriage rides, an ice rink and Santa at the gazebo this season
  • Every date checked on the City of Benton calendar on Nov 11

Free Christmas events for kids in Benton

Tree lightingFree

Small Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

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The City of Benton gathers the community at Owens-Mooney Park on North Main Street to light the downtown Christmas tree and kick off its Small Town Christmas season.

Downtown Benton glows with millions of lights this December, and the city also promotes horse-drawn carriage rides, an outdoor ice rink and pictures with Santa at the gazebo during the season.

Parent tip: Stay after the lighting to stroll the lit-up downtown blocks, and check the city’s Facebook page for this year’s carriage ride and Santa gazebo times.

Host
City of Benton (opens in a new tab)
Address
Owens-Mooney Park, N Main St, Benton, AR 72015 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom City of Benton (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

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Christmas paradeFree

Saline County Christmas Parade

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The annual Saline County Christmas Parade fills downtown Benton the evening after the tree lighting, with floats and festive entries rolling past the decorated storefronts.

It is one of the two headline nights of the city’s Small Town Christmas celebration, so the newly lit tree and downtown light displays are already glowing when the parade steps off.

Parent tip: Bundle up for a Monday evening outdoors and get downtown early, since curbside spots along the route fill quickly.

Host
City of Benton (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Benton, Benton, AR 72015 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom City of Benton (opens in a new tab)

New Benton events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Benton daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Benton.

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We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Arkansas Christmas train rides page.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Benton Christmas event for kids happens

Make it a back-to-back weekend: the tree lighting on Sunday evening, December 6, then the county parade downtown on Monday, December 7.

Looking further afield? Our Arkansas Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Bryant, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Hot Springs. 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.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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 Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The story of Christmas in Benton

Every December the Saline County Courthouse in downtown Benton is wrapped in lights, and at the end of the Christmas parade Santa steps off his float and settles into the gazebo on the courthouse lawn. In 2025 the courthouse lights and the parade started at the very same moment, 6 pm on December 1, at opposite ends of Market Street.

Santa's gazebo on the courthouse lawn and a 2019 season with something almost every night

Christmas in Benton has long centered on the Saline County Courthouse. The county decks out the courthouse and its lawn each year, and the parade route ends there for one rider in particular: Santa gets dropped off at the courthouse gazebo to greet children and hear their wishes. A 2014 list of Arkansas Christmas parades already showed the Saline County and City of Benton parade on December 1 at 6 pm.

In 2019 Saline County Lifestyles reported that the previous year's City Christmas Tree Lighting had been such a success that Benton expanded its celebration into nearly nightly events from December 2 to 22. That season kicked off with the parade on December 2, with carolers at the courthouse, free hot chocolate, cookies, s'mores and hot cider, Santa photos at the theater, a Magical Reindeer Food night with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Saline County, a snow day, a cookie contest and an outdoor Christmas movie with Santa and the Grinch.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: the drippy December 1, 2025, parade and courthouse lighting

Benton's 2025 Small Town Christmas began with the city's tree lighting at Owens-Mooney Park on November 30. The next evening, Monday, December 1, the Downtown Benton Business Partnership's Saline County Christmas Parade rolled under the theme Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, with 1950s rock and roll floats, poodle skirts and leather jackets. At 6 pm the courthouse lighting began on the Market Street side, while lighted floats lined up at C.W. Lewis Stadium at the other end of the street. THV11 meteorologist Tom Brannon broadcast live from the lighting.

The weather was drippy, MySaline reported, but the crowd stayed. Advanced Alarm Technologies won first place, First Electric Cooperatives second and Starling Music Studio third. New that year was Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the gazebo. In 2026 the Small Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is December 6 and the Saline County Christmas Parade is December 7.

A Candy Land parade in 2023 and Mayor Tom Farmer's idea for a downtown ice rink

Each Saline County Christmas Parade has a theme, and floats compete to match it. On Monday, December 4, 2023, the theme was Candy Land. Floats were asked to add lights for a brighter parade and handed out candy along the route from the C.W. Lewis Stadium parking lot on Market Street, then right on North Street and right on Main, with Santa getting off at the courthouse to greet children.

Benton's outdoor ice rink is a newer tradition. In 2023 Saline County Lifestyles credited the rink to the imagination of Mayor Tom Farmer and Benton Parks and Recreation, with yearly sponsorship from Everett Buick GMC, and said it was quickly becoming a mainstay of Saline County's holidays. The season around it had grown to include wreath-making with the Saline County Library, letters to Santa, a Run Run Rudolph 5K and a chili cook-off.

A free ice rink at the Farmers Market and a snowball fight on December 9, 2025

Benton's December calendar fills up almost every night, most of it around a rink of real ice. In 2025 the ice rink at the Farmers Market was free with no reservations all December, and almost every weeknight brought a new host: popcorn with the Benton Police Department on December 2, a snowball fight on December 9, hot dogs and s'mores with the Benton Fire Department on December 16, hot chocolate on December 17 and a parks movie night on December 20.

At the courthouse, Christmas on the Square welcomed Santa for five nights. After the parade on December 1, Santa sat in the gazebo while Mrs. Claus read stories and families had free cookies and hot chocolate. December 11 was a Special Needs Night with Santa inside the courthouse, December 12 was Character Night, and Santa returned to the gazebo on December 18 and 19, with Mrs. Claus reading at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 pm.

Traditions today

  • Saline County Courthouse lighting: The county covers the historic courthouse and lawn in lights each year, and in 2025 the switch was flipped at 6 pm as the parade began.
  • Saline County Christmas Parade: A themed, lighted parade through downtown Benton, organized by the Downtown Benton Business Partnership, with prizes for the best floats.
  • Santa in the courthouse gazebo: Santa ends the parade at the courthouse gazebo and returns on several December nights for photos, with Mrs. Claus reading stories.
  • Downtown ice rink: An outdoor rink at the Farmers Market, Mayor Tom Farmer's idea, free to skate in December 2025.
  • Small Town Christmas nights: Nearly nightly December events downtown, from popcorn with police officers to a snowball fight and s'mores with firefighters.

A fact for kids

At the end of Benton's Christmas parade, every float drives away except one: Santa hops off at the courthouse gazebo so he can meet the kids.

Questions about Christmas in Benton

Where does Santa go after the Benton Christmas parade?

Santa rides at the end of the Saline County Christmas Parade and is dropped off at the Saline County Courthouse gazebo on Main Street, while the other floats disperse. After the 2025 parade, Santa sat in the gazebo for pictures, Mrs. Claus read stories, and families warmed up with hot cocoa and cookies in the Cocoa House.

What is the route of the Saline County Christmas Parade?

In 2025 the Christmas parade began at C.W. Lewis Stadium on South Market Street, went six blocks north, turned right on West North Street, went one block east, turned right on North Main Street and ran seven blocks south to disperse. Santa got off at the Saline County Courthouse gazebo to greet children.

What was the theme of the 2025 Benton Christmas parade?

The Downtown Benton Business Partnership chose Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree for the December 1, 2025, Saline County Christmas Parade. Organizers promised classic tunes, retro floats, poodle skirts and leather jackets, with 1950s rock and roll flair inspired by Elvis, Buddy Holly and Brenda Lee.

Who won the 2025 Saline County Christmas Parade float contest?

First place in the 2025 Christmas parade went to Advanced Alarm Technologies, whose Gwen Garland rocked out on the float. First Electric Cooperatives took second and Starling Music Studio third. Organizers said there were so many incredible floats that choosing one was a challenge, and they thanked the judges and all participants.

What was the weather like at the 2025 Benton Christmas parade?

MySaline described the weather at the December 1, 2025, Saline County Christmas Parade as drippy, but said the Christmas spirit was running high and the floats and crowd showed up anyway. The courthouse lighting happened the same evening, and Santa still made his stop at the gazebo after the parade.

When is the Saline County Courthouse lighting?

In 2025 the Saline County Courthouse Christmas lighting was held on Monday, December 1, at 6 pm on the Market Street side of the courthouse, at the same moment the Christmas parade lined up at the other end of Market Street. Officials flipped the switch to turn on all the courthouse lights. Check the county for the 2026 date.

Who lit the Saline County Courthouse in 2025?

The 2025 Christmas lighting ceremony included Saline County Judge Matt Brumley, Miss Saline County Kennedy Stanley, Miss Saline County Teen Presley Bennett and Miss Arkansas Teen Amelia Lisowe. THV11 meteorologist Tom Brannon interviewed them live on the evening newscast during the ceremony on December 1.

What was the 2023 Benton Christmas parade theme?

The 2023 Saline County Christmas Parade theme was Candy Land. The Downtown Benton Partnership held it on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 6 pm, asked floats to decorate in the theme and add lights if possible, and the floats handed out candy. Santa stayed after the parade in the courthouse gazebo.

How long has Benton had a Christmas parade?

The Saline County and City of Benton Christmas parade has been held for many years. A 2014 Only in Arkansas list of Christmas parades showed it on December 1 at 6 pm, and Saline County Lifestyles described it as the annual Christmas Parade in 2019. Today the Downtown Benton Business Partnership organizes it each December.

How do I enter a float in the Benton Christmas parade?

In 2025, groups entered the Saline County Christmas Parade by printing the registration form, filling out the first page and bringing it with a $10 fee to Retro Rose or Paradise Pets by November 25. Floats should follow the year's Christmas theme, and organizers ask entries to add lights to make the parade brighter.

When did Benton's Small Town Christmas start?

In 2019 Saline County Lifestyles reported that Benton's City Christmas Tree Lighting the year before had been so successful that the city expanded its celebration into events almost every night from December 2 to 22. That nightly December lineup in historic downtown Benton is what the city now promotes as Small Town Christmas.

Where is the Benton Christmas tree lighting?

The City of Benton lights its downtown Christmas tree at Owens-Mooney Park on North Main Street. In 2025 the ceremony was on November 30 at 5 pm, the night before the parade. In 2026 the Small Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is Sunday, December 6, at 5:30 pm, followed by the parade on December 7.

Is there an ice skating rink in Benton at Christmas?

Yes. Benton sets up an outdoor ice rink downtown at the Farmers Market for the Christmas season. In December 2025 it was free with no reservations needed. Saline County Lifestyles credited the idea to Mayor Tom Farmer and Benton Parks and Recreation in 2023, with sponsorship from Everett Buick GMC.

Whose idea was the Benton ice rink?

Benton's holiday ice rink was Mayor Tom Farmer's idea, according to a 2023 Saline County Lifestyles story. He was pushing to bring more holiday fun to Benton, and the City of Benton Parks and Recreation made it happen. The rink can be reserved for parties through Benton Parks and Recreation at specialevents@bentonar.org.

When is Santa at the Saline County Courthouse?

In 2025 Santa visited the courthouse on five December nights: after the parade on December 1, a Special Needs Night inside the courthouse on December 11, Character Night on December 12, and gazebo nights on December 18 and 19, from 6 to 8 pm, with pictures, cocoa, cookies and live entertainment. Check for 2026 dates.

Is there a sensory-friendly Santa in Benton?

Yes. In 2025 Christmas on the Square included a Special Needs Night on Thursday, December 11, from 6 to 8 pm, with Santa inside the Saline County Courthouse rather than out in the gazebo, plus story time with Mrs. Claus. For details, the county lists the Saline County Judge's office at 501-303-5640.

Does Mrs. Claus read stories in Benton?

Yes. Story Time with Mrs. Claus was new in 2025 at Christmas on the Square. Each night Santa was at the courthouse, Mrs. Claus shared a Christmas story at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 pm, while children waited for pictures with Santa and enjoyed free cookies and hot chocolate.

Is there a Christmas snowball fight in Benton?

Yes. Benton's 2025 Small Town Christmas schedule included an Empact One Snowball Fight at the Farmers Market on Tuesday, December 9, from 5:30 to 7 pm. It was one of nearly nightly downtown events that month, along with popcorn with the Benton Police Department and hot dogs and s'mores with the Benton Fire Department.

What is Santa in the Park and Mistletoe Market in Benton?

Santa in the Park and Mistletoe Market was held at the River Center in Benton on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 9 am to 2 pm, as part of the city's Small Town Christmas events. It paired a Santa visit with holiday shopping. Check the City of Benton's 2026 schedule for whether it returns.

Is the Saline County Courthouse worth seeing at Christmas?

Many families think so. A Somewhere in Arkansas guide to the state's best Christmas towns says the historic Saline County Courthouse is covered in lights and the square becomes the center of Benton's Christmas celebration. Saline County Lifestyles wrote in 2019 that the lit courthouse alone is worth a trip to historic downtown Benton.

Does Benton have a Run Run Rudolph 5K?

Benton's holiday season has included a Run Run Rudolph 5K fun run, according to a 2023 Saline County Lifestyles story that listed it alongside the tree lighting, the Christmas parade, kids' crafts, wreath-making with the Saline County Library, a cookie decorating contest, Santa at the courthouse, letters to Santa and a chili cook-off.

Sources

  1. Christmas Parade float winners announced; See photo gallery, MySaline
  2. Benton to host nightly events in December for Small Town Christmas, MySaline
  3. Christmas on the Square offers several events at the Courthouse; Dec 1, 11, 12, 18 & 19, MySaline
  4. Winners announced in float competition for 2023 Saline County Christmas Parade, MySaline
  5. Small Town Christmas, Saline County Lifestyles
  6. Winter Magic in Downtown Benton, Saline County Lifestyles
  7. Best Christmas Towns in Arkansas, Somewhere in Arkansas
  8. Arkansas Christmas Parades 2014, Only In Arkansas

Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Arkansas city.

Benton Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Benton, Arkansas this year?

Rally Takes the Train has confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Benton for 2026: the Small Town Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 6 and the Saline County Christmas Parade on December 7.

When is the Benton tree lighting in 2026?

Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5:30 pm at Owens-Mooney Park on North Main Street.

When is the Saline County Christmas Parade in 2026?

Monday, December 7, 2026, at 6 pm in downtown Benton.

What else is there for kids in downtown Benton at Christmas?

The city promotes millions of lights, horse-drawn carriage rides, an outdoor ice rink and pictures with Santa at the gazebo during the season. Times are announced on the city’s pages.

Who do I contact about Benton holiday events?

Matt Thibault, Marketing and Special Events for the City of Benton, at matt.thibault@bentonar.gov, or City Hall at 501-776-5900.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Arkansas?

Yes. Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Arkansas Christmas train rides page.

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 Benton on November 11, 2026. Rally is also contacting each organizer to confirm details like parking, restrooms and bad-weather plans.

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.

Kelsey Cecil
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