Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Jonesboro
In Jonesboro, Christmas starts with a parade down Main Street and ends with ice skating under the downtown lights. The city mixes an old parade tradition with newer favorites like JoyFest and a drive-through light show.
2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
We are confirming this season's Christmas events in Jonesboro with every host. Subscribe and we'll email you the day they are released.
Free. One email a week with new events in Jonesboro. Unsubscribe anytime.
The story of Christmas in Jonesboro
How Jonesboro celebrates
The Jonesboro Christmas Parade is the long-running heart of the city's holiday season, and in 2025 it marked 78 years. It rolls down Main Street on the first Friday evening of December and kicks off Downtown Jonesboro JoyFest the next day. JoyFest began in 2019 as, in founder Sarah Rickert's words, a simple idea and a handful of people, and it has grown every year since. Also in 2019, Christmas at the Park opened at Joe Mack Campbell Park as a new drive-through light show. The City of Jonesboro has run a Winter Wonderland and a synthetic-ice rink downtown since about 2016.
Christmas last year in Jonesboro
In 2025 the parade rolled at 7 pm on Friday, December 5, with the theme Sweet Treats on Main Street, A Candy Christmas. On Saturday, December 6, JoyFest filled Union Park from 3 pm, with a kids' zone, local vendors and low-cost rides, and the 64-foot RightFiber Christmas tree was lit at 5:30 pm. Christmas at the Park ran from November 26 to December 23 with a half-mile drive-through display, and Winter Wonderland opened December 6 at 215 W. Monroe Avenue with free admission. Santa's North Pole on Access Road stayed open through Christmas Eve.
Fun facts about Christmas in Jonesboro
Christmas at the Park began with 37 holiday collections and 399 individual pieces, plus a lighted drive-through tunnel that one founder believed was the longest in the United States. Today the park's parks director calls the tunnel one of the largest around. JoyFest gets artificial snow, and the Wonderland Rink uses synthetic ice, so skating works even on a warm Arkansas evening. At Santa's North Pole, animatronic elves, reindeer and other animals greet visitors, and live reindeer have been part of the displays.
Trains and Christmas near Jonesboro
Trains show up in Jonesboro's Christmas in small ways. At the 2025 Winter Wonderland downtown, train rides cost $2 to $5 per person, alongside a Ferris wheel and ice skating. JoyFest has also offered a miniature train. For real rail history, the Missouri Pacific Depot Museum in Newport is the closest museum, in a 1904 depot, and the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff has steam locomotive 819. In northwest Arkansas the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad runs a Holiday Express Pajama Train.
- Missouri Pacific Depot Museum: A 1904 Missouri Pacific depot in Newport, the closest listed railroad museum to Jonesboro. Confirm hours before you go.
- Arkansas Railroad Museum: Kids can climb aboard many engines and cars, including steam locomotive 819, built in Pine Bluff in 1942.
- Arkansas & Missouri Railroad: A heritage railroad in northwest Arkansas with a Holiday Express Pajama Train. Book ahead online or by phone.
Traditions today
- Jonesboro Christmas Parade: A Main Street parade on a Friday evening in early December, with 78 years of history as of 2025.
- Downtown Jonesboro JoyFest: A free festival at Union Park with a kids' zone, vendors, rides and the lighting of a 64-foot Christmas tree, since 2019.
- Christmas at the Park: A drive-through light display at Joe Mack Campbell Park with a lighted tunnel, a photo area and Santa on select nights.
- Winter Wonderland and Wonderland Rink: A free holiday venue downtown plus a synthetic-ice rink, run by the City of Jonesboro Parks and Recreation Department.
- Santa's North Pole: A family attraction on Access Road with animatronic elves and reindeer, Santa photos and letters to Santa.
- Neighboring town parades: Nearby towns like Monette, Caraway and Bay hold their own Christmas parades in December.
A fact for kids
In Jonesboro you can ice skate in the South, because the downtown rink uses synthetic ice that stays slick even on a mild evening.
Questions about Christmas in Jonesboro
What is the longest-running Christmas tradition in Jonesboro?
The Jonesboro Christmas Parade is the longest-running Christmas tradition we found, marking 78 years in 2025. It rolls down Main Street on a Friday evening in early December and is a good first stop for families starting the holiday season.
When is the Jonesboro Christmas Parade held?
It is held on the first Friday evening of December. In 2025 it stepped off at 7 pm on Friday, December 5, and in 2024 it was on Friday, December 6. It kicks off JoyFest the next day. See our Jonesboro Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date.
Where does the Jonesboro Christmas Parade go?
The 2025 route ran north to south on Main Street and ended at Oak Avenue, with an ADA viewing area. Organizers kept the route unchanged in 2024 after checking with police, calling it the safest choice. Plan to arrive early to find a good spot along the route.
What was the 2025 parade theme?
The 2025 theme was Sweet Treats on Main Street, A Candy Christmas. The parade had more than 60 participants. Themes change every year, so kids may spot candy canes, gingerbread and other sweets on floats. It is a fun way to talk about favorite holiday treats with little ones.
What is JoyFest in Jonesboro?
Downtown Jonesboro JoyFest is a free Christmas festival held the day after the parade at Union Park. It has live music, local vendors, a kids' zone and low-cost rides, and it ends with a Christmas tree lighting. In 2025 it began at 3 pm with the tree lit at 5:30 pm.
When did JoyFest start?
JoyFest began in 2019, which makes 2026 its eighth year. Founder Sarah Rickert said it started as a simple idea with a handful of people. It has grown every year since, and the festival now fills Union Park the day after the parade.
How big is the JoyFest Christmas tree?
The 2025 tree was a 64-foot RightFiber Christmas tree, lit at 5:30 pm on Saturday, December 6. One family led the lighting, with a grandfather and his grandsons. Kids can see it glow over Union Park, and artificial snow adds to the winter feeling for the evening.
What activities do kids enjoy at JoyFest?
JoyFest has a kids' zone, a Christmas village with vendors, Snowflake Lane, stage entertainment and low-cost rides. The 2025 lineup listed a Ferris wheel, teacups, a miniature train, an ice rink and a carousel. Admission to the festival is free, so families pay only for rides and treats.
What is Christmas at the Park in Jonesboro?
It is a drive-through light display at Joe Mack Campbell Park, 600 Harry Drive. The 2025 season ran from November 26 to December 23 with a half-mile route, a photo area and Santa on select nights. Families drive through a lighted tunnel and past large holiday scenes.
When did Christmas at the Park start?
It was announced as a new tradition in July 2019 and opened to the public that November. Its founders included Adam Sartin, and sponsors included the City of Jonesboro and Arkansas State University. The first display had 37 holiday collections and 399 individual pieces, plus a lighted tunnel.
Is the Christmas at the Park tunnel really the longest?
At the start in 2019, a founder believed the drive-through lighted tunnel was the longest in the United States, though that was his belief rather than a record. In 2025 the parks director called it one of the largest tunnels around, which is also a description rather than a measured record.
What are the Winter Wonderland and Wonderland Rink?
Winter Wonderland is a free Christmas venue for kids at 215 W. Monroe Avenue, and the First Community Bank Wonderland Rink is a synthetic-ice rink beside it. In 2025 the Wonderland opened December 6 and ran through December 23, with the rink open until December 31.
How long has Jonesboro had an ice rink at Christmas?
The downtown rink started around 2016. In 2018 the mayor called it the third year of the skating rink and said it was becoming a Jonesboro tradition. The rink is synthetic ice donated by First Community Bank, so it works in mild Arkansas weather.
Does it snow in Jonesboro at Christmas?
Real snow is not something families can count on in Jonesboro, so the city makes its own. JoyFest has artificial snow, and the Wonderland Rink uses synthetic ice. Kids can still skate and play in snow at the festival, even on a mild evening, which makes the season feel wintry.
What is Santa's North Pole in Jonesboro?
Santa's North Pole is a family attraction at 4502 Access Road. The 2025 season ran through Christmas Eve. It has animatronic elves, reindeer and other animals, Santa photos, letters to Santa and live reindeer displays. It also hosted a sensory night with Ag for Autism.
How can I explain Christmas lights to a toddler?
Say that Jonesboro families switch on lights so the long December nights feel bright and friendly. At Christmas at the Park, kids ride in the car through a glowing tunnel, which feels like a magic trip. Counting reindeer and snowflakes along the way keeps little ones engaged.
Do nearby towns have Christmas parades?
Yes. In 2025 Monette held its Mega Merry Christmas Parade on December 13 at 3 pm, Caraway held a parade and Christmas in the Park on December 19, and the City of Bay held its parade on December 20. All were free. See our Jonesboro Christmas events guide on this page for this year's lineup.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Jonesboro?
The biggest tree is the 64-foot RightFiber tree at JoyFest in Union Park, lit on the first Saturday of December. In 2025 the lighting was at 5:30 pm. Christmas at the Park also has a large tree in its display. Our Jonesboro Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
Are there Christmas concerts or shows for families in Jonesboro?
Yes. In 2025 the Delta Symphony Orchestra played Enchanted by the Sounds of Christmas on December 14 at the Fowler Center, with a sing-along led by Santa. The Foundation of Arts staged Elf: The Musical, Jr. December 19 to 22 at the Forum Theater. See our Jonesboro Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
Where can kids see trains near Jonesboro at Christmas?
The closest listed railroad museum is the Missouri Pacific Depot Museum in Newport, in a 1904 depot, though hours are not posted online. The Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff has steam locomotive 819, and Winter Wonderland downtown offered train rides at $2 to $5 per person in 2025.
Sources
- Jonesboro Rolls Out Full 2025 Holiday Season Lineup With Parades, Lights, Concerts and Family Events, NEA Report
- No changes planned for Christmas parade route, KAIT
- Community members enjoy opening night of Christmas at The Park, KAIT
- Joy Fest preparations underway in downtown Jonesboro, KAIT
- Christmas at the Park coming to Jonesboro, KAIT
- Christmas Guide 2025: holiday events across Jonesboro, Jonesboro Right Now
- JoyFest brings holiday magic to downtown Jonesboro, KAIT
- Santa's North Pole opens for Christmas season in Jonesboro, KAIT
- Missouri Pacific Depot Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Arkansas Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
- City of Jonesboro announces Winter Wonderland ice skating rink dates, KASU