Holly Springs' Happy Holly Days Parade is 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on Main Street; entries close Nov. 20. Light the Springs is 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. Updated each year. Dates come from the Town of Holly Springs parade page and Light the Springs page.

Holly Springs has two big holiday nights out: Light the Springs, the tree lighting, on Saturday, Dec. 5, and the Happy Holly Days Parade down Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 12. Both fall within the town’s yearlong 150th anniversary celebration, which runs through May 2027.

Updated Nov. 3: parade applications still close Nov. 20; Santa Cares sign-ups are not open yet; no route map or street closures posted.

Who to call

  • Town events: Nic Ziccardi, marketing and events coordinator, 919-567-4711; Taylor Ford, events assistant, 919-577-3136
  • Santa Cares sign-ups: Robert Sears, recreation program assistant, 919-557-9602
  • Event alerts: the town’s email and text notifications

Light the Springs: Saturday, Dec. 5

5 to 8 p.m., Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St. Live music, holiday food and drinks for sale and free holiday crafts. The evening opens with a menorah lighting and ends with Santa and the mayor lighting the town tree. Children can drop a letter in Santa’s mailbox before meeting him, according to the event page.

Happy Holly Days Parade: Saturday, Dec. 12

10 a.m., Main Street through downtown. Floats, bands, dancers, decorated vehicles and marching groups travel Main Street. The parade is held on the second Saturday of December each year. Entry applications are open on the parade page until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; the town says it cannot guarantee a place for later applications. Entry is free for civic, nonprofit and religious groups and $275 for businesses, and entries bring their own floats. Drivers must be at least 25 and send a copy of their license, registration and insurance 10 days before the parade. The town has not yet posted a route map or street closures for 2026; we will add them when it does, and they will also appear in our road closures guide.

The Holly Springs Farmers Market is closed on parade day, Dec. 12.

Santa around town

  • Santa’s Mailbox: outside the front entrance of Town Hall, 128 S. Main St., from the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Dec. 13. Children who include their name and home address get a reply by Christmas Eve, the town says on its mailbox page.
  • Santa Cares: a free, sensory-friendly visit with Santa for families with special needs, 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Cultural Center. Free sign-ups had not opened on Nov. 3; the town says they open soon on the Santa Cares page.
  • Holly Day Express: in early December the Fire Department escorts Santa on a float through neighborhoods, with an online Santa tracker. The town says 2026 details are coming, on the Holly Day Express page.

What this means for you

  • Mark Dec. 5 for the tree lighting and Dec. 12 for the parade.
  • Entering the parade? Apply by Friday, Nov. 20.
  • Downtown streets will be busy the morning of Dec. 12; check back for closures.

More: holiday lights and Christmas events, things to do this month and our farmers markets guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Holly Springs Christmas parade in 2026?

The Happy Holly Days Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. It is held every year on the second Saturday of December and travels Main Street through downtown.

When is the Holly Springs tree lighting?

Light the Springs is 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St. It begins with a menorah lighting and ends with Santa and the mayor lighting the town tree.

How do I enter the Holly Springs Christmas parade?

Apply on the town’s parade page by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2026. Entry is free for civic, nonprofit and religious groups and $275 for businesses; the town does not rent floats.

Where is Santa’s Mailbox in Holly Springs?

Outside the front entrance of Town Hall, 128 S. Main St., from the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Dec. 13. Include a name and home address for a reply by Christmas Eve.