Event Description

Join us in Ringgold for our annual Downhome Christmas celebration! Kick off the holiday season with a weekend full of classic Christmas traditions. Bundle up and get downtown for a weekend of festivities, including the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Parade, pictures with Santa, caroling, Christmas shopping, and more. Ringgold’s Down-Home Christmas is always the 1st Friday of December, so plan ahead!

Schedule

5:30 pm- On Stage Entertainment from Heritage High School located on Nashville Street

6:00 pm- Christmas Parade begins with remarks from our MC, Thom Cavin

6:15 pm- Tree Lighting Ceremony & Parade continues

6:30 pm: Santa Pictures at The Depot until 9 pm

7:30 pm: Local choirs and dance teams hit the stage at the Depot until 9 pm.

All night: Enjoy beautiful Christmas lights!

Parade

Our Down-Home Christmas begins with a parade led by Santa Claus! Witness dozens of beautifully decorated floats, cars, and more as they make their way through Downtown Ringgold. Come as early as 4:00 p.m. to find the perfect spot. The Downhome Christmas Parade starts at 6 pm on December 5th. If you would like to be a spread some holiday happiness by being a part of the Downhome Christmas Parade, please fill out the application below.

Parade Applications

2025 parade applications here.

Parade Route

The Parade begins at 6 pm, and will leave Ringgold High School and travel onto Sparks Street. The parade will turn left onto Nashville Street, left onto Depot Street, and left again onto Mountain Street.The parade will continue down Mountain Street, take a right onto Cleveland Street, and end back at the High School.

Parade Map & Detours

The Ringgold Police Department will begin closing roads at 5:30 pm, and roads will remain closed until the parade’s conclusion. Barricades will be placed at the following locations:

Evitt Street at Highway 41, UGO Parking Lot, both ends of Maple Drive, Cleveland Street at Nashville, both ends of Buck Alley, Lafayette Street at Legion, Jail Street at Nashville, and Tennessee Street at High.

The red route depicts the parade, the yellow route depicts truck detours, and the blue route shows car detours.

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Watch as Santa and his elves uses a bit of their Christmas Magic to bring our tree to life with a spectacular display of lights! The magnificent tree will be displayed in the heart of Downtown Ringgold at Citizen’s Park, the triangle, on December 5th. It will be lit by Santa once he arrives with the parade. As soon as the Tree is shining bright, the parade will continue throughout town and Santa will make his way to the Depot for pictures.

The Festival of Trees

Walk through our tree festival and discover a winter wonderland full of magic and joy. Stroll through the new community area behind City Hall to see a forest of trees, each uniquely decorated by local businesses and community organizations. The Festival of Trees will be on display for the entire month of December. You can find details about this event in the flyer below.

Other Festivities

Ringgold’s Classic Christmas offerings don’t stop with the tree lighting and parade! Dress in your Christmas best and stop by the Depot to take a picture with Santa Claus, or listen to some live musical performances of your favorite holiday songs. Need that perfect gift? Shop extended hours at our downtown businesses and take care of your Christmas list. You can also check out our other Christmas events like Cocoa & Claus or the Holiday Family Movie Night.