Find your holiday cheer in Kingsport with our expert guide. For Kingsport residents and guests, our guide showcases the top holiday events.
Kick off the season with "Christmas in the Park," a festive celebration filled with lights, music, and family fun. Experience the excitement of dazzling floats and marching bands during the Downtown Kingsport Christmas Parade. And definitely don't forget the magical moment when the town’s tree illuminates during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Kingsport
- Christmas in the Park
- Downtown Kingsport Christmas Parade
- Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Holiday Bazaar at Kingsport Farmer’s Market
- Model City Christmas Tree Stroll
- Jingle and Mingle
- Christmas at Allandale Mansion
- Holiday Artisan Market
- Wreaths Across America
- Santa Train
Kingsport Holiday Light Displays
Christmas in the Park
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and family activities
Description:
Kingsport's Christmas in the Park transforms the city's green spaces into a twinkling winter spectacle. Visitors can stroll through illuminated pathways, each telling a different holiday story. Try your hand at the "Reindeer Games" obstacle course, a favorite among children and adults alike. This annual tradition began in 1985 as a small community effort and has since grown into one of Tennessee's most anticipated holiday events. The air fills with the aroma of freshly roasted chestnuts, adding to the sensory experience.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community-decorated tree with local ornaments
Description:
Kingsport's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony showcases a unique community spirit. The towering evergreen boasts ornaments crafted by local artisans and school children, each telling a story of the city's heritage. Witness the moment when thousands of lights illuminate the tree, bringing the square to life. This tradition dates back to 1915 when Kingsport was first incorporated, symbolizing the unity of the growing community. Visitors can contribute their own ornament to the tree, becoming part of the city's living history.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Model City Christmas Tree Stroll
What to Expect:
Themed trees representing local businesses and organizations
Description:
The Model City Christmas Tree Stroll offers a unique glimpse into Kingsport's community spirit. Each elaborately decorated tree represents a local business or organization, showcasing their contributions to the city. As you wander through the forest of festive firs, the soft glow of twinkling lights creates a cozy atmosphere. This event, initiated in 2010, has quickly become a beloved tradition. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, with the winner receiving a donation to their chosen charity.
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Model City Christmas Tree Stroll
Kingsport Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Bazaar at Kingsport Farmer’s Market
What to Expect:
Locally-sourced holiday foods and crafts
Description:
The Holiday Bazaar at Kingsport Farmer's Market celebrates the region's agricultural bounty and artistic talent. Stalls overflow with locally-sourced holiday treats and handcrafted gifts, each item telling a story of Appalachian tradition. Sample artisanal eggnog made from a century-old family recipe. The market, established in 1977, has become a cornerstone of Kingsport's local food movement. Visitors can learn traditional craft techniques from skilled artisans demonstrating their work throughout the event.
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Holiday Bazaar at Kingsport Farmer’s Market
Holiday Artisan Market
What to Expect:
Juried selection of high-quality, locally-made artisan goods
Description:
Kingsport's Holiday Artisan Market showcases the finest handcrafted goods from the region's most talented creators. This juried event ensures that each item meets exacting standards of quality and originality. Watch skilled artisans demonstrate their craft, from glassblowing to woodcarving. The market, established in 2008, has become a launchpad for many successful local businesses. Visitors can create their own piece of art at interactive workshops scattered throughout the venue.
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Kingsport Holiday Giving Opportunities
Wreaths Across America
What to Expect:
Community-wide effort to honor veterans during the holidays
Description:
Wreaths Across America in Kingsport unites the community in honoring fallen veterans during the holiday season. Volunteers place evergreen wreaths on veterans' graves throughout the city's cemeteries, creating a poignant visual tribute. The solemn ceremony includes the reading of each veteran's name, ensuring their memory lives on. This event, part of a national movement, began in Kingsport in 2011. Participants can learn about local military history through guided tours of the veterans' sections in the cemeteries.
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Kingsport Other Holiday Activities
Downtown Kingsport Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Vintage-themed floats and performances
Description:
Downtown Kingsport's Christmas Parade brings a touch of nostalgia to the holiday season. Vintage-themed floats roll down the streets, showcasing the city's rich history. Local high school marching bands fill the air with classic carols, creating a lively atmosphere. You can join in the fun by dressing up in period costumes from the 1920s to the 1950s. This parade has been a staple of Kingsport's holiday celebrations since 1944, originally organized to boost morale during World War II.
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Downtown Kingsport Christmas Parade
Jingle and Mingle
What to Expect:
Fusion of holiday traditions from diverse cultures
Description:
Jingle and Mingle in Kingsport celebrates the city's growing diversity through a fusion of holiday traditions. Experience a global feast for the senses as you sample holiday dishes from around the world. Watch performances that blend different cultural dance styles with holiday themes. This event, started in 2015, reflects Kingsport's commitment to inclusivity and cultural exchange. Visitors can participate in a multicultural craft workshop, creating unique holiday decorations inspired by global traditions.
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Christmas at Allandale Mansion
What to Expect:
Period-accurate Victorian Christmas celebrations
Description:
Christmas at Allandale Mansion transports visitors to a Victorian-era holiday celebration. Each room of the historic 1949 mansion is adorned with authentic decorations, showcasing the opulence of Christmases past. The scent of freshly baked gingerbread wafts through the halls, enticing visitors. Participate in a traditional parlor game popular in the 19th century. The mansion, once home to the Harvey Brooks family, has been preserving local history since its donation to the city in 1969.
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Christmas at Allandale Mansion
Santa Train
What to Expect:
Santa's arrival by historic train, distributing gifts along the route
Description:
The Santa Train rolls into Kingsport, continuing a beloved 80-year tradition. This historic train journey begins in Kentucky, winding through Appalachia and distributing gifts to families along the route. The whistle of the vintage locomotive announces Santa's arrival, thrilling onlookers. Initiated in 1943 to spread holiday cheer during wartime, the Santa Train has become a symbol of generosity in the region. Visitors can help sort and pack gifts for distribution, becoming part of this heartwarming tradition.
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Nearby Events
Colonial Christmas at Fort Watauga (Elizabethton)
What to Expect:
Authentic 18th-century holiday celebrations and reenactments
Description:
Colonial Christmas at Fort Watauga immerses visitors in 18th-century holiday traditions. Costumed interpreters bring the fort to life, demonstrating how early settlers celebrated the season. Participate in colonial-era games and dances that were popular during winter gatherings. The aroma of traditional dishes cooking over open fires fills the air. Fort Watauga, a reconstruction of the 1775 frontier fort, offers a unique glimpse into the region's early history and the resilience of its settlers.
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Colonial Christmas at Fort Watauga