One-Day Event: Saturday, December 6, 2025
This is your official guide to a magical season in Oakdale, where holiday spirit comes alive all month long! From candle-making and vintage photo ops to festive shopping, dazzling window displays, and the Annual Christmas Parade, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Don’t miss heartwarming traditions like the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the grand finale Christmas Concert. Whether you’re visiting for the day or soaking in the joy all season, these events are designed to bring our community together and create unforgettable memories. Let the festivities begin!
The following events are listed in chronological order:
Candle-Making Workshop
with ‘Ike Loa Candle Co.
Create your own holiday candle in a cozy, Christmas-scented workshop! Craft a candle in a reusable glass ornament vessel, choosing from four festive scents. Classes run hourly (10 AM–3 PM). Candles are ready one hour after or the next business day.
$35 | 10 AM-3 PM | ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED
Downtown Christmas on 3rd Avenue
17th Annual Old Fashioned Christmas on North 3rd Avenue
with Foxy Designs
Experience a day full of holiday nostalgia on North 3rd Avenue. Shop handcrafted goods, enjoy delicious local eats, sip something warm, and celebrate the season with your community.
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Christmas Photo Op
with The Shoppe on 3rd Avenue
Gather your loved ones and strike a pose at our vintage Christmas photo set—an enchanting backdrop on North 3rd Avenue. Snap that perfect holiday pic between shopping and strolling through downtown.
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Hosted by Community Hospice & Health Services
A heartfelt tradition that brings us together. Join us in Wood Park to honor loved ones with the Light Up a Life ceremony. Santa will be waiting in the gazebo to greet the kids, while the Oakdale High Choir fills the night with carols and holiday cheer.
TREE LIGHTING AT 6:00 PM
Christmas Window Decorations
In partnership with Love Oakdale
Downtown storefronts will be decked out in their holiday best! Stroll through and enjoy the sights as local businesses compete in the annual Christmas window decorating contest. Cast your vote for your favorite and support the spirit of small-town creativity!
BUSINESSES CAN ENTER PRIOR TO DEC 1
Downtown Christmas on 1st Avenue
Christmas on 1st Avenue
with Momma’s Closet
1st Avenue transforms into a festive foodie haven with vendors, crafts, and s’mores by the fire pit! Browse specialty food and craft vendors, take in the sights, and cozy up with friends around the fire pit for gooey s’mores and warm memories.
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Do you have an event or activity that you’d like to propose we add to the Small Town Christmas festivities?
Send us an email at info@smalltownchristmas.co
Annual Christmas Parade
Presented by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Bundle up and bring your holiday cheer to the 8th Annual Christmas Parade! Watch the streets of downtown come alive with festive floats, twinkling lights, and jolly music as we march along a brand-new route through 1st, 3rd, and B Street.
PARADE BEGINS AT 5:00 PM | ARRIVE EARLY FOR THE BEST VIEW
The “Julia Haidlen Memorial Ice Skating Rink” will open on December 3rd, 2025 and will be open every day through January 3, 2026 for private and public sessions (December 1st and 2nd are invite-only events). Book your party today - Click below!
Christmas with the Grinch
Presented by Reata on 3rd
The Grinch is sneaking into town, and he’s ready to steal the spotlight in your holiday photos.
Stay tuned for details on how you can snag a spot for this mischievously merry photoshoot - perfect for kids, families, and anyone with a little Whoville spirit. And if you time it right, you might even get to meet Cindy Lou Who!
DETAILS TBD
1st Annual “Light Fight”
In partnership with Love Oakdale
Think your holiday lights can outshine the rest? It’s time to find out! We’re inviting local residents to deck out their homes, yards, and porches in their brightest and most creative holiday displays for a little friendly competition. From twinkling rooftops to front yard wonderlands, every home helps spread Christmas cheer throughout our community. Judges (and neighbors!) will make the rounds to admire the sparkle, and winners will earn bragging rights - and a special holiday surprise.
Registration details coming soon - start planning your glow-up now! Let’s light up Oakdale together and make this season shine brighter than ever!
DETAILS TBD
We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you!
Whether you’re joining us for the twinkling lights, the joyful sounds of carolers, or the magic of making memories with loved ones, A Small Town Christmas is all about community, connection, and cheer. So bundle up, bring your family and friends, and come experience the wonder for yourself. We’ll see you in Oakdale this December—where holiday magic lives and everyone is welcome!