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Christmas with kids in Meridian
In Meridian, Christmas fills a historic mansion with more than 70 trees. At the same time, a decorated holiday train rolls into Union Station every year so thousands of kids can step aboard and meet Santa.
2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
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Already confirmed in Meridian
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Sundays with Santa
When: Sun, Dec 6, 2 to 4 pm (another December Sunday also posted)
Where: Mississippi Children's Museum Meridian, Meridian
Cost: Included with museum admission
The story of Christmas in Meridian
How Meridian celebrates
Meridian's best-known Christmas tradition is the Trees of Christmas at Merrehope, an 1859 mansion. The 2025 show was the 57th annual, which puts its start around 1969. The Holiday Express train has visited Union Station for free tours since about 2001, with Santa and elves aboard. Each year the city lights its tree on the City Hall lawn, and the Merry Meridian Christmas Parade rolls through downtown, with the Miss Merry Meridian Pageant crowning winners. A community trail of events runs for weeks, from gift bazaars to the Nutcracker ballet.
Christmas last year in Meridian
Merrehope opened its 57th Trees of Christmas on Sunday, November 23, 2025, with over 70 decorated trees and displays, and stayed open through December 31. It added Cocoa and Cookies with Mrs. Claus and Pictures with Santa on December 7. The most recent city coverage we found is from 2024: the tree lighting on December 3, with a 30-foot tree, caroling and ballet dancers on the City Hall lawn, and the CPKC Holiday Express on December 1 from 4 to 8 p.m., with free tours, Santa and elves on board.
Fun facts about Christmas in Meridian
In 2014 the Holiday Express drew over 4,000 visitors, and in 2023 nearly 3,900 people toured it, some waiting two hours. Over 22 years it raised more than $3.1 million for the Meridian Salvation Army. The 2019 Christmas parade had the theme "Parade of Toys," and officials expected 3,000 to 5,000 spectators. In 2016 the parade had nearly 80 floats, and Santa's Christmas Factory offered a mini-train ride, snow flurries and lights at Soule' Steam Works.
Trains and Christmas in Meridian
Meridian is a railroad town, and Christmas arrives by rail. During the 2023 Holiday Express stop at Union Station, the Meridian Railroad Museum opened for free tours, with hot chocolate, kiddie train rides and a visit from Mrs. Claus. The museum sits in a 1906 freight station beside the Norfolk Southern mainline. Farther south, Hattiesburg's restored 1910 depot still serves Amtrak riders and has two retired engines resting outside.
- Meridian Railroad Museum: A volunteer-built museum in a 1906 freight station beside the mainline, with wooden train sets for kids.
- Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot: A restored 1910 station that still serves Amtrak, with two retired engines to see outside.
Traditions today
- Trees of Christmas at Merrehope: More than 70 decorated trees fill a 20-room mansion built in 1859, a tradition since about 1969.
- The Holiday Express train: A decorated train with Santa and elves stops at Union Station for free tours, and donations help local families.
- City Hall tree lighting: Meridian lights a tall tree on the City Hall lawn with carols and dancers every year.
- Merry Meridian Christmas Parade: A downtown evening parade with floats, bands and dancers.
- Cocoa and Cookies with Mrs. Claus: A Merrehope afternoon with treats and a tour of the Trees of Christmas.
A fact for kids
In Meridian, a Christmas train stops at the station so kids can walk through it. Santa and his elves ride along, and the tours are free.
Questions about Christmas in Meridian
What is Trees of Christmas at Merrehope?
It is Meridian's best-known Christmas tradition, an exhibit of over 70 decorated trees and imaginative displays created by decorators, artists and volunteers from Mississippi and across the South. It fills the 20-room Merrehope mansion each winter and raises money for the Meridian Restoration Foundation's preservation work.
How long has Trees of Christmas been held at Merrehope?
The 2025 show was the 57th annual, so it began around 1969. Merrehope says the holiday event has been held for more than five decades. In 2016 the 48th annual show opened on November 20, which matches. The exhibit usually runs from late November through December 31.
What is Merrehope?
Merrehope is a 20-room Neoclassical Revival mansion in Meridian, built in 1859. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Mississippi Landmark. The Meridian Restoration Foundation runs it, and the Trees of Christmas helps pay for preserving the house.
What happened at Merrehope's Trees of Christmas last year?
The 57th Trees of Christmas opened on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. with an unveiling celebration and ran through December 31. It was open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., and it was nominated for USA Today's 10Best Historic Home Holiday Tours.
Are there kids' events at Merrehope at Christmas?
Yes. In 2025 Merrehope held Cocoa and Cookies with Mrs. Claus and Pictures with Santa on December 7. In earlier years, a children's ticket for the cocoa event cost $5 and included the Trees of Christmas tour. Our Meridian Christmas events guide on this page has this season's confirmed dates.
What is the Holiday Express train in Meridian?
It is a decorated Christmas train from CPKC, formerly Kansas City Southern, that stops at Meridian's Union Station for free tours. Santa and elves are on board, and donations go to local charities. The 2024 stop was on Sunday, December 1, from 4 to 8 p.m.
How long has the Holiday Express come to Meridian?
The Holiday Express has visited Meridian since about 2001. The 2016 stop was the 16th annual one, and in 2023 the Meridian Salvation Army said it had received money from the train over 22 years. The train began under Kansas City Southern, which is now part of CPKC.
How many people visit the Holiday Express in Meridian?
Thousands. In 2014 the stop drew over 4,000 visitors, and on Sunday, November 26, 2023, staff counted nearly 3,900 despite cooler weather. Some people waited up to two hours to tour the six-car train, so families should arrive early and dress warmly.
Where do Holiday Express donations go in Meridian?
They go to the Meridian Salvation Army, which has received over $3.1 million from the Holiday Express over 22 years, according to a 2023 report. In 2016 the train donated $153,290 in gift cards for warm clothing and other necessities for children. In 2024, CPKC said it donates to local food banks at each stop.
When is the Meridian Christmas tree lit?
The City of Meridian holds an annual tree lighting on the City Hall lawn, usually in late November or early December. In 2024 it was Tuesday, December 3, with caroling and ballet by the Carol Merrill Academy of Dance. See our Meridian Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date.
How tall is Meridian's Christmas tree?
Recent reports describe a 30-foot tree in 2024. Earlier coverage called it a 34-foot animated tree in 2016 and 2023, and one 2023 quote said 30 feet, so reports vary. The tree is lit on the City Hall lawn, and new decorations were added around City Hall, Dumont Plaza and Union Station in 2024.
What happened at Meridian's tree lighting in 2024?
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, crowds braved cold weather at City Hall to see a 30-foot tree lit after caroling and ballet performances by the Carol Merrill Academy of Dance. The city had also installed new holiday decorations around City Hall, Dumont Plaza and Union Station.
What is the Merry Meridian Christmas Parade?
It is a downtown evening parade, held on a Saturday in early December, with floats, marching bands, dancers and Santa. The 2016 parade had nearly 80 floats, and the 2019 parade expected 3,000 to 5,000 spectators and about 40 entries. Check the host's page for this year's start time.
What themes has the Meridian Christmas Parade had?
Themes change each year. The 2016 season was called "A Hometown Christmas," the 2019 parade was "Parade of Toys," and the 2023 parade was "Candy Cane Christmas." Each theme gives floats and families a fun idea for costumes and decorations.
What is the Miss Merry Meridian Pageant?
It is an annual pageant, part of Meridian's weeks-long Merry Meridian celebration. The winners are recognized at the City Hall tree lighting, and in 2017 Lanie Williams and Lilly Grace Williams were honored as that year's winners. In 2016 the pageant was held on November 19 at Union Station.
How can I explain the Holiday Express to my kids?
Tell them a special Christmas train visits Meridian, and Santa and elves ride along. Kids can walk through the decorated cars for free, and the Meridian Railroad Museum opened for tours during the 2023 stop. The train makes about 20 stops in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas each year, so Meridian's stop is a treat.
Where can kids see a giant Christmas tree in Meridian?
The city's big tree stands on the City Hall lawn, where it was lit on December 3, 2024. Merrehope also fills a historic mansion with more than 70 decorated trees. For this season's confirmed dates, see our Meridian Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Meridian?
Downtown Meridian lights up around City Hall, Dumont Plaza and Union Station, where new holiday decorations were installed in 2024. Merrehope's mansion is also decorated for Christmas. Our Meridian Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates and times for the lights and trees.
Where can kids see trains in Meridian at Christmas?
The Meridian Railroad Museum, in a 1906 freight station beside the Norfolk Southern mainline, has wooden train sets for kids and three retired pieces of rolling stock. During the 2023 Holiday Express it opened for free tours with kiddie train rides and Mrs. Claus. Hours are not posted, so check its Facebook page first.
Where does the Holiday Express stop in Meridian?
The Holiday Express stops at Union Station in Meridian, at 1901 Front Street, according to a 2016 report. Tours are free, and children can see the decorated cars and pose with Santa and the elves. In 2024 the stop ran from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, December 1.
Sources
- Merrehope Trees of Christmas press release, Merrehope
- Train, Santa factory, parade usher Christmas into Meridian, The Meridian Star
- Thousands turn out to tour Holiday Express Train stop in Meridian, The Meridian Star
- Holiday Express returning to Meridian, WTOK
- Annual Christmas tree lighting draws crowds, The Meridian Star
- Christmas tree lighting lights up holiday season in Meridian, The Meridian Star
- Merry week of activities starts with downtown Meridian tree lighting, WTOK
- Meridian Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Host of events planned for Merry Meridian, The Meridian Star
- Tree lighting ceremony in Meridian brightens holiday season, The Meridian Star
- Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot, Rally Takes the Train