Whether you’ve got to get your wish list to Santa or want to see the night sparkle with glowing lights, here is a roundup of events to celebrate the holiday season in and around Alachua County. 

All events are free unless marked with an asterisk. Happy holidays!  

Wednesday, Dec. 3 

Saving Santa Event* 
When: Dec.3-Jan.1 
Where: Escapology Escape Rooms (4480 SW 32nd Rd. Ste. 10, Gainesville) 

Friday, Dec. 5 

Christmas on Main Street tree lighting 
When: 5-8 p.m. 
Where: Main Street, Alachua 

Shoppes at Thornebrook Holiday Market and Santa 
When: 5-8 p.m. 
Where: Shoppes at Thornebrook (2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville) 

Light the Village 
When: 5-8 p.m. 
Where: Haile Village Center (5100 SW 91st Ter., Gainesville) 

Christmas Train* 
When: Select dates through Dec. 27 
Where: Kirby Family Farms (19630 NE 30th St., Williston) 

Saturday, Dec. 6 

Hawthorne Christmas Parade and Festival 
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 
Where: 7700 SE 221st St., Hawthorne 

A Very GNV Holiday Parade 
When: Noon-1 p.m. 
Where: W. University Ave., Gainesville 

Newberry Main Street Christmas Market 
When: 2-8:30 p.m. 
Where: 25370 W. Newberry Rd., Newberry 

Christmas at Butler 
When: 3:30-7:30 p.m. 
Where: Butler Town Center (3597 SW 32nd Ct., Gainesville) 

High Springs Christmas tree lighting 
When: 5 p.m. 
Where: Farmers Market Pavilion (23517 NW 185 Rd., High Springs) 

Lights celebration at Thomas Center 
When: 5-8 p.m. 
Where: Thomas Center Gardens (302 NE 6th Ave, Gainesville) 

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park Holiday Open House 
When: 5-7:30 p.m. 
Where: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park (18700 S, Co Rd. 325, Cross Creek) 

Coke Holiday Caravan 
When: 5-7 p.m. 
Where: Celebration Pointe (4949 Celebration Pointe Ave., Gainesville) 

Saturday, Dec. 13 

Light up Tioga 2025 
When: 5-8 p.m. 
Where: 13085 SW 1 Ln., Newberry 

High Springs Christmas parade 
When: 6 p.m. 
Where: Main Street, High Springs 

“Elf” movie night 
When: 8 p.m. 
Where: Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E University Ave., Gainesville) 

Sunday, Dec. 14 

Alachua Conservation Trust Holiday Mingle 
When: 2-5 p.m. 
Where: Prairie Creek Lodge (7204 SE County Rd. 234, Gainesville) 

Inaugural “Christmas at the Matheson” concert 
When: 4 p.m. 
Where: The Matheson History Museum (513 E University Ave., Gainesville) 

Friday, Dec. 19 

Homeschool Meetup Reindeer Games in the Park 
When: 10 a.m.-noon 
Where: Green Tree Park (3600 NW 19th St., Gainesville) 

The Nutcracker by Dance Alive National Ballet* 
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 21 
Where: Phillips Center (3201 Hull Rd., Gainesville) 

Saturday, Dec. 20 

Newberry Nana’s Gingerbread Decorating Contest 
When: 5:30 p.m. 
Where: 25440 W Newberry Rd., Newberry 

Christmas on the Square 
When: 6 p.m. 
Where: CountryWay Town Square (1739 SW 248th Dr. Ste. 20, Newberry) 

Sunday, Dec. 21 

Milk, Cookies & the Message of Christ 
When: 3 p.m. 
Where: The Barn at Lakeside Ranch (167 Orange Ln., Hawthorne) 

Thursday, Dec. 25 

Carson Springs Wildlife Christmas Walk or Ride Tour* 
When: Dec. 25-27 
Where: Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation (8528 E County Rd. 225, Gainesville) 

Wednesday, Dec. 31 

Sparks in the Park 
When: 5-7 p.m. 
Where: Depot Park (513 E University Ave., Gainesville) 

Downtown countdown 
When: 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 
Where: Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E University Ave., Gainesville)