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Christmas with kids in Gastonia
Gastonia's Christmas parade is the only one from the city's past that has lasted six decades. It still rolls down Main Avenue, and these days it ends at a tree lighting and a lively marketplace.
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The story of Christmas in Gastonia
How Gastonia celebrates
Gastonia's Christmas parade began at least 65 years before the city wrote about it, and the Gaston County Jaycees began sponsoring it in the 1950s. It started on Main Avenue, moved to Franklin Boulevard for a time, and later returned to Main Avenue, where organizers felt it was friendlier. A Holidays in the City fundraiser was added in the 1990s, and Keep Gastonia Beautiful began a tree lighting in 2007. In 2016 the City Council combined the marketplace, parade and tree lighting into Christmas in the City.
Christmas last year in Gastonia
Christmas in the City was held on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 5 to 8 pm. The marketplace and entertainment opened at the Rotary Pavilion at 5 pm, the Jaycees parade headed east on Main Avenue at 5 pm, and the Keep Gastonia Beautiful tree lighting followed at the pavilion. The day before, Gastonia Parks and Recreation hosted Breakfast with Santa at Rankin Lake Clubhouse from 8 to 9 am, with waffles, grits and fruit salad, and a free Santa at the Lake photo event on the pier from 10 am to noon.
Fun facts about Christmas in Gastonia
Gastonia once had other parades, but they celebrated the end of major wars and honored the textile industry. The Christmas parade is the only one from the city's past to keep going for six decades, and it has rarely been canceled, once for icy rain and once in 2020. In a past year the marketplace had a trackless train, letters to Santa, a coloring booth, carolers and a stilt-walking elf. At the Rankin Lake breakfast in 2025, every child ticket included a small gift.
Traditions today
- Christmas in the City: A downtown Gastonia evening with a Jaycees parade, a marketplace and a tree lighting at the Rotary Pavilion.
- Gaston County Jaycees Christmas Parade: A parade down Main Avenue that the Jaycees have sponsored since the 1950s.
- Keep Gastonia Beautiful tree lighting: A tree lighting that began in 2007 and now follows the parade at the Rotary Pavilion.
- Breakfast with Santa at Rankin Lake: A Parks and Recreation breakfast with Santa, waffles and a small gift for each child.
- Santa at the Lake: Free photos with Santa on the Rankin Lake pier, with the clubhouse as the rain location.
- Holidays at the Garden: A seasonal display with Santa visits and lights in nearby Belmont at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
A fact for kids
Gastonia's Christmas parade has been rolling down Main Avenue since the 1950s, and it is the only parade from the city's past to last six decades.
Questions about Christmas in Gastonia
How old is the Gastonia Christmas parade?
It is more than 60 years old. The city says the parade began at least 65 years before its history article, possibly earlier, and the Gaston County Jaycees began sponsoring it in the 1950s. It is the only parade from Gastonia's past that has lasted six decades, and it has rarely been canceled.
Where is the Gastonia Christmas parade held?
It is held on Main Avenue in downtown Gastonia. The parade first used Main Avenue, then moved to Franklin Boulevard, and later returned to Main Avenue because organizers felt it was friendlier there. In 2025 it headed east on Main Avenue at 5 pm on December 7.
Who runs the Gastonia Christmas parade?
The Gaston County Jaycees sponsor the parade, and they began in the 1950s. Since 2016 the City of Gastonia has combined the parade with a marketplace and a tree lighting under the name Christmas in the City, with the Jaycees still in charge of the parade itself. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page has this season's details.
What is Christmas in the City in Gastonia?
Christmas in the City is Gastonia's downtown holiday evening that combines the Jaycees parade, a marketplace and a tree lighting. The City Council merged the three into one event in 2016. In 2025 it took place December 7 from 5 to 8 pm. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page has this season's date.
When did Gastonia start its tree lighting?
Keep Gastonia Beautiful began the tree lighting ceremony in 2007. Since the 2016 merger, the lighting happens right after the parade at the Rotary Pavilion. In 2025 it followed the parade on December 7. The pavilion is downtown, near Main Avenue and South Street, so families can stay after the parade for the lights.
What is the Holidays in the City fundraiser?
Holidays in the City was a fundraiser for local charities that was added in the 1990s. It is part of how the parade grew from one evening into a bigger season. In 2016 the City Council combined the parade, marketplace and tree lighting into Christmas in the City, which is still held downtown.
What happened at Christmas in the City last year?
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the marketplace and entertainment opened at the Rotary Pavilion at 5 pm, the Jaycees parade headed east on Main Avenue at 5 pm, and the tree lighting followed. Event hours were 5 to 8 pm, and CaroMont Health was the sponsor.
Can kids meet Santa in Gastonia?
Yes. In 2025 Gastonia Parks and Recreation hosted Breakfast with Santa at Rankin Lake Clubhouse on December 6 and a free Santa at the Lake photo event on the pier that morning. Christmas in the City has also had Santa at the Rotary Pavilion in past years. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
What is Breakfast with Santa at Rankin Lake?
It is a Gastonia Parks and Recreation breakfast at Rankin Lake Clubhouse. In 2025 it ran from 8 to 9 am on December 6, with waffles, grits and fruit salad. Children's tickets covered ages 16 and under and included a small gift, and tickets were sold online through Eventeny with registration closing in mid November.
What is Santa at the Lake?
Santa at the Lake is a free Gastonia Parks and Recreation event where families take photos with Santa at the lakefront viewing pier at Rankin Lake. In 2025 it ran from 10 am to noon on December 6, with the clubhouse as the rain location. It followed Breakfast with Santa that same morning at the clubhouse.
What fun things has the Christmas in the City marketplace had for kids?
In a past year the marketplace had free face painting, inflatables, a trackless train, letters to Santa, a coloring booth, carolers and a stilt-walking elf, plus craft and business vendors and food trucks. Activities change from year to year. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page lists what is planned this season.
Does Santa come to the Gastonia tree lighting?
In 2023 Santa was at the Rotary Pavilion from 3 to 4:30 pm for photos and left after the tree lighting. Details change each year, so check the city's announcements. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's schedule, including whether Santa is part of the evening.
How can I explain the Christmas parade to a toddler?
Tell your child that a long line of bands, floats and Santa's friends will walk down Main Avenue, just like Gastonia has done for over 60 years. Bring a blanket, snacks and ear protection for loud bands, and plan to stay for the tree lighting at the Rotary Pavilion afterward.
Were there other parades in Gastonia's history?
Yes. Earlier Gastonia parades celebrated the end of major wars and honored the textile industry. Those parades did not last, but the Christmas parade did. That makes it a good way to tell kids how people in Gastonia have gathered on Main Avenue over the years.
Has the Gastonia Christmas parade ever been canceled?
Rarely. The city says it was canceled once because of icy rain and again in 2020 because of COVID-19. Otherwise it has run each year for more than 60 years. If you plan to attend, check the weather and the city's announcements, since winter evenings can be cold and rainy.
Where can kids see a Christmas tree lit in Gastonia?
Kids can see Gastonia's tree lit at the Rotary Pavilion, 107 N South St, right after the Christmas parade. The Keep Gastonia Beautiful ceremony began in 2007 and in 2025 followed the parade on December 7. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's date and time.
Is there a Christmas market in Gastonia?
Yes. The City of Gastonia hosts a marketplace near the Rotary Pavilion as part of Christmas in the City, with craft and business vendors and food trucks, according to the city's past announcements. The marketplace opened at 5 pm on December 7 in 2025. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page has this season's details.
Are there Christmas lights and Santa near Gastonia?
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in nearby Belmont opened its Holidays at the Garden on November 28, 2025, with Santa visits and lights, according to a local roundup. It is a short drive from Gastonia, and tickets were sold online. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's nearby options.
Is there a cookies and milk event with Santa in Gastonia?
There was one in 2025. Cookies and Milk with Santa took place on Sunday, December 14, from 1 to 3 pm at Dirty Bull Brewing on South Trenton Street, with free admission, photos with Santa and cookies and milk. It was described as family and pet friendly. Our Gastonia Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's Santa events.
Why is Christmas in Gastonia different from other cities?
Gastonia's Christmas is built around one long-running parade. The Jaycees have sponsored it since the 1950s, the city combined a marketplace and tree lighting with it in 2016, and Parks and Recreation adds Santa at the lake. Kids can see how an old parade has grown into a bigger evening downtown.
Sources
- History of Gastonia Christmas parade, City of Gastonia
- 24 holiday events in Gaston County, Cardinal Pine
- Christmas in the City, Eventeny
- Breakfast with Santa, Eventeny
- Santa at the Lake, Go Gaston
- Christmas in the City, December 3, City of Gastonia
- Cookies and Milk with Santa, Go Gaston