At 6 p.m. floats draped in thousands of lights parade down 8th and High Streets. As the last float goes by, the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will commence beside City Hall followed by pictures with Santa Claus. Fireworks will be in the east following the ceremony. Thank you to Mediacom Communications Corp. for sponsoring the parade!

See list of 2022 Float Winners

Float registration for the Festival of Lights parade is now open! Floats are to be in line by 5:15 p.m. Registration deadline: Friday, December 1st. There is no fee to enter. Cash prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category.

Windows must be completed by the evening of Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

Winners will be announced Thursday, December 7th, 2023 at the Chamber's Holiday Open House.

Intermediate Center

Session 1: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Session 2: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Get ready to jingle all the way to Breakfast with Santa!

This festive event is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Join us for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast that will fuel you up for a day of community fun before Santa’s arrival at the Festival of Lights. With music and a creation station, there’s no shortage of holiday cheer at this event. And with two sessions available this year, you won't miss out on the magic! Don't wait to make your reservations for December 2nd, 2023. It's time to ignite the holiday spirit and bring out the kid in all of us! View Flyer

321 Crimson Avenue | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Local vendors, crafts, food, and drink. Please come start the Holiday Season off right with the Vintage park Family. Help us make magical Christmas memories!

118 5th Street | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Free cider and cookie. Come enjoy a relaxed stroll and get into the Christmas spirit and see what you can't' live without.

Lumberyard Arts Center

All sessions of Gingerbread House Party are full. If you would like to be placed on a wait list please email, director@lumberyardartscenter.org.

We are grateful that, once again, this event is offered FREE to the USD 348 community through generous sponsorship by Xtream powered by Mediacom. We thank our gingerbread leader, Arlena McLaren, and the leadership of our Baldwin High School visual arts and culinary arts faculty, Becky Weaver and Caylee Tannahill.

This event is one of Baldwin City's holiday traditions and a highlight of the Festival of Lights evening. We cannot wait to see this year's creations that will be on display during the Festival of Lights Parade, December 2, 5-7 pm.

Baldwin City Library

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Come create a Holiday or Special card with us! We will supply everything including one postage stamp for each person. We will have lots of fun supplies and tools. Bring the address of your grandparents, grandchildren, close relatives, or friends, and you can get at least one special card in the mail!

Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice

711 High Street

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Photos with Nutcracker Characters. Hot Chocolate, and the Land of Sweets. Free activities all inside of BADV.

Baldwin First United Methodist Church

704 Eighth Street

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | church fellowship hall

Fill up before the Festival of Lights parade. Freewill donations accepted.

Baldwin First United Methodist Church

704 Eighth Street

4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Lumberyard Arts Center and Baldwin City Library

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

View locally created holiday quilts at the Lumberyard Arts Center and Baldwin City Library. Lumberyard Arts Center additional viewing: Tuesday-Friday, December 5 - 20. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m. | Sullivan Square

provided by the Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice

All Star Dance Team Holiday Rockette-inspired performance

Kids Academy Choir singing selected holiday pieces with an interactive opportunity for the audience

Grand Finale: multi-generational Community Choir presenting “Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus”

Sullivan Square Concessions Stand

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Purchase a hot chocolate and caramel apples at the concession stand to support Lila Smith in her battle with cancer.

Sullivan Square

Help Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice fill their sleigh! All donations will be given to local Baldwin City food pantries. Donations accepted at BADV through December 15th. The sleigh will be located inside Sullivan Square during Festival of Lights and donations can also be placed there during the event.