Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Boardman for 2026, and here is what he found: 2 family events, 1 of them free. They are Photos with Santa (from November 28) and Boardman Community Christmas (December 6). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Ohio Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Boardman
- 2 Christmas events for kids in Boardman
- 1 free event, including Boardman Community Christmas
- Meet Santa: Photos with Santa (from November 28)
- Season: November 28 (Photos with Santa) to December 23 (Photos with Santa)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
What are you looking for?
All 2 events
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- 1 Santa
- 1 Crafts
- 1 Zoos and museums
- 1 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Free
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Free Christmas events for kids in Boardman
Holiday eventFree
Boardman Community Christmas
- When: Sunday, December 6, 2026, noon to 5 pm
- Where: Boardman Township Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Rd, Boardman, OH 44512 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Boardman Township Park hosts a free afternoon with hot chocolate, fire pits on the back patio, children's games and holiday craft making. Families are also invited to help decorate the Community Wildlife Christmas Tree and add a touch of their own.
It runs on Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at Boardman Township Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Road. The event is free, and the listing mentions no registration. The park's phone number is 330-726-8107.
Parent tip: The fire pits are out on the back patio, so dress kids for standing outside in early December even if you plan to spend most of your time at the craft tables. With a five-hour window, you can drop in for an hour at whatever point fits around naps.
- Host
- Boardman Township Park (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Boardman Township Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Rd, Boardman, OH 44512 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Boardman events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Boardman daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Boardman.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 1 more Boardman event researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Boardman.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Boardman before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 1 Santa
- 1 Crafts
- 1 Zoos and museums
- 1 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Free
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Boardman every week.
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Boardman
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Santa visit
Photos with Santa
- When: Saturday, November 28, 2026 to Wednesday, December 23, 2026 (Select dates through the season. The listing confirms Saturday, November 28 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM; check the mall's Santa schedule for other days and hours.), 2 to 5 pm
- Where: Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St, Boardman, OH 44512 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the listing page
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa sets up at Southern Park Mall for the holiday season, and families can stop by for a visit and a photo with him. The listing is part of a series, with Santa appearing at the mall on dates throughout the season.
The listed session is on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market Street. The listing does not give photo prices or say whether reservations are needed, and it points families to the mall's own Santa schedule for other days. The mall's phone number is 330-758-4511.
Parent tip: Santa's hours can differ from day to day, so check the mall's schedule before you promise a visit. The November 28 session falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, likely a busy shopping day, so arriving close to the 2:00 PM start gives you the best chance at a shorter line.
- Host
- Southern Park Mall (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St, Boardman, OH 44512 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Boardman events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Boardman daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Boardman.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
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 Ohio Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Boardman Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Photos with Santa in Boardman on November 28; the last runs to December 23. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Photos with SantaBoardman · Nov 28 to Dec 23
- Boardman Community ChristmasBoardman · Dec 6
Looking further afield? Our Ohio Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Youngstown, Canton, Akron and Rock Creek. 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. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Boardman
Boardman Township is where the first Arby's restaurant opened in 1964 and where Boardman Plaza, one of the country's first strip malls, went up in 1950. That retail history carries into December, when Santa takes up his post at Southern Park Mall and the township park hosts a free community Christmas afternoon.
How Boardman celebrates
Explore Mahoning, the county's events calendar, lists both of Boardman's holiday events. Santa is at Southern Park Mall on Market Street for visits and photos on dates through the season, including a Saturday session on November 28, 2026. On Sunday, December 6, Boardman Township Park on Boardman-Poland Road holds Boardman Community Christmas, a free afternoon of hot chocolate, patio fire pits, children's games and craft making, where neighbors help decorate the Community Wildlife Christmas Tree. The mall, opened by developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. in 1970, is described as the largest single shopping destination in Mahoning County.
Fun facts about Christmas in Boardman
Boardman was founded in the late 1790s by Elijah Boardman, a land agent of the Connecticut Land Company who later became a U.S. Senator. The township was formally established in 1806, although its own seal and signs say 1805. It is the only Boardman Township in Ohio, and the 2020 census counted 40,213 residents.
Traditions today
- Photos with Santa at Southern Park Mall: Santa spends the holiday season at the mall on Market Street, with visits and photos on scheduled days.
- Boardman Community Christmas: Boardman Township Park opens for a free Sunday afternoon of games, crafts and warm drinks on December 6, 2026.
- The Community Wildlife Christmas Tree: Visitors to the park's Christmas afternoon are invited to help decorate this shared tree.
- Fire pits and hot chocolate: The park sets out fire pits on its back patio and serves hot chocolate during the community event.
A fact for kids
Boardman sits next to Mill Creek Park, which has a lily pond with geese and turtles and an old mill, Lanterman's Mill, where grain is still ground every day.
Questions about Christmas in Boardman
When was Boardman founded?
Elijah Boardman founded it in the late 1790s as township 1, range 2 of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The township was formally established in 1806, although the township government uses 1805 on its seal, documents and signage.
How did Boardman get its name?
The township is named for its founder, Elijah Boardman, a land agent of the Connecticut Land Company who later served as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut. It is the only Boardman Township in the state of Ohio.
Is Boardman a city or a township?
Boardman is a township, one of fourteen in Mahoning County, directly south of Youngstown. There are no incorporated communities within it. With 40,213 residents at the 2020 census, it is the second-largest municipality in the Youngstown and Warren metropolitan area.
What is Boardman known for?
Boardman is a major retail hub and the location of the first Arby's restaurant, which opened in 1964. Mall developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. began his company here, building Boardman Plaza in 1950 and opening Southern Park Mall in 1970.
Did the railroad shape Boardman?
Boardman was a farming community of grain crops and apple orchards through the 19th century. Around the turn of the century the railroad led to Southern Park, a horse racing facility on Washington Boulevard, which made the area an early draw for people from Youngstown.
What happens at Christmas in Boardman?
Santa visits Southern Park Mall for photos on select dates, including Saturday, November 28, 2026. On Sunday, December 6, Boardman Township Park holds Boardman Community Christmas, with hot chocolate, fire pits, children's games, holiday crafts and a community tree to decorate.
Where do the Christmas events take place?
Photos with Santa is at Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market Street, which stands near the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and Market Street. Boardman Community Christmas is at Boardman Township Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Road.
What is free at Christmas in Boardman?
Boardman Community Christmas on December 6, 2026, is listed as a free community event, covering the hot chocolate, games, crafts and tree decorating at Boardman Township Park. The listing for Photos with Santa at Southern Park Mall does not state a price.
What else can families see near Boardman?
Boardman borders Mill Creek Park, one of the Youngstown area's most popular attractions. The park grounds include an 11 acre rose garden, several small waterfalls, a lily pond with geese and turtles, marshlands, and Lanterman's Mill, where grain is ground daily.
Sources
- Boardman Township, Ohio, Wikipedia
- Photos With Santa, Explore Mahoning
- Boardman Community Christmas, Explore Mahoning
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 Ohio city.
Boardman Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are happening in Boardman in 2026?
Two are listed. Photos with Santa takes place at Southern Park Mall on select dates through the season, including Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Boardman Community Christmas is a free afternoon at Boardman Township Park on Sunday, December 6, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.
Where can kids meet Santa in Boardman?
Santa is at Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market Street, for visits and photos during the holiday season. The Explore Mahoning listing confirms a session on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM and directs families to the mall's own schedule for his other days.
Are there free Christmas events for families in Boardman?
Yes. Boardman Community Christmas on Sunday, December 6, 2026, is listed as a free community event at Boardman Township Park. It includes hot chocolate, fire pits on the back patio, children's games and holiday craft making, and families can help decorate the Community Wildlife Christmas Tree.
Do Boardman's Christmas events need tickets or registration?
Neither listing mentions tickets or sign-up. Boardman Community Christmas on December 6, 2026, is a free drop-in afternoon. For Photos with Santa at Southern Park Mall, the listing gives no photo prices or reservation details, so check with the mall at 330-758-4511 before you go.
Is Boardman Community Christmas indoors or outdoors?
The listing describes fire pits on the back patio at Boardman Township Park along with hot chocolate, games and crafts, so expect at least part of the afternoon to be outside. The event runs from 12:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 6, 2026. Dress children for cold weather.
What is the Community Wildlife Christmas Tree?
It is a tree at Boardman Township Park that the community is invited to help decorate during Boardman Community Christmas on December 6, 2026. The listing does not explain what the decorations are made of, so contact the park at 330-726-8107 if you want details beforehand.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Boardman?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Ohio Christmas train rides guide. This Boardman guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows 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 10, 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.