Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Murfreesboro
In Murfreesboro, Christmas starts on the historic courthouse square, where a three-story tree stands beside the Rutherford County Courthouse. Santa and Mrs. Claus switch on the lights while school choirs sing and carriages circle the square.
2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
We are confirming this season's Christmas events in Murfreesboro with every host. Subscribe and we'll email you the day they are released.
Free. One email a week with new events in Murfreesboro. Unsubscribe anytime.
The story of Christmas in Murfreesboro
How Murfreesboro celebrates
Murfreesboro's Christmas begins on the Public Square beside the historic Rutherford County Courthouse. Main Street Murfreesboro organizes the annual tree lighting, which locals call a cherished holiday tradition, and Middle Tennessee Electric presents it. The city's Christmas parade rolls on the second Sunday of December, starting on East Main Street near MTSU and ending on Walnut Street, one block past the Square. Cannonsburgh Village, a six-acre living history village near downtown, opens in the evenings for a Christmas celebration with holiday lights. Sources do not say exactly when these traditions began.
Christmas last year in Murfreesboro
On Friday, December 5, 2025, the Square filled with families for the tree lighting. Children's crafts, games and free hot cocoa started at 6 p.m., followed by school choirs, student bands and dancers on stage. Santa and Mrs. Claus lit the three-story tree, and free photos with Santa went on inside the courthouse. The Christmas parade followed on Sunday, December 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. with the theme A Sweet Christmas. Cannonsburgh opened on three December weekends from 4 to 8 p.m., and Santa greeted visitors at Stones River Town Center from November 28 through Christmas Eve.
Fun facts about Christmas in Murfreesboro
The Murfreesboro tree stands about three stories tall on the east side of the courthouse. At the 2025 lighting, Santa lit it himself, with horse-drawn carriage rides circling the Square afterward. Cannonsburgh kept evening tickets at $5 for adults, and children ages 5 and under got in free. Stones River Town Center held a Pajama Night, a Santa Paws night for pet photos, a Cowboy Santa night and two sensory-friendly Caring Santa mornings. Free photos with Santa also continued on Saturdays at the courthouse in December 2025.
Trains and Christmas near Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro's holiday traditions are rooted in the courthouse square, but train fans have good day trips from here. The Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville is volunteer-run, and its real exhibit is the train: stainless steel streamliners that once ran on named passenger trains. Cowan Railroad Museum, a small depot museum, has a rare 1920 steam engine and a caboose beside an active CSX mainline. Farther away in Chattanooga, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum lets families see vintage coaches, a turntable and a restoration shop.
- Tennessee Central Railway Museum: The closest of the three, a volunteer-run museum built around stainless steel streamliner passenger cars.
- Cowan Railroad Museum: A small depot museum with a 1920 steam engine and a caboose, right beside a working mainline.
- Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: A museum in motion, with vintage coaches, a turntable and a model railroad for little train fans.
Traditions today
- Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting: Santa and Mrs. Claus light a three-story tree beside the historic courthouse while school choirs sing.
- Photos with Santa at the courthouse: Free photos with Santa take place inside the historic Rutherford County Courthouse on tree lighting night and on December Saturdays.
- Murfreesboro Christmas Parade: Floats, bands and community groups travel from East Main Street to Walnut Street on the second Sunday of December.
- Christmas at Cannonsburgh: A living history village near downtown opens on December evenings with holiday lights and a Saturday Christmas market.
- Santa at Stones River Town Center: Santa visits nearly every day from late November to Christmas Eve, with themed nights and sensory-friendly sessions.
- Horse-drawn carriage rides: Carriages circle the Public Square on tree lighting night, a favorite for families.
A fact for kids
In Murfreesboro, Santa and Mrs. Claus flip the switch themselves to light a Christmas tree that is three stories tall. There is even a Santa Paws night for taking pet photos.
Questions about Christmas in Murfreesboro
Where is the Christmas tree in Murfreesboro?
The big tree stands on the east side of the historic Rutherford County Courthouse on the Public Square in downtown Murfreesboro. In 2025 it was about three stories tall. Santa and Mrs. Claus lit it on December 5. For this year's date, see our Murfreesboro Christmas events guide on this page.
Who organizes the Murfreesboro tree lighting?
Main Street Murfreesboro organizes the annual downtown tree lighting, and Middle Tennessee Electric presents it. News coverage calls it a cherished Murfreesboro Christmas tradition. The event is free to attend, though carriage rides cost extra. The program mixes children's activities, performances by local schools and groups, and the lighting itself.
What happened at the Murfreesboro tree lighting last year?
On December 5, 2025, children's crafts, games and free hot cocoa began at 6 p.m. Stage acts included School of Rock bands, school choirs and local dancers. Santa lit the tree, and a live nativity and caroling added to the evening. Free photos with Santa followed inside the courthouse until about 8:30 p.m.
When is the Murfreesboro Christmas parade?
The Murfreesboro Christmas Parade is held each year on the second Sunday of December. In 2025 it ran on December 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. The route starts on East Main Street near MTSU, passes through downtown and ends on Walnut Street, one block past the Square.
What was the 2025 Murfreesboro Christmas parade theme?
The 2025 theme was A Sweet Christmas, which invited floats, bands, dancers and community groups to bring candy-inspired ideas. Registration for entries ran through Eventeny. Families from across the community gather along the route to watch the floats, bands and dancers go by.
Does Santa come to the Murfreesboro parade?
Local news coverage of area Christmas events said Santa would appear at the listed parades in 2025, which included Murfreesboro's City Christmas Parade on December 14. Santa also takes part in the tree lighting, where he turns on the lights, and he greets families at several other places around town.
What is Cannonsburgh Village?
Cannonsburgh Village is a six-acre living history village near the downtown Square, with a General Store off Front Street. It is a city park that hosts seasonal events. At Christmas it stays open in the evenings with holiday lights, and daytime admission is free Tuesday through Friday.
What is Christmas at Cannonsburgh like?
In 2025 the village opened on three December weekends, Friday and Saturday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m., with holiday lights. A Christmas market ran on Saturday, December 6. Evening admission was $5 per person, children ages 5 and under were free, and tickets could be bought in advance through Eventeny.
Where can kids visit Santa in Murfreesboro?
Stones River Town Center hosted Santa from November 28 through Christmas Eve in 2025, with free visits and no purchase required. Santa also posed for free photos inside the courthouse on tree lighting night and on Saturdays in December. Our Murfreesboro Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed visits.
What are the themed Santa nights at Stones River Town Center?
In 2025 the mall offered Pajama Night, Santa Paws for pet photos and Cowboy Santa, each on two weeknights in early December. It also held two sensory-friendly Caring Santa sessions on December 7 and 14, from 11 a.m. to noon. The Caring Santa mornings are meant for kids who prefer a quieter setting.
What is a Caring Santa session?
A Caring Santa session is a sensory-friendly visit with Santa, designed for children who may find a busy mall overwhelming. At Stones River Town Center in 2025, the sessions were held on December 7 and 14 from 11 a.m. to noon. If your child needs a quiet, calm visit, ask the venue for current details.
Are there horse-drawn carriage rides at the tree lighting?
Yes. In 2025 horse-drawn carriages circled the Square during the tree lighting, with rides in the Bank of America parking lot off East Main Street. Carriage rides cost extra, while the children's activities and photos with Santa were free. Parking on the Square closed at 4 p.m., so plan to use a garage.
Is the Murfreesboro tree lighting free?
Yes, attending the tree lighting is free, and so are the children's crafts, games, hot cocoa and photos with Santa. Only the carriage rides are paid. The Square closes to incoming traffic at 4 p.m. on lighting day, so families usually park in the Civic Plaza or County Judicial garages and walk over.
How can I explain Santa lighting the tree to a young child?
Tell your child that Santa and Mrs. Claus come to town to flip a big switch and wake up the tree's lights. Kids can listen to school choirs and drink hot cocoa while they wait. Letting them practice waving to Santa on stage helps shy children feel ready for the crowd.
What kids' activities come before the tree lighting?
Before the stage show, children can do crafts, play small games and sip free hot cocoa, starting at 6 p.m. A live nativity scene and caroling add to the evening. Downtown shops and restaurants stay open, so families can make a night of it.
When did Murfreesboro's Christmas traditions begin?
The sources we reviewed do not give a founding year for the tree lighting or the parade, only calling them cherished annual traditions. A 2022 city news item shows the downtown tree lighting already included live music, a live nativity, Santa and carriage rides, so the tradition goes back at least several years.
Where can kids see trains near Murfreesboro?
The Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville is the nearest of our listed museums, built around stainless steel streamliner passenger cars. Cowan Railroad Museum has a 1920 steam engine and a caboose beside an active CSX line. Check each museum's calendar before you go, since hours change by season.
Is there a train museum in Chattanooga for young kids?
Yes. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga has vintage coaches, a turntable, a restoration shop, an exhibit hall and a model railroad. It is a longer drive from Murfreesboro, but young train fans may enjoy it. Check the museum's website for current seasonal schedules before planning a trip.
What is the Cowan Railroad Museum known for?
Cowan Railroad Museum is a small-town depot museum with a rare 1920 Porter 2-4-2 steam engine, a caboose and a model railroad. It sits beside an active CSX mainline where helper engines push freight up the mountain. It is open May to October, Thursday to Sunday, so it is not a December stop.
Is there a Christmas market in Murfreesboro?
Yes. In 2025 Cannonsburgh Village held a Christmas market on Saturday, December 6, during its evening holiday event. Downtown shops and restaurants also stayed open for tree lighting night. See our Murfreesboro Christmas events guide on this page for this season's confirmed dates and details.
Sources
- Downtown Murfreesboro to Glow This Friday Night With Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, WGNS Radio
- Murfreesboro Christmas Parade Returns Dec. 14 With A Sweet Christmas Theme, Rutherford Source
- A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh with Extended Evening Hours and Holiday Lights, WGNS Radio
- Santa Claus Visits at Stones River Town Center, Visit Murfreesboro
- Main Street Murfreesboro to Celebrate Christmas December 5 Downtown, Rutherford Source
- A Norman Rockwell Christmas Comes to Life on the Square, WGNS Radio
- Towns Shine Bright: Tree Lightings, Parades Usher in Christmas Cheer, WGNS Radio
- Tennessee Central Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Cowan Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Event (2022 news item), City of Murfreesboro