Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Columbia, MO for 2026, and here is what he found: 2 family events. They are Candlelight Holiday (December 11) and Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas (from December 12). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Missouri Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Columbia
- 2 Christmas events for kids in Columbia
- Meet Santa: Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas (from December 12)
- Season: December 11 (Candlelight Holiday) to December 13 (Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
What are you looking for?
All 2 events
Nothing matches yet. Try another kind of event, or .
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 1 more Columbia 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 Columbia.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Columbia before they fill up.
- Start your magical Christmas season now Every event appears the moment you enter your email.
- 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.
Waiting inside
- 2 Shows
- 1 Santa
- 1 Markets
Enter your email and all will appear instantly.
The Christmas magic awaits
Enter your email to get Christmas event notifications all season long and unlock the details on 1 Christmas event in Columbia.
- New events in Columbia every week
- Exclusive access to free events
- Your magical Christmas season starts now
- Christmas Eve Express and free advent calendar
- One-tap add to calendar
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Columbia
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday show
Candlelight Holiday
- When: Friday, December 11, 2026, 7 pm (Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m.)
- Where: First Baptist Church, 1112 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $28 general, $7 for children 12 and under
- Ages: All ages; child price for 12 and under
Expand to see the parent tip
The Odyssey Chamber Music Series fills First Baptist Church with a holiday program of small-group classical music: the MU Trombone Choir, piano duos, a flute duet by Berlioz, a clarinet, violin and piano trio, and pieces for organ and piano. The finale is a Christmas Overture played by four pianists on two pianos, a mash-up that weaves in the Nutcracker, Joy to the World, White Christmas and even a Coldplay song, and the program dares listeners to name every tune.
The concert is on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1112 E Broadway in downtown Columbia, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $28 general and $7 for children age 12 or younger. Tickets bought after Friday, December 4 are held at Will Call for pickup at the Broadway entrance.
Parent tip: The listed pieces add up to roughly 70 minutes of music plus an intermission, and the first half includes a 20-minute trio, so this suits school-age kids who can sit quietly. Tell them ahead of time about the name-that-tune finale so they have something to listen for.
- Host
- Odyssey Chamber Music Series (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- First Baptist Church, 1112 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Columbia events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Columbia daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Columbia.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 1 more Columbia 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 Columbia.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Columbia 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
- 2 Shows
- 1 Santa
- 1 Markets
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Columbia every week.
Holiday show
Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas
- When: Sat December 12 (7 pm) and Sun December 13 (2 pm), 2026 (Two performances: Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.)
- Where: Missouri Theatre, 203 S 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $39 to $59 reserved seats, $10 for children 17 and under, $15 for college students, plus fees
- Ages: All ages; child price for 17 and under
Expand to see the parent tip
The Missouri Symphony plays a holiday concert built around Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker music, mixing classical and popular seasonal songs with Nutcracker-style storytelling and dancers from Columbia Ballet. Wilbur Lin conducts and Jazz Rucker sings. Before the music starts, the Missouri Theatre lobby has a holiday market, activities, photos with Santa and carols.
There are two performances at the Missouri Theatre, 203 South 9th Street: Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Reserved seats come in three tiers at $59, $49 and $39, with children 17 and under at $10 and college students with ID at $15. Each ticket also carries a $1 platform fee and a 3.2 percent card processing fee.
Parent tip: The Sunday 2:00 p.m. performance is the easier one for young children, since the Saturday show starts at 7:00 p.m. Come early either day, because the Santa photos, market and carols all happen before the concert.
- Host
- The Missouri Symphony (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Missouri Theatre, 203 S 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Columbia events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Columbia daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Columbia.
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 Missouri Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Columbia Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Candlelight Holiday in Columbia on December 11; 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.
- Candlelight HolidayColumbia · Dec 11
- Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri ChristmasColumbia · Dec 12 to Dec 13
Looking further afield? Our Missouri Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Jefferson City, Osage Beach, Climax Springs and Lee's Summit. 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 Columbia
Columbia began in the spring of 1821, when the people of a tiny settlement called Smithton moved their cabins across Flat Branch Creek to be near newly discovered springs. Two centuries later the city's Christmas season fills its stages, with a candlelight chamber concert on Broadway downtown and a Nutcracker-inspired symphony show at the Missouri Theatre.
How Columbia celebrates
Music carries the season in this college town. The Odyssey Chamber Music Series presents Candlelight Holiday at First Baptist Church on East Broadway in downtown Columbia, with the MU Trombone Choir, piano duos, organ and a Christmas Overture for four pianists. The next two days the Missouri Symphony takes over the Missouri Theatre on South 9th Street for Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas, a concert with Columbia Ballet that the symphony describes as a Missouri holiday tradition reimagined with full live orchestra. That show adds a holiday market, lobby activities, photos with Santa and carols before the music.
Fun facts about Christmas in Columbia
Columbia was founded in 1821 and chosen as the Boone County seat the same year, and Boone's Lick Road was rerouted down Broadway. In 1832 the first theater in the state opened here. The city later benefited from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, whose name lives on in the MKT Trail. With 126,254 residents at the 2020 census, Columbia is the fourth most populous city in Missouri and home to the University of Missouri.
Traditions today
- Candlelight Holiday: The Odyssey Chamber Music Series presents an evening of holiday chamber music at First Baptist Church on East Broadway.
- Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: The Missouri Symphony and Columbia Ballet bring Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker music and storytelling to the Missouri Theatre.
- Santa in the theater lobby: Before the symphony's holiday concert, families can take photos with Santa, browse a holiday market and sing carols.
- The name-that-tune finale: Candlelight Holiday closes with a Christmas Overture for two pianos and eight hands that hides well-known holiday melodies for listeners to spot.
- Broadway downtown: Candlelight Holiday is held on East Broadway in downtown Columbia, the street that Boone's Lick Road was rerouted along in 1821.
A fact for kids
When Columbia was laid out in 1821, the people of nearby Smithton moved their log cabins to the new town. Smithton never had more than 20 people living in it.
Questions about Christmas in Columbia
When was Columbia, Missouri founded?
Columbia was founded in 1821. It was laid out that spring after springs were found across Flat Branch Creek, and the residents of the nearby village of Smithton moved their cabins to the new town. It became the county seat the same year.
What was Smithton?
Smithton was a small cluster of log cabins set up by the Smithton Land Company around 1819, near today's Walnut and Garth. It never had more than 20 people, and digging wells through the bedrock proved difficult, so the settlers moved to Columbia.
How many people live in Columbia?
The 2020 census recorded 126,254 residents, making Columbia the fourth most populous city in Missouri. It is also described as the fastest-growing municipality in the state, with nearly 40,000 college students across its three colleges and universities.
Did Columbia have a railroad?
Yes. Columbia first benefited from being a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails and later from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. Today the city's park and trail system includes the MKT Trail, used for walking and biking.
What is Columbia's nickname?
Columbia has been known as the Athens of Missouri for its focus on education and its classic beauty, but most people simply call it CoMo. It is a Midwestern college town and home to the University of Missouri, also called MU or Mizzou.
Does it snow in Columbia at Christmas?
It can. Columbia averages about 16.5 inches of snow each season, most of it falling from December to March. January is the coldest month, with a daily average temperature of about 31 degrees Fahrenheit, so dress warmly for evening concerts.
What happens at Christmas in Columbia for kids?
This season's listings are two concerts. Candlelight Holiday is on Friday, December 11, 2026, at First Baptist Church, and Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas plays the Missouri Theatre on December 12 and 13, with photos with Santa and a holiday market beforehand.
Who organizes Columbia's Christmas concerts?
The Odyssey Chamber Music Series presents Candlelight Holiday. The Missouri Symphony, which also goes by MOSY, presents Clara's Nutcracker Dreams in collaboration with Columbia Ballet, with Wilbur Lin conducting and Jazz Rucker as vocalist.
Where do the Christmas concerts take place?
Candlelight Holiday is at First Baptist Church, 1112 E Broadway in downtown Columbia. Clara's Nutcracker Dreams is at the Missouri Theatre, 203 South 9th Street. The Missouri Theatre and the Missouri Symphony are both counted among the city's cultural institutions.
How much do children's tickets cost?
For Candlelight Holiday, tickets for children age 12 or younger are $7 and general admission is $28. For Clara's Nutcracker Dreams, children 17 and under are $10, while adult reserved seats are $39, $49 or $59, plus ticketing fees.
Sources
- Columbia, Missouri, Wikipedia
- Dec 11: Candlelight Holiday, Odyssey Chamber Music Series
- Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas, The Missouri Symphony
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 Missouri city.
Columbia Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Columbia to start with?
Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas is the most kid-centered pick, with shows on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m. at the Missouri Theatre. Older children who enjoy music may also like Candlelight Holiday on Friday, December 11.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Columbia?
Both events listed here are ticketed concerts. Children's tickets are the low-cost option: $7 for ages 12 and under at Candlelight Holiday on December 11, 2026, and $10 for ages 17 and under at Clara's Nutcracker Dreams on December 12 and 13.
Where can kids meet Santa in Columbia?
Photos with Santa are part of the pre-show fun at Clara's Nutcracker Dreams: A Missouri Christmas at the Missouri Theatre on December 12 and 13, 2026. The Missouri Symphony also lists a holiday market, lobby activities and carols before the concert, so plan to arrive early.
Are there Christmas shows for kids in Columbia?
Yes, two. The Missouri Symphony and Columbia Ballet present Clara's Nutcracker Dreams on December 12 and 13, 2026, at the Missouri Theatre. The Odyssey Chamber Music Series presents Candlelight Holiday on December 11 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church on East Broadway.
Which Columbia Christmas events need tickets?
Both do. Clara's Nutcracker Dreams uses reserved seating in three tiers, sold separately for the Saturday and Sunday performances. Candlelight Holiday tickets bought after Friday, December 4, 2026, are held at Will Call for pickup at the Broadway entrance of First Baptist Church.
What makes Christmas in downtown Columbia special?
Candlelight Holiday is at 1112 E Broadway in downtown Columbia, the street the old Boone's Lick Road was rerouted along in 1821. The Nutcracker concert, which the Missouri Symphony calls a Missouri holiday tradition, is at the Missouri Theatre on South 9th Street on December 12 and 13, 2026.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Columbia?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Missouri Christmas train rides guide. This Columbia 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.