The Huntington area has 2 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Santa's Grand Arrival in Barboursville on November 7 to Santa PJ Party in Barboursville, on December 17. 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 West Virginia, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 2 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Huntington for 2026, in Barboursville
- First: Santa's Grand Arrival, Barboursville, November 7. Runs latest: Santa PJ Party, Barboursville, through December 17
- Free: Santa's Grand Arrival
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Barboursville
2 confirmed events for kids in Barboursville, soonest first.
Santa visitFree
Santa's Grand Arrival
- When: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 am to noon
- Where: Huntington Mall, Center Court, Barboursville
- Cost: Free
Details, tips and host
Santa's Grand Arrival opens the holiday season at Huntington Mall with a morning of free entertainment in Center Court. The program starts at 10 am with welcomes, dance class performances, a guitar performance, giveaways and the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign kick-off. Santa makes his entrance at 11 am aboard the All Smiles Aboard Trackless Train, and at 11:30 am Huntington Dance Theater presents selections from The Nutcracker.
Children could enter a Ride with Santa contest for a chance to ride alongside him during the arrival, with winners announced November 5. After the arrival, Santa keeps regular mall hours for visits and photos: Saturdays 11 am to 8 pm, Sundays noon to 5 pm and weekdays noon to 7 pm.
Parent tip: Arrive before 11 am to see Santa's entrance. Refreshments are announced near the end of the program.
- Host
- Huntington Mall (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Huntington Mall, Center Court, 500 Mall Road, Barboursville, WV 25504 (near Huntington)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Story time with Santa
Santa PJ Party
- When: Thursday, December 17, 2026, 7 to 8 pm
- Where: Huntington Mall, Center Court, Barboursville
- Cost: Not stated
- Ages: Fun for the whole family
Details, tips and host
Huntington Mall's Santa PJ Party is a cozy evening in Center Court built around a Story Time with Santa, when little ones gather to hear a festive tale read by Santa himself. Families are encouraged to wear their favorite holiday pajamas. The Appalachian Bells open with a high-energy holiday handbell routine, and the Huntington Mall Fashion Advisory Board hosts festive crafts for kids.
The Salvation Army provides cookies and warm cocoa, and the night ends with Santa's living room turned into a winter wonderland with an indoor snowfall. The mall notes that events can change without notice, so it is worth checking the page before you head out. The mall sits at 500 Mall Road just off I-64 in Barboursville, a short drive east of downtown Huntington.
Parent tip: The mall's event page says December 17 at 7 pm while its event list shows December 18, so confirm the date with the mall office (304-733-0492) before you go.
- Host
- Huntington Mall (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Huntington Mall, Center Court, 500 Mall Road, Barboursville, WV 25504 (near Huntington)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Huntington? 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 West Virginia Christmas train rides page.
Huntington Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 2 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Barboursville
- Season
- November 7 to December 17, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- Santa visit and story time with Santa
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Huntington Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Santa's Grand Arrival in Barboursville on November 7; the last runs to December 17. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Santa's Grand ArrivalBarboursville · Nov 7
- Santa PJ PartyBarboursville · Dec 17
Looking further afield? Our West Virginia Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Charleston, WV and Wheeling. 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 Huntington
In Huntington, Christmas arrives in a string of lights. A Ritter Park display, a downtown tree lighting and a Parade of Lights all switch on within about a week, and Santa shows up at the park and at the end of the parade.
How Huntington celebrates
Huntington spreads its Christmas kickoff across three annual events. The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District hosts a lighting ceremony at the Ritter Park Fountain, where new pieces are added to the park's Christmas light display. The City of Huntington holds a tree lighting ceremony downtown, and Downtown Huntington Partners presents the Christmas Parade of Lights, which in 2023 ran along Fourth Avenue. Downtown decorations have grown over time too: in 2015 the Huntington Municipal Development Authority bought $55,700 of wreaths, lighted snowflakes and giant ball ornaments for Third and Fourth Avenues.
Christmas last year in Huntington
The 2025 season began on Monday, November 24, at Ritter Park, where a free, one-hour ceremony with the tagline "New year, new lights!" offered performances, warm drinks, cookies, crafts and a visit from Santa. The next evening the city lit its tree at the arena plaza, with dance groups performing and expanded light displays at Pullman Square and downtown. On December 2 a snowstorm did not stop the Parade of Lights, which had more than 70 units and ended with Santa.
Fun facts about Christmas in Huntington
Huntington's 2025 parade was led by police and fire units, with Mayor Patrick Farrell as grand marshal, and an antique fire truck took first place in the emergency category. After Santa heard children's wishes at the end of the parade, families headed to Pullman Square and The Market for hot chocolate. In 2015 the city lit a new 22-foot artificial tree on December 1, with the Huntington Dance Theatre and the Cabell Midland Show Choir performing. The 2023 parade could be watched on a livestream.
Trains and Christmas near Huntington
Huntington has long been a railroad town, and kids can see that history at the Huntington Railroad Museum, an outdoor C&O rail display at 14th Street West and Memorial Boulevard with an operating hand pump car. Call ahead before visiting, since summer afternoons have been the usual hours. Farther away, the Hinton Railroad Museum shows early Chesapeake and Ohio Railway history with model trains, and the Princeton Railroad Museum has a restored caboose and a play corner where kids build track.
- Huntington Railroad Museum: An outdoor C&O rail display right in Huntington, with an operating hand pump car.
- Hinton Railroad Museum: A small downtown museum about the early Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, with model trains and old photos.
- Princeton Railroad Museum: A friendly museum with restored caboose No. 308 and a play corner where kids build track.
Traditions today
- Ritter Park lighting ceremony: A free evening at the Ritter Park Fountain that unveils new additions to the Christmas light display, with performances, crafts, cookies and Santa.
- City of Huntington tree lighting: An annual downtown ceremony with local dance groups and a lit tree at the arena plaza.
- Christmas Parade of Lights: Downtown Huntington Partners presents an evening parade with floats, school groups and Santa at the end.
- Downtown light displays: Lights at Pullman Square and along downtown streets grow bigger each season.
- Hot chocolate at Pullman Square: After Santa closes the parade, families head to Pullman Square and The Market for a warm drink.
- Dance performances: Local dance academies and choirs perform at the tree lighting each year.
A fact for kids
In Huntington, Santa comes last. At the end of the Christmas Parade of Lights he listens to children's wishes, and then families go for hot chocolate.
Questions about Christmas in Huntington
What are the main Christmas traditions in Huntington, West Virginia?
The main traditions are the Ritter Park lighting ceremony, the City of Huntington tree lighting and the Christmas Parade of Lights downtown. Together they bring performances, new light displays and a visit from Santa, and they all happen close together around the end of November and the start of December.
Where is the Ritter Park lighting ceremony?
It is held at the Ritter Park Fountain, at 13th Avenue and 10th Street in Huntington. In 2025 it ran from 6 to 7 p.m. on November 24, it was free, and it was hosted by the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District. Check our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
What happens at the Ritter Park Christmas lighting?
The ceremony unveils new additions to the Ritter Park Christmas light display. In 2025 the evening also included special performances, warm drinks and cookies, crafts, photo opportunities and a visit from Santa Claus, which makes it an easy, relaxed outing for young children.
Where does Huntington light its downtown Christmas tree?
The City of Huntington held its 2025 Tree Lighting Ceremony on a Tuesday evening at the Marshall Health Network Arena Plaza downtown. Local dance groups performed, and expanded light displays at Pullman Square and across downtown were lit for the season. See our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page for details.
When is the Huntington Christmas Parade of Lights?
It has been held on a Tuesday evening in early December. The 2025 parade was on December 2 and the 2023 parade was on December 5, with a 6:30 p.m. start that year. Our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page lists the current date and route.
Who organizes the Huntington Christmas parade?
Downtown Huntington Partners Inc. hosted the 2025 Christmas Parade of Lights, according to the Herald-Dispatch. In 2023 local news described the parade as hosted by the city of Huntington, so the organizers have been described differently by different outlets over the years.
How big is the Huntington Christmas parade?
More than 70 units took part in the 2025 Parade of Lights. Huntington police and fire units led the way, Mayor Patrick Farrell served as grand marshal, and categories included emergency services, businesses, and community, dance and cheer groups. Santa closed the parade.
Does the Huntington parade still run in bad weather?
In 2025 it did. A snowstorm and freezing temperatures hit earlier that day, but the Parade of Lights still stepped off as scheduled on December 2. If you go with young kids, plan warm layers, boots and a way to warm up afterward.
Does Santa come to Huntington?
Yes. Santa visited the Ritter Park lighting ceremony in 2025 and closed the Christmas Parade of Lights, where he heard children's wishes. Because he appears at more than one event, families have a few chances to see him if a crowd or a bedtime gets in the way.
Where can we get hot chocolate after the Huntington parade?
After the 2025 parade, families went to Pullman Square and The Market for hot chocolate once Santa finished hearing children's wishes. Pullman Square also has expanded light displays, so it is a natural spot to warm up and keep looking at lights. Check our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page.
How have Huntington's downtown decorations changed?
They have grown over the years. In 2015 the Huntington Municipal Development Authority bought $55,700 of wreaths, lighted snowflakes and giant ball ornaments for Third and Fourth Avenues. In 2025 the city reported expanded light displays at Pullman Square and throughout the downtown district.
How tall is the Huntington Christmas tree?
The height of the 2025 tree was not reported, so we cannot say. What we do know is that in 2015 the city lit a new 22-foot artificial tree on December 1, with the Huntington Dance Theatre and the Cabell Midland Show Choir performing.
How can I explain a tree lighting ceremony to my kids?
Tell them the whole town gathers in the cold to switch on the lights together, like a giant night light. In Huntington there are dancers and choirs first, so kids can watch performances while they wait for the countdown and the lights.
How can I explain a parade of lights to a toddler?
Say it is a parade that happens at night, so everything glows. Police and fire trucks lead, then groups march by, and Santa comes last. Huntington's 2025 parade had more than 70 entries, so there is a lot to point at and name.
Is the Ritter Park lighting good for little kids?
It is aimed at families, it is free and it lasts only an hour, from 6 to 7 p.m. in 2025. There are crafts, cookies, warm drinks and Santa, so toddlers have plenty to do. Our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page has the current year's details.
Which parts of downtown Huntington have Christmas lights?
Local news in 2025 named Pullman Square and the wider downtown district for expanded light displays, and the tree lighting took place at the arena plaza. In 2015 decorations lined Third and Fourth Avenues. Check our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page for what is lit this year.
Where can kids see trains in Huntington?
The Huntington Railroad Museum is an outdoor C&O rail display at 14th Street West and Memorial Boulevard, next to Safety Town. It has an operating hand pump car. Summer afternoons have been the usual hours, so call ahead before driving over, especially in winter.
Are there other railroad museums near Huntington?
In West Virginia, the Hinton Railroad Museum focuses on the early Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, with model trains and old photos. The Princeton Railroad Museum honors the Virginian Railway with caboose No. 308 and a play corner for kids. Both are a drive away, so check hours first.
Is the Huntington Railroad Museum open at Christmas?
Its hours are not posted online beyond summer afternoons being the norm, so it may not be open in December. It is an outdoor display, so calling ahead is the safest plan. You can still see it from the street, and our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page lists current options.
What is the best way to start a Huntington Christmas visit with kids?
Pick one event rather than all three. The Ritter Park ceremony is short and free, the tree lighting has performers, and the Parade of Lights ends with Santa and hot chocolate. Our Huntington Christmas events guide on this page lists this year's dates so you can choose.
Sources
- Tree lighting ceremony celebrated at Ritter Park, WSAZ
- Ritter Park Lighting Ceremony, Huntington Area CVB
- Huntington Christmas Parade brings lights, candy and joy to downtown, The Herald-Dispatch
- With a flip of a switch and a flurry of snow, city lights Christmas tree, The Herald-Dispatch
- Huntington to host Christmas Parade of Lights on Tuesday, WCHS
- Huntington city workers install new Christmas decorations, WCHS
- Huntington Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Hinton Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Princeton Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
Huntington Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Huntington this year?
We confirmed 2 for the 2026 season, and 1 of them are free. Good places to start: Santa PJ Party (Dec 17) and Santa's Grand Arrival (Nov 7). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Huntington?
Yes, 1 of the 2. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.
Where can kids meet Santa in Huntington?
2 events here include a visit with Santa. Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.
Are there Christmas story times for kids in Huntington?
Yes. Library story times are usually free and walk-in; ones with a meal or a show are ticketed.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 1 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 Huntington?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Huntington 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.