The Burlington, VT area has 2 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Winter Lights in Shelburne on November 27 to Jolabokaflod in Burlington, on December 2. 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 Vermont, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 2 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Burlington, VT for 2026, in Burlington and Shelburne
- First: Winter Lights, Shelburne, November 27. Runs latest: Winter Lights, Shelburne, through January 3
- Free: Jolabokaflod
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Burlington
1 confirmed event for kids in Burlington, soonest first.
Holiday story timeFree
Jolabokaflod
- When: Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 4 to 6:30 pm
- Where: Fletcher Free Library, Main Library, Fletcher Room, Burlington
- Cost: Free, registration required
- Ages: Recommended for ages 2 to 8 and their families
Details, tips and host
Jolabokaflod, pronounced Yola Boka Flod, is the Icelandic winter tradition of giving books and spending a cozy evening reading with chocolate. Burlington's Fletcher Free Library brings it to life for young children with stories, treats and a craft, all in the Fletcher Room at the Main Library downtown. Cozy clothes and pajamas are encouraged.
The program is recommended for ages 2 to 8 and their families, and it runs as two identical sessions on the same evening, from 4 to 5:15 pm and from 5:15 to 6:30 pm. Space is limited and registration is required for either session through the library's online calendar. Treats come courtesy of local sponsors Vermont Cookie Love, Price Chopper and Lake Champlain Chocolates.
Parent tip: Register for one session ahead of time, since space is limited. Kids are welcome to come in pajamas.
- Host
- Fletcher Free Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Fletcher Free Library, Main Library, Fletcher Room, 235 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Burlington, VT? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Shelburne
1 confirmed event for kids in Shelburne, soonest first.
Holiday lights
Winter Lights
- When: Fri November 27 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sat November 28 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sun November 29 (4:30 to 8 pm), Mon November 30, Thu December 3 (4:30 to 8 pm), Fri December 4 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sat December 5 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sun December 6 (4:30 to 8 pm), Thu December 10 (4:30 to 8 pm), Fri December 11 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sat December 12 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sun December 13 (4:30 to 8 pm), Mon December 14, Thu December 17 (4:30 to 8 pm), Fri December 18 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sat December 19 (4:30 to 8 pm), Sun December 20 (4:30 to 8 pm), Mon December 21 (4:30 to 8 pm), Tue December 22 (4:30 to 8 pm), Wed December 23 (4:30 to 8 pm) and Sat December 26 (4:30 to 8 pm), 2026
- Where: Shelburne Museum, Shelburne
- Cost: Advance online $20 adults, $10 ages 3 to 17, under 3 free; walk up $25 and $12
- Ages: All ages; under 3 free
Details, tips and host
Winter Lights fills the Shelburne Museum campus, just south of Burlington, with glittering light installations on the darkest evenings of the year. Favorites include the 220 foot steamboat Ticonderoga outlined in lights and the model train village in the Diamond Barn, and this season adds woodland creatures by artist Calvin Laituri in the pine grove of Beach Woods. On November 29, whimsical woodland puppets wander the grounds singing to visitors.
Walk through evenings run from 4:30 to 8 pm, with last entry at 7, generally Thursdays through Sundays plus every night of school break from December 26 to January 3. Advance timed tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for ages 3 to 17, and children under 3 are free; walk up prices are higher. Sensory friendly evenings on November 30 and December 14 use separate registration. The cafe serves light snacks and hot chocolate. The museum is closed December 24 and 25.
Parent tip: Buy timed tickets online to save money and secure a slot. Sleds are not allowed on the grounds, so plan on walking or a stroller.
- Host
- Shelburne Museum (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 (near Burlington)
- Sign-up
- Recommended
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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 Vermont Christmas train rides page.
Burlington, VT Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 2 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Burlington and Shelburne
- Season
- November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- holiday lights and holiday story time
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Burlington, VT Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Winter Lights in Shelburne on November 27; the last runs to December 2. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Winter LightsShelburne · Nov 27 to Jan 3
- JolabokaflodBurlington · Dec 2
Looking further afield? Our Vermont Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Montpelier and Rutland. 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 Burlington, VT
In Burlington, Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving, when a giant spruce lights up on Church Street. The tree lighting has been a downtown tradition for about 30 years, and families still gather around it every year.
How Burlington celebrates
Burlington kicks off the season on the day after Thanksgiving with the Church Street Marketplace tree lighting. News coverage in 2023 said the lighting had been held for about 30 years, so the tradition goes back to roughly the 1990s. A spruce stands at the top of the marketplace, and downtown fills with carolers, a performance before the lights come on, and a Santa visit. The marketplace stays decorated all season, and the holiday program adds four Festive Fridays, a free holiday train ride around the tree, and a menorah lighting in December.
Christmas last year in Burlington
On Friday, November 28, 2025, Burlington opened the season with a Santa Parade that started at noon at City Hall. Santa then visited Homeport on Church Street until 4 p.m. At 5:15 p.m. there was a performance of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and carols led up to the 6 p.m. tree lighting. The tree was reported as 30 feet tall, and the street glowed with over 100,000 lights. Free holiday train rides ran on Sundays from November 30 to December 21, and a 9-foot menorah was lit on December 21.
Fun facts about Christmas in Burlington
Crews raised the 2025 Church Street spruce about a week before the lights went on, on a drizzly, misty Friday, and it reached the fourth stories of the buildings on both sides of the street. The free holiday train is called The Big Blue Express and circles the tree. In 2023 about 4,000 people came to the lighting, and in 2024 visitors traveled from as far as Connecticut. Kids can also meet Santa at Homeport on weekends from November 29 to December 21.
Trains and Christmas near Burlington
Trains are part of Christmas on Church Street, where The Big Blue Express gives free rides around the giant tree on Sundays from late November to December 21. For a longer ride, the Champlain Valley Dinner Train leaves from Burlington in 1930s dining cars, though riders must be 5 or older. In Shelburne, an 1890 depot with a stationmaster's office and telegraph equipment sits on the Shelburne Museum campus, which also hosts a holiday lights display in winter. Vermont Rail System runs seasonal passenger trains too.
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train: A three-hour dinner train from Burlington in 1930s dining cars, best for families with kids 5 and older.
- Shelburne Museum Railroad Station and Freight Shed: An 1890 depot with a stationmaster's office and telegraph gear, a short drive south of Burlington.
- Vermont Rail System: A working railroad based in Burlington whose seasonal passenger trains let visitors see it up close.
Traditions today
- Church Street Marketplace tree lighting: A giant spruce lights up on the day after Thanksgiving, with carols, a performance and over 100,000 lights along the street.
- Santa Parade: Santa and friends head from City Hall at noon, then Santa stays at Homeport on Church Street.
- The Big Blue Express: A free holiday train ride around the Church Street tree on Sundays from late November to December 21.
- Festive Fridays: Four Fridays of holiday fun on the marketplace, starting with the tree lighting.
- Menorah lighting: A 9-foot menorah stands on Church Street for the season and is lit at a December 21 gathering.
- Holiday Lights at Shelburne Museum: A winter lights display at the Shelburne Museum, running from November 21 to January 4 in 2025.
A fact for kids
In Burlington, a free little train called The Big Blue Express rolls around a spruce so tall it reaches the fourth floor of the buildings on Church Street.
Questions about Christmas in Burlington, VT
When does Burlington light its Christmas tree?
Burlington lights its Church Street tree on the day after Thanksgiving. In 2025 that was Friday, November 28, with carols starting at 5:15 p.m. and the lighting at 6 p.m. It opens the holiday season downtown, and families usually arrive early to find a spot near the tree.
How long has the Church Street tree lighting been going?
Local news in 2023 said the Church Street tree lighting had been held for about 30 years, which puts its start around the 1990s. It is described as an annual tradition, and one family attending in 2024 called going to see the tree their own family tradition.
How tall is the Burlington Christmas tree?
The 2025 Church Street tree was reported as 30 feet tall, and it is a spruce. Another local report said it reached the fourth stories of the buildings on either side of the street. Crews raised it about a week before the lights came on.
How many lights are on Church Street at Christmas?
Burlington's holiday guide says Church Street has over 100,000 lights, and local news in 2025 said 100,000 lights lit up when the tree was switched on. Earlier reports counted about 1,000 lights on the tree itself, so the bigger number covers the whole marketplace.
Is there a Christmas parade in Burlington, Vermont?
Yes, a Santa Parade opens the season. In 2025 it started at noon on Friday, November 28, at City Hall, the same day as the tree lighting. Santa then stayed on Church Street at Homeport until 4 p.m. to greet families before the evening ceremony.
What is the Big Blue Express?
The Big Blue Express is a free holiday train ride that goes around the Christmas tree on Church Street. In 2025 it ran on Sundays from November 30 to December 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is an easy first train ride for little kids.
What are the Festive Fridays?
Festive Fridays are four Fridays of holiday programming on the Church Street Marketplace. The first one is the tree lighting, which falls on the day after Thanksgiving. The marketplace stays decorated through the weeks leading up to Christmas. Our Burlington Christmas events guide on this page has the current calendar.
How many people come to the Burlington tree lighting?
In 2023 local news reported about 4,000 people at the Church Street tree lighting. A 2024 report described hundreds of people, with visitors from Connecticut, Middlebury, Enosburgh and Essex. Crowds vary by year and weather, so plan to arrive early with kids.
Does Santa visit Burlington?
Yes. Santa rides in the Santa Parade on the day after Thanksgiving and then visits Homeport at 52 Church Street. In 2025 kids could meet him there on Saturdays and Sundays from November 29 to December 21, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Is there a menorah in Burlington?
Yes. A 9-foot menorah is on display on Church Street for the season, and in 2025 a menorah lighting took place on December 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. It sits beside the Christmas tree, so families can see both on one visit downtown.
What Christmas lights can families see near Burlington?
The Shelburne Museum hosts Holiday Lights, which ran from November 21 to January 4 in 2025, with an anytime ticket listed at $30. Closer to downtown, the Church Street Marketplace is covered in over 100,000 lights, and it is free to walk through.
What tree is used for the Church Street Christmas tree?
A local news story from November 2025 described the Church Street tree as a spruce, tall enough to reach the fourth stories of the buildings on both sides of the street. The story did not say where the tree came from, so we leave that detail out.
How can I explain the tree lighting to my kids?
A local news story from November 2025 described the Church Street tree as a spruce, tall enough to reach the fourth stories of the buildings on both sides of the street. The story did not say where the tree came from, so that detail is left out here.
What time should we arrive for the tree lighting?
The 2025 program began with the parade at noon, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at 5:15 p.m. and the lighting at 6 p.m. With young kids, many families arrive by late afternoon to find a spot. Check our Burlington Christmas events guide on this page for this year's schedule.
Is the Church Street tree lighting good for toddlers?
It can be, because the ceremony has carols, a story performance and the free Big Blue Express train nearby on Sundays. Crowds can be large, with about 4,000 people reported in 2023, so bring warm layers and a plan for breaks. Our Burlington Christmas events guide on this page lists current details.
Is Church Street open to cars at Christmas?
Families can walk around the tree and the train on the Church Street Marketplace. In 2023 police and Public Works also added staffing and parked trucks at access points for safety. See our Burlington Christmas events guide on this page for current plans.
What safety steps were taken at the 2023 tree lighting?
In 2023 police and Public Works added staffing and parked trucks at access points around the Church Street Marketplace for safety during the tree lighting. Families can walk around the tree and the train on the marketplace. See our Burlington Christmas events guide on this page for current plans before you go.
Which train museum is closest to Burlington?
The Shelburne Museum Railroad Station and Freight Shed is just south of Burlington, in an 1890 depot moved to the museum campus in 1959. It has a stationmaster's office, waiting rooms, telegraph equipment and a freight shed of railroad tools. Tickets cover two days on the 45-acre campus.
Is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train good for young kids?
It suits kids 5 and older, because riders must be at least 5. The trip is about three hours from Burlington toward Middlebury, in 1930s dining cars with a three-course meal, and tickets start at $220. For toddlers, the free Big Blue Express on Church Street is an easier first ride.
What does the Christmas season look like in Burlington overall?
It suits kids 5 and older, because riders must be at least 5. The trip is about three hours from Burlington toward Middlebury, in 1930s dining cars with a three-course meal. Check the railroad for current ticket prices. For toddlers, the free Big Blue Express on Church Street is an easier first ride.
Sources
- Burlington kicks off holiday festivities, WCAX
- Your guide to the holidays in Burlington, Vermont, Hello Burlington
- Downtown Burlington filled with holiday spirit at annual Christmas tree lighting, WCAX
- Church Street Christmas tree arrives for one more year of cheer, ABC22 & FOX44
- Tree lighting brightens Church Street Marketplace for the holidays, WCAX
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train, Rally Takes the Train
- Shelburne Museum Railroad Station and Freight Shed, Rally Takes the Train
- Vermont Rail System, Rally Takes the Train
Burlington, VT Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Burlington, VT this year?
We confirmed 2 for the 2026 season, and 1 of them are free. Good places to start: Winter Lights in Shelburne (Nov 27 to Jan 3) and Jolabokaflod (Dec 2). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Burlington, VT?
Yes, 1 of the 2. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.
Are there Christmas story times for kids in Burlington, VT?
Yes. Library story times are usually free and walk-in; ones with a meal or a show are ticketed.
Is anything on for kids in Burlington, VT on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes. Winter Lights in Shelburne runs through Jan 3.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 2 of the 2 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 Burlington, VT?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Burlington, VT 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.