December 2026 in Murfreesboro starts with the Rutherford County Christmas tree lighting on the Square on Friday, Dec. 4, and brings four Christmas parades between Dec. 5 and Dec. 13: La Vergne on Dec. 5, Smyrna on Dec. 6, Eagleville on Dec. 12 and Murfreesboro on Dec. 13. Here is OnlyInMurfreesboro's pick of what to do in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville this month, with links to each event's page for times, prices and directions. The full list is always on the events calendar, and the this weekend guide updates every week.
Christmas Parades and Tree Lightings
- Rutherford County Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square, Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. at the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse. Main Street Murfreesboro's Celebrate Christmas Downtown, presented by Middle Tennessee Electric, starts with free children's activities and carriage rides; the stage program begins at 6:30 p.m. with Santa lighting the tree, and Santa takes free photos inside the courthouse from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Parking on the Square closes at 4 p.m. More in the Christmas on the Square guide.
- La Vergne Spirit of Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 5, from City Hall to Veterans Memorial Park, followed by the tree lighting and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The theme is "The Season of Giving." The city's two pages disagree on the time: the parade page says 3 p.m., while the city calendar lists the Parade of Lights at 5 p.m. Check with La Vergne Parks and Recreation before you go.
- Smyrna Christmas Parade, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m., on Lowry Street in downtown Smyrna. Free. Read the full story.
- Eagleville Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 12, 5 p.m. The theme is "Stars, Stripes Christmas Lights." The city has not posted a route.
- Murfreesboro Christmas Parade, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. The theme is "A Country Christmas," and the route runs from Middle Tennessee Boulevard down Main Street to Walnut Street, one block past the Public Square. Read the full story.
Every tree lighting and parade in the county, including Smyrna's Nov. 24 and Eagleville's Nov. 29 tree lightings, is in OnlyInMurfreesboro's 2026 Christmas tree lightings and parades list, and the Christmas parade guide has more background.
Christmas Lights and Santa
- A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village, Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19, 4-8 p.m. The pioneer village adds candle-lit buildings, light displays, carolers, music, letters to Santa and crafts. Evening admission is $5; ages 5 and under are free. Regular free daytime admission continues Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Holly Jolly Festival of Lights at Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville, select nights through Dec. 23. Online tickets are $12-$16 for ages 2 and up, depending on the date ($19-$23 at the gate), and must be bought at least an hour ahead. Santa is there for photos nightly from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Cookies & Cocoa with Santa at Lucky Ladd Farms, Dec. 11-13 and 18-20. Advance tickets are required.
- Christmas at Patterson, Friday, Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 19, 4-6 p.m., at Patterson Park Community Center. Free: DIY photos with Santa's sleigh, cookies, ornament decorating and story time with Mrs. Claus.
- Santa Comes to Martin's at Martin's Home & Garden, Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free photos; bring your own camera or phone.
More in the Christmas lights guide and where to see Santa.
Holiday Shows and Concerts
- Disney's Frozen the Musical at the Center for the Arts, Dec. 4-20, closing the theater's 2026 season. Twelve performances; reserved seats are $25 on Purplepass.
- Carols and Cocktails, an adults-only holiday evening at the Center for the Arts, Thursday, Dec. 17, and Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.
- Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra: Christmas Spectacular, Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., at Belle Aire Baptist Church. Tickets are $40, or $10 for students.
- Christmas One Acts Festival by Consider This Theatre Company at Mills-Pate Arts Center, Dec. 11-20. Each play is directed by a teen, first-time director. Tickets are $12.
- Middle Tennessee Chorale Society in MTSU's Hinton Music Hall, Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.
- Christmas with The Lubben Brothers at First LaVergne United Methodist Church, Sunday, Dec. 20, 4 p.m. Free with registration; a dessert reception follows.
- Candlelight concerts at Williamson Family Farm, Friday, Dec. 18: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at 6:30 p.m. and Christmas Carols on Strings at 8:45 p.m.
See every show in the holiday concerts guide.
Holiday Traditions and History
- Bethlehem Marketplace at Southeast Baptist Church, Dec. 5-6, noon-5 p.m. The 42nd edition of the free walk-through drama re-creates the village of Bethlehem, with costumed characters and live camels.
- Annual Christmas Dinner at Oaklands Mansion, Friday, Dec. 4, with dinner at 6:30 p.m., and the Candlelight Tour of Homes, Saturday, Dec. 12, 4-8 p.m., through the East Main Street Historic District to a decorated Oaklands Mansion.
- History After Dark: Curious Christmas, an adults-only evening tour at the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. The same day brings the site's Christmas Tea ($30; seating time not yet posted).
- Wreaths Across America at Stones River National Cemetery, Saturday, Dec. 19. The ceremony starts at noon, and volunteers place wreaths right after it. The goal is to cover all 7,002 veteran graves; volunteers sign up and wreaths are sponsored on the Wreaths Across America location page. More about the battlefield.
Gift shopping ideas are in the holiday markets and craft fairs guide, including the Kidpreneur Christmas Fair on Dec. 5.
MTSU Commencement and Basketball
- MTSU Fall Commencement, Saturday, Dec. 12, at Murphy Center, with ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The 9 a.m. ceremony covers Liberal Arts, the Jones College of Business, the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment and University College; the 2 p.m. ceremony covers Basic and Applied Sciences, Behavioral and Health Sciences and Education. More in the MTSU graduation guide.
- Men's basketball is home twice: vs. Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m., and vs. UT Southern on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.
- Women's basketball hosts Southern Indiana on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 10:30 a.m., Wichita State on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m., and Rice on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m.
Live Music
- Hop Springs has a busy first week: Men Without Hats (Dec. 2), Ben Clayton's Fall Rush Tour (Dec. 3), Pulsivity (Dec. 4), The Imperials with Russ Taff (Dec. 5) and Jackyl (Dec. 7). A free Line Dance Night follows on Friday, Dec. 18, with lessons at 6:30 p.m.
- Puckett's downtown has live music most Friday and Saturday nights, including Kylie Brown (Dec. 4), The Branch Fiddle Band (Dec. 5) and Miles Victor & The House Fire Choir (Dec. 19).
All shows are on the live music page.
For Kids and Families
- All Access Night: Holiday Party at the Discovery Center, Thursday, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m. The sensory-friendly evening for families of children with special needs is free, but registration is required. The center also lists a Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 5.
- Science Extravaganza at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park, Dec. 19-22, noon-3 p.m.: free, self-guided science experiments for families on the first days of winter break.
More ideas are in the kids activities guide and the free things to do guide.
New Year's Eve
- NYE Party at Downtown Social, 5 N. Lowry St. in downtown Smyrna, Thursday, Dec. 31, from 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 plus a $1.50 fee.
More options will be added to the New Year's Eve guide as venues announce them.
Good to Know
- Winter break: Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools are out Monday, Dec. 21, through Friday, Jan. 1, and students return Tuesday, Jan. 5. Friday, Dec. 18 is a shortened day in both districts. Full school calendar details.
- Monster Mini Golf lists its Murfreesboro location on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. as opening in early December; what to know.
Missed last month? See things to do in November. The full holiday calendar is in OnlyInMurfreesboro's Christmas events guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Murfreesboro in December 2026?
Highlights include the Rutherford County Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square on Dec. 4, the Murfreesboro Christmas Parade on Dec. 13, Disney's Frozen the Musical at the Center for the Arts Dec. 4-20, A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village on December weekends, the Holly Jolly Festival of Lights at Lucky Ladd Farms and Wreaths Across America at Stones River National Cemetery on Dec. 19.
When is the Christmas tree lighting in Murfreesboro?
The Rutherford County Christmas tree on the Public Square is lit Friday, Dec. 4, 2026. Activities start at 6 p.m., and the stage program with Santa lighting the tree begins at 6:30 p.m.
When are the Christmas parades in Rutherford County in 2026?
La Vergne's Spirit of Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 5 (the city lists both 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.), Smyrna's is Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m., Eagleville's is Saturday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m., and Murfreesboro's is Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m.
Where can I see Christmas lights near Murfreesboro?
Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro is lit up Friday and Saturday nights Dec. 4-19, 4-8 p.m., for $5. Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville runs the Holly Jolly Festival of Lights on select nights through Dec. 23 with advance tickets.
When is MTSU graduation in December 2026?
MTSU's Fall 2026 Commencement is Saturday, Dec. 12, at Murphy Center, with ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. by college.
When is winter break for Murfreesboro schools?
Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools are on winter break Dec. 21, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027. Students return Jan. 5.
Sources: Main Street Murfreesboro: Celebrate Christmas Downtown, City of La Vergne: Spirit of Christmas Parade, City of La Vergne calendar: Parade of Lights, Town of Smyrna: Smyrna Christmas Parade, City of Eagleville community events, City of Murfreesboro: 2026 Murfreesboro Christmas Parade, City of Murfreesboro: A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh, City of Murfreesboro calendar: Christmas at Patterson, Lucky Ladd Farms, Center for the Arts on Purplepass, Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, Mills-Pate Arts Center, Southeast Baptist Church, Oaklands Mansion, Wreaths Across America: Stones River National Battlefield, MTSU graduation information, MTSU Athletics men's basketball schedule, MTSU Athletics women's basketball schedule, Hop Springs, Downtown Social, Murfreesboro City Schools 2026-27 calendar, Rutherford County Schools academic calendars, Monster Mini Golf Murfreesboro. Event details come from each organizer and can change; check the event page before you go.
*Illustration: AI-generated image; not an actual Murfreesboro location.*