The Coeur d'Alene area has 3 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Annual Lighting Ceremony in Coeur d'Alene on November 27 to Breakfast with Santa in Coeur d'Alene, on December 13. 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 Idaho, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 3 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Coeur d'Alene for 2026, in Coeur d'Alene
- First: Annual Lighting Ceremony, Coeur d'Alene, November 27. Runs latest: Breakfast with Santa, Coeur d'Alene, through December 13
- Free: Mudgy, Millie, and Santa Sing-Along
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Coeur d'Alene
3 confirmed events for kids in Coeur d'Alene, soonest first.
Tree lighting
Annual Lighting Ceremony
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026
- Where: The Coeur d'Alene Resort waterfront, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Coeur d'Alene
- Cost: Premier viewing area by ticket; price not listed
Details, tips and host
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, The Coeur d'Alene Resort holds its Annual Lighting Ceremony on Lake Coeur d'Alene, a local tradition the resort says grows every year. The switch is flipped to light up the lake with more than 1.5 million Christmas lights, followed by what the resort calls the most magnificent fireworks display in the Pacific Northwest.
For a guaranteed spot, the resort sells tickets to a Premier Viewing Area on the Lakeview Terrace that includes complimentary hot chocolate and coffee, though the page does not list the price or the start time. The lights stay up through the season, and the resort's Journey to the North Pole lake cruises to Santa's waterfront workshop run from mid November through January 3 if your family wants to see the display again up close.
Parent tip: The page does not give a start time yet, so check back closer to the date, and dress warmly for an evening by the lake.
- Host
- The Coeur d'Alene Resort (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- The Coeur d'Alene Resort waterfront, Lake Coeur d'Alene, 115 S 2nd Street, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa visitFree
Mudgy, Millie, and Santa Sing-Along
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 11 am to noon
- Where: Coeur d'Alene Public Library, Community Room (Room 116), Coeur d'Alene
- Cost: Free library program
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The Coeur d'Alene Public Library hosts a holiday sing-along with Mudgy Moose, Millie Mouse and Santa on Saturday morning, December 12. Families can sing Christmas favorites and well loved Mudgy and Millie songs, meet the characters in person and make some holiday memories together.
The program runs from 11 am to noon in the library's Community Room, Room 116, and is open to all ages. It is listed as a celebration supported by the library foundation, and no registration is shown. Because Santa appears alongside the two characters, children get a chance to see him in a relaxed group setting with songs rather than a one on one visit. The library sits on Front Avenue near downtown Coeur d'Alene, close to the lake and the holiday lights.
Parent tip: All ages are welcome and no registration is listed.
- Host
- Coeur d'Alene Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Coeur d'Alene Public Library, Community Room (Room 116), 702 E Front Avenue, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast with Santa
- When: Sunday, December 13, 2026, 9 am to noon
- Where: The Hagadone Event Center, Coeur d'Alene
- Cost: $75 ages 13 and up, $45 ages 12 and under, plus tax and fees
- Ages: Families; children 12 and under priced separately
Details, tips and host
The Coeur d'Alene Resort hosts a Breakfast with Santa for the whole family at the Hagadone Event Center on Sunday, December 13, from 9 am to noon. Guests enjoy a holiday inspired breakfast buffet in a room decorated for the season, with Christmas music and lake views.
Santa is on site for photos and holiday wishes, and the ticket includes the breakfast buffet, festive decor and music, holiday children's activities and photos with Santa. General admission tickets for ages 13 and up are $75, and children 12 and under are $45, plus tax and service fees. Tickets are sold through the resort's holiday page. Since the resort's Journey to the North Pole cruises and lake lights run all season, some families pair the breakfast with an evening visit to see the 1.5 million lights along the waterfront.
Parent tip: Ticket prices do not include tax and service fees. Photos with Santa are included in the ticket.
- Host
- The Coeur d'Alene Resort (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- The Hagadone Event Center, 900 S Floating Dock Road, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Coeur d'Alene? 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
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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.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
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 Idaho Christmas train rides page.
Coeur d'Alene Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 3 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Coeur d'Alene
- Season
- November 27 to December 13, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- tree lighting, Santa visit and breakfast with Santa
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Coeur d'Alene Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Annual Lighting Ceremony in Coeur d'Alene on November 27; the last runs to December 13. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Annual Lighting CeremonyCoeur d'Alene · Nov 27
- Mudgy, Millie, and Santa Sing-AlongCoeur d'Alene · Dec 12
- Breakfast with SantaCoeur d'Alene · Dec 13
Looking further afield? Our Idaho Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Boise and Nampa. 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 Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene's big Christmas light show started nearly four decades ago with a firetruck carrying 100 lights. Today more than 1.5 million lights shine over the lake, and a boat takes families to the North Pole.
How Coeur d'Alene celebrates
Christmas in Coeur d'Alene kicks off on the Friday after Thanksgiving with a parade down Sherman Avenue, followed by the Coeur d'Alene Resort's lighting ceremony and fireworks over the lake. The ceremony began nearly four decades ago with a firetruck carrying 100 lights. Today the display spans the resort and a North Pole attraction across Lake Coeur d'Alene, with more than 1.5 million lights. Families can also ride the Christmas Cruise across the lake to the North Pole, where Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helpers wait. Santa himself has ridden through the parade on a firetruck.
Christmas last year in Coeur d'Alene
The 33rd annual Christmas parade followed the theme "Candy Cane Lane" and lasted about an hour over a half-mile of Sherman Avenue. It had Santa, a high school band, dancers, friendly dogs and a long line of lighted trucks, while Toys for Tots volunteers tossed candy. More than 30,000 people came, and at times the crowd was five deep. The Resort's 38th lighting ceremony followed, with a countdown from 10 and about 10 minutes of fireworks. The display has about 250 displays and nearly 6 miles of cords, and setup takes about 8,000 hours of work.
Fun facts about Christmas in Coeur d'Alene
One fan set up chairs at 1 p.m., four hours before the parade began. A potato mascot named Paisley high-fived toddlers along the route. In 2011 organizers said the resort's display included the world's tallest living Christmas tree, more than twice the height of the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City. At the 2021 ceremony, the crowd sang "Silent Night" holding candles, and the fireworks had 3,400 effects. In 2008 a condo balcony group even covered a fiberglass moose in gold lights.
Traditions today
- Christmas parade on Sherman Avenue: A one-hour parade with Santa, bands, dancers and lighted trucks, held the Friday after Thanksgiving and run by the Downtown Association.
- Coeur d'Alene Resort lighting ceremony: A countdown, fireworks over the lake and the switch-on of more than 1.5 million lights, a tradition for nearly four decades.
- The Christmas Cruise to the North Pole: A 40-minute boat ride across the lake where Santa, Mrs. Claus and helpers greet families and announce names of kids on the nice list.
- Silent Night by candlelight: Carols are sung on the resort lawn, and in 2021 the crowd sang Silent Night holding candles before the fireworks.
- Toys for Tots at the parade: Volunteers toss candy to children along Sherman Avenue as the parade passes.
- Santa on a firetruck: Santa has ridden through town on a firetruck in the parade, waving to children.
A fact for kids
Coeur d'Alene's giant Christmas light show started with one firetruck carrying just 100 lights. Now more than 1.5 million lights shine over the lake.
Questions about Christmas in Coeur d'Alene
When does Christmas begin in Coeur d'Alene?
The season begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving with the Christmas parade on Sherman Avenue, followed by the Coeur d'Alene Resort's lighting ceremony and fireworks. In 2025 it took place on Friday, November 28. See our Coeur d'Alene Christmas events guide on this page for this season's date and schedule.
How old is the Coeur d'Alene Christmas parade?
The 2025 parade was the 33rd annual one, run by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association, which means it began in the early 1990s. The 29th was held in 2021, after the 2020 parade was canceled because of COVID-19. It is a longstanding tradition for families across the Inland Northwest.
What was the Coeur d'Alene parade theme in 2025?
The 2025 parade was themed Candy Cane Lane. It featured Santa Claus, the North Idaho Sparklers, the Lake City High School band and cheerleaders, friendly dogs and lighted, decorated trucks. Alta Dance Academy performed, and Toys for Tots volunteers tossed candy to children along the route.
Where does the Coeur d'Alene Christmas parade go?
The parade travels along Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d'Alene. In 2025 it covered about a half-mile and lasted roughly an hour. The Coeur d'Alene Resort's tree lighting and fireworks follow,. See our Coeur d'Alene Christmas events guide on this page for details.
How many people come to the Coeur d'Alene parade?
More than 30,000 people came in 2025, with crowds sometimes five deep along Sherman Avenue. In 2008, the police chief estimated 20,000 despite a rainy, snowy evening. Some families arrive hours early; in 2025 one fan set up chairs at 1 p.m., four hours before the parade began.
How did the Coeur d'Alene Resort light show start?
The lighting ceremony began nearly four decades ago with a firetruck carrying 100 lights. The 2025 ceremony was the 38th annual. Over the years it grew into a display spanning the Resort and a North Pole attraction across the lake, with more than 1.5 million lights and about 250 displays.
How many lights are in the Coeur d'Alene display?
The display has more than 1.5 million lights and about 250 displays, powered by nearly 6 miles of cords and cables. The lights cover the resort, downtown and the lake. Crews begin setup on October 1 and put in about 8,000 hours of labor before the big switch-on.
What is the world's tallest living Christmas tree in Coeur d'Alene?
In 2011 organizers said the Coeur d'Alene Resort's display included the world's tallest living Christmas tree, which they said is more than twice the height of New York City's Rockefeller Center tree. It is a living tree lit with the resort's lights. Check our Coeur d'Alene Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
What happens at the lighting ceremony and fireworks?
After the parade, a company leader led a countdown from 10 in 2025, and fireworks lit the lake for about 10 minutes. In 2021, carols were sung on the resort lawn, the crowd sang Silent Night with candles, and a fireworks show with 3,400 effects came before the downtown lights were switched on.
What is the Coeur d'Alene Christmas Cruise?
It is a 40-minute boat ride across Lake Coeur d'Alene to a place called the North Pole. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helpers greet riders, and Santa announces the names of children on the nice list. It was in its 28th year in 2024, and a bar serves holiday drinks, cookies and hot chocolate.
When did the North Pole cruise begin?
The cruise was in its 28th year in 2024, so it began in the late 1990s. A 2008 newspaper called it a Journey to the North Pole and a 2011 one called it a Fantasy Cruise to the North Pole. Both lasted 40 minutes and left from the Coeur d'Alene Resort boat dock.
What is the North Pole across the lake?
The North Pole is a lighted attraction across Lake Coeur d'Alene that is part of the Coeur d'Alene Resort's Christmas display. Boats on the Christmas Cruise travel across the lake to it, and Santa, Mrs. Claus and their helpers meet families there.
How can I explain the lake cruise to a toddler?
Tell your toddler that a boat is going to take everyone across the lake to visit Santa at the North Pole, where he reads out names from his nice list. Bring warm clothes, practice waving, and know that cookies and hot chocolate are served on board.
Who is Paisley the Potato?
Paisley the Potato is a mascot who high-fived toddlers along Sherman Avenue at the 2025 Coeur d'Alene Christmas parade. Idaho is famous for potatoes, so a potato character is a fun local touch for kids. The parade also included dogs, dancers, a band and Santa Claus.
What did Coeur d'Alene do about Christmas during COVID-19?
The 2020 lighting ceremony and parade were canceled because of COVID-19. They returned in 2021 with the 29th annual parade, themed Holiday Heroes and Festive Figures, which had 30 entries including floats, a marching band, dancers and horses, followed by carols and fireworks at the resort.
What was the Coeur d'Alene parade like in 2008?
The 2008 parade took place on a rainy, snowy evening, and police estimated 20,000 people watched. Santa rode through town on a firetruck, and marching bands and civic groups joined in. Wet weather kept the bullhorn and sound system from working, and a condo group covered a fiberglass moose in gold lights.
Where do families gather for the Coeur d'Alene lighting ceremony?
Families gather at the Coeur d'Alene Resort on the lake, where the lighting ceremony follows the parade with a countdown and fireworks over the water. In 2021, carols were sung on the resort lawn before the lights came on. For this season's date and details, see our Coeur d'Alene Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Coeur d'Alene?
The best-known display is at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, with more than 1.5 million lights on the shore and across the lake at the North Pole attraction. The lights come on after the parade. Our Coeur d'Alene Christmas events guide on this page has this season's viewing tips.
Is there a Christmas parade in Coeur d'Alene this year?
Coeur d'Alene's parade has traditionally been held on the Friday after Thanksgiving, with the 2020 parade canceled because of COVID-19 and a return in 2021. It runs along Sherman Avenue each year before the lighting ceremony and fireworks at the resort, so families can see both in one evening. For this season's date, route and theme, see our Coeur d'Alene Christmas events guide on this page.
What makes Christmas in Coeur d'Alene special?
Coeur d'Alene celebrates on the water. A light show that began with one firetruck and 100 lights now glows with more than 1.5 million lights, fireworks burst over the lake, and a boat carries families to the North Pole to meet Santa. The Friday-after-Thanksgiving parade on Sherman Avenue draws more than 30,000 people.
Sources
- Christmas, Coeur d'Alene style, Coeur d'Alene Press
- Big display, wide following, The Spokesman-Review
- Over a million lights illuminate Coeur d'Alene streets in dazzling holiday display, KXLY
- CDA Christmas Cruise, KREM
- CdA holds merry parade, The Spokesman-Review
- Welcome Christmas, Coeur d'Alene Press
Coeur d'Alene Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Coeur d'Alene this year?
We confirmed 3 for the 2026 season, and 1 of them are free. Good places to start: Breakfast with Santa (Dec 13), Annual Lighting Ceremony (Nov 27) and Mudgy, Millie, and Santa Sing-Along (Dec 12). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Coeur d'Alene?
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 Coeur d'Alene?
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 Coeur d'Alene?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Coeur d'Alene 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.