Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Pocatello
In Pocatello, Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving, with a lit-up parade through Historic Downtown and an event where a new toy is your ticket in.
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The story of Christmas in Pocatello
How Pocatello celebrates
Pocatello's Christmas season begins the day after Thanksgiving. The Christmas Night Lights Parade rolls through Historic Downtown, and the head of Historic Downtown Pocatello calls it the official beginning of the Christmas season. The parade has been held on that day for at least 35 years. Christmas in the Nighttime Skies, a free-with-a-toy event at the Bannock County Event Center, also has a long history. It started around 1990 at Kimberly Nursery on West Chubbuck Road and moved to the fairgrounds in 1999 when the nursery closed.
Christmas last year in Pocatello
In 2025 the Christmas Night Lights Parade packed the streets of Old Town, with the theme Traditions of Christmas Past. There was an Idaho Power float, a homemade gingerbread house float, a decorated fire truck and a walking Grinch, and Santa waved from the top of a fire truck. The next day, November 29, Christmas in the Nighttime Skies marked its 35th year with a fireworks show at 8 p.m. Admission was a new, unwrapped toy, collected for the Toys for Tots Foundation. In December, families could also find a Christmas party with a movie and Santa, and a crafters market at Station Square.
Fun facts about Christmas in Pocatello
A volunteer hands out candy to kids along the Pocatello parade route. At Christmas in the Nighttime Skies, the entry fee is a toy instead of money, and donated toys go to local children through Toys for Tots. The event began in a plant nursery before moving to the Bannock County fairgrounds in 1999. In December 2025, the Idaho State Civic Symphony played Joy to the World at ISU's Stephens Performing Arts Center, and the Museum of Clean hosted a winter market.
Traditions today
- Christmas Night Lights Parade: A Historic Downtown parade on the day after Thanksgiving, held for at least 35 years, with floats, fire trucks, the Grinch and Santa.
- Christmas in the Nighttime Skies: An after-Thanksgiving event at the Bannock County Event Center where a new toy is the admission, followed by fireworks.
- Toys for Tots toy drive: Toys donated at Christmas in the Nighttime Skies go to local children through the Toys for Tots Foundation.
- Christmas party with Santa: A December party with a movie and a Santa visit at Pocatello's Reel Theater, listed for December 6 in 2025.
- Pocatello Christmas Crafters Market: A December crafters market at Station Square on South Main Street.
- Winter market at the Museum of Clean: A winter market held at the Museum of Clean in late December.
A fact for kids
At Christmas in the Nighttime Skies in Pocatello, you do not pay with money. Your ticket is a new toy, and every toy goes to a local child through Toys for Tots.
Questions about Christmas in Pocatello
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Pocatello?
We could confirm that the Christmas Night Lights Parade has run on the day after Thanksgiving for at least 35 years, and that Christmas in the Nighttime Skies reached its 35th year in 2025, starting around 1990. Both open the season.
When is the Pocatello Christmas parade?
The Christmas Night Lights Parade is held on the day after Thanksgiving, in the evening. In 2025 that was Friday, November 28. It goes through Historic Downtown, also called Old Town. For this year's exact time and route, see our Pocatello Christmas events guide on this page.
What is the Christmas Night Lights Parade like?
It is a lit-up evening parade with floats, decorated vehicles and costumed characters. In 2025 there was an Idaho Power float, a homemade gingerbread house float, a decorated fire truck and the Grinch walking along. Santa waved from a fire truck, and a volunteer handed out candy to kids.
Who calls the parade the start of Christmas?
The head of Historic Downtown Pocatello described the Christmas Night Lights Parade as the official beginning of the Christmas season in town. The parade is held on the day after Thanksgiving and goes through the Historic Downtown district, also called Old Town. It has been held on that day for at least 35 years.
What is Christmas in the Nighttime Skies?
It is a long-running holiday event at the Bannock County Event Center. In 2025 it ran from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, with an aerial fireworks show at 8 p.m. The admission is a new, unwrapped toy rather than a ticket price.
Where do the donated toys go?
Toys collected at Christmas in the Nighttime Skies go to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, which gives them to local children. Donated toys must be new and unwrapped, which is a good point to share with older children.
How did Christmas in the Nighttime Skies begin?
Vicki Jenkins helped launch it around 1990 at Kimberly Nursery on West Chubbuck Road. When the nursery closed in 1999, the event moved to the Bannock County fairgrounds, now the Bannock County Event Center. The event reached its 35th year in 2025.
Is the fireworks show good for young kids?
The fireworks begin at 8 p.m., after the early event hours, so toddlers may be sleepy by then. If your child is sensitive to loud noises, bring ear protection, or enjoy the early part of the evening and head home before the show. Check the event page for this year's schedule.
What did the 2025 parade theme mean?
The 2025 theme was Traditions of Christmas Past. Entries included a homemade gingerbread house float, an Idaho Power float and a decorated fire truck. It is a nice conversation starter with kids about how grandparents and great-grandparents celebrated Christmas when they were small.
Is the Pocatello parade free?
The sources we read do not mention a ticket price for the Christmas Night Lights Parade, and a street parade is normally free to watch. A volunteer handed out candy to children along the route in 2025. Confirm any details on the Visit Pocatello events page before you go.
Is there a Santa visit in Pocatello?
Santa rides in the Christmas Night Lights Parade, waving from a fire truck. In December 2025 there was also an EIDS Christmas party with a movie and Santa at the Reel Theater on December 6. Our Pocatello Christmas events guide on this page lists the Santa events we could confirm.
What is Old Town Pocatello?
Old Town is Pocatello's Historic Downtown district, home of the Christmas Night Lights Parade. The district's association organizes the parade, and its leader calls it the official beginning of the Christmas season. The Pocatello Christmas Crafters Market in December 2025 was held at Station Square on South Main Street.
What other Christmas happenings did Pocatello have in December 2025?
A local newsletter listed a Christmas party with a movie and Santa on December 6, a Christmas Around the World event the same evening, a crafters market on December 13 at Station Square, and a Civic Symphony Joy to the World concert at ISU on December 12.
How can I explain a toy drive to a young child?
Tell your child that the toy they bring will be a gift for another child who might not get one. Let them pick the toy, and remember that donated toys must be new and unwrapped. Handing it over themselves makes the lesson feel real.
How do I keep little ones comfortable at the parade?
Pocatello nights in late November are cold, so dress in layers and bring blankets. Arrive early for a spot near the curb, since the streets were packed in 2025. A thermos of hot chocolate and a quick plan for where to meet if you separate are worth the effort.
Does Pocatello have a Christmas market?
Yes, a small one. The Pocatello Christmas Crafters Market was listed on December 13, 2025, at Station Square, 200 S Main Street, and the Museum of Clean hosted winter markets on December 20. Check the venues for 2026 dates, since markets can change from year to year.
Does Pocatello have Christmas music for families?
The Idaho State Civic Symphony performed Joy to the World at ISU's Stephens Performing Arts Center on December 12, 2025. Concerts like this are a gentle way to introduce kids to live holiday music. Check ISU's calendar for this season's program and any age guidance.
What is the Grinch doing in the Pocatello parade?
In 2025 the Grinch marched along the parade route among the floats. Younger children who find costumed characters scary may want to stay close to a parent and wave from a distance. Santa also waved from a decorated fire truck, which can balance things out.
Does Pocatello's Christmas season start before December?
Yes. In 2025 the Christmas Night Lights Parade opened the season on Friday, November 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas in the Nighttime Skies followed on Saturday, November 29, with fireworks at 8 p.m. December then brought a Christmas party with Santa, a crafters market and a symphony concert, so the season has events across several weekends.
Where can I find this year's Pocatello Christmas schedule?
See our Pocatello Christmas events guide on this page for confirmed 2026 dates and times. For anything not listed there, Visit Pocatello's events page, Historic Downtown Pocatello and the Bannock County Event Center are the best places to check for updates, cancellations or changes.
Sources
- After Thanksgiving tradition: Christmas in the Nighttime Skies returns for 35th year, East Idaho News
- Streets were packed during 2025 Christmas Night Lights Parade, East Idaho News
- Celebrate December in East Idaho, East Idaho Insider