Kissimmee's tree lighting is 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at City Hall. The Festival of Lights Parade steps off 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. Both free.

Last checked Nov. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. The facts below are from the City of Kissimmee’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, Festival of Lights Parade and Festival of Lights pages.

Updated Nov. 5: the city has posted its 2026 dates. The tree lighting is Saturday, Nov. 28, and the parade is Saturday, Dec. 12.

Yes, both are on in 2026, and both are free. Kissimmee’s holiday season downtown opens with a tree lighting at City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 28, and peaks with the Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, Dec. 12, which the city calls Central Florida’s premier nighttime holiday parade.

Know before you go

  • Tree lighting: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, Kissimmee City Hall, 101 Church St.; tree lit at 7 p.m.
  • Holiday Festival: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, Kissimmee City Hall
  • Parade: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, historic downtown Kissimmee
  • Road closures: from 2 p.m. on parade day
  • Parking: free at the Civic Center, Toho Square garage and County Courthouse garage
  • Cost: free
  • Who to call: City of Kissimmee Events Division, 407-518-2503; Kissimmee Main Street (tree lighting), 407-846-4643

Tree lighting, Saturday, Nov. 28

The city and Kissimmee Main Street hold the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Kissimmee City Hall, 101 Church St., from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. City and community leaders count down to light the holiday tree with help from a guest from the Osceola Magic, the city says. Its schedule:

Time What
6:30 p.m. Welcome
7 p.m. Tree lighting
7:20 p.m. Live performances: the School of Music, the OCSA Jazz Band and Adanse
8 p.m. Parranda by Pa’l Callejón, then Santa arrives on a fire truck, with photos by the tree

Holiday merchandise vendors are on site all evening. The city advises arriving early for the best viewing spots.

Festival of Lights, Saturday, Dec. 12

The night comes in two parts, according to the city’s parade page:

Time What Where
4 to 7 p.m. Holiday Festival: KUA Kids Power Zone, letters to Santa Kissimmee City Hall
7:30 p.m. Festival of Lights Parade: illuminated floats from residents, businesses and groups Historic downtown Kissimmee

The parade route

The city lists the route along Broadway, Sproule Street, Church Street and Stewart Avenue, in the heart of downtown. Watch from the sidewalks along those streets. The city has not published a street-by-street closure map; check our road construction and closures page in the days before.

Parking and road closures

  • Road closures begin at 2 p.m. on parade day, the city says.
  • Free parking is at the Kissimmee Civic Center, the Toho Square garage and the County Courthouse garage.
  • The festival starts at 4 p.m., hours before the parade, so the garages fill early.

More on where to leave the car: our getting around Kissimmee page.

Taking part

The parade page links parade float registration (register by Nov. 24) and food vendor registration (register by Nov. 13) through Eventeny. Both are on the city’s parade page.

The rest of the Festival of Lights season

The city says downtown’s lights shine nightly from dusk, Nov. 28 through Three Kings Day, Jan. 6, from Broadway through the side streets to Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Admission is free.

  • KUA Movie in the Park: a free holiday movie at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, activities from 5:30 p.m. and the film at 7 p.m. The city’s listing says Friday, Dec. 4, but its text says Dec. 5; check the city’s page before you go.
  • Snow at Kissimmee Lakefront Park: new this year, free, on the Lighthouse Lawn, with 20 minutes of snow at 4:15, 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5; Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12; Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19; and Sunday, Dec. 27, through Tuesday, Dec. 29, the city says. Parade night, Dec. 12, is a snow night.
  • Jingle Bar Hop: the city’s page still shows the 2025 date; no 2026 date is posted.

Sunset Walk’s Holiday Nights, Gaylord Palms and the rest are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

What this means for you

  • Tree lighting: Saturday, Nov. 28, at City Hall. Arrive by 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. lighting.
  • Parade: Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Park in a garage and walk; streets close at 2 p.m.
  • Want a float in the parade? The city’s registration link says register by Nov. 24.

Related: things to do this month, getting around Kissimmee and downtown Kissimmee.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Kissimmee Christmas parade in 2026?

The city’s Festival of Lights Parade is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, in historic downtown Kissimmee. A free Holiday Festival runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at City Hall before it.

What is the Kissimmee Festival of Lights parade route?

The city’s page lists a route along Broadway, Sproule Street, Church Street and Stewart Avenue in downtown Kissimmee.

When is the Kissimmee tree lighting in 2026?

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, at Kissimmee City Hall, 101 Church St. The welcome is at 6:30 p.m. and the tree is lit at 7 p.m., followed by live performances, a parranda and Santa’s arrival on a fire truck at about 8 p.m.

Where do I park for the Festival of Lights parade?

The city lists free parking at the Kissimmee Civic Center, the Toho Square garage and the County Courthouse garage. Road closures begin at 2 p.m. on parade day.

How long do the downtown Kissimmee holiday lights stay up?

The city says Festival of Lights runs from the tree lighting on Nov. 28 through Three Kings Day on Jan. 6, with the lights on nightly from dusk.