Paducah comes alive with creative energy, community spirit, and Christmas lights during the holiday season. Discover many ways to celebrate in our city with festive traditions, cozy gatherings, and vibrant downtown happenings. For a full list of festive happenings, visit our 2025 Holiday Events page.
Paducah Christmas Parade
December 6, 2025
Gather along Broadway for an evening of floats, bands, lights, and laughter with family and friends. This special evening parade features thousands of holiday lights and is the perfect free holiday activity for the whole family. Make your night extra special by arriving early for shopping and dinner downtown.
Credit: Paducah Main Street
Photos with Santa and Mrs. Clause
River Discovery Center
December 7, 2025
Bring the family to meet Santa at the River Discovery Center! RDC’s iconic Founders Room is all decked out for the holiday, and a professional photographer will be on site to capture your family memories from 1 to 4 PM. Grab lunch at Market House Square before and explore the rest of the Center after your photo slot. Reservations are required.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet
The Carson Center
December 10, 2025
Experience this holiday classic with a spectacular international cast, larger-than-life puppets, and breathtaking costumes at the Carson Center. For an extra special yuletide treat, go ahead and book an overnight stay in town and enjoy dinner and shopping downtown before the show. Tickets available here.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Market House Theatre
December 11–14 & 18–21, 2025
Chaos meets comedy in this hilarious and heartwarming holiday production, perfect for families and theatre-lovers alike. Make it a downtown Paducah evening with pre-show dining and browsing through painted storefronts just steps from the theatre. Get tickets in advance.
A Christmas Celebration
Paducah Symphony Orchestra
December 13, 2025
Let the rich sounds of the season fill your heart during this spectacular musical evening. Traditional carols and orchestral favorites make for a beautiful holiday experience. Book a stay and extend your visit to explore more downtown events and cultural landmarks while you're in town for the performance. Get tickets here.
Pajama Party Cocktail Trail +
Upstairs Downtown Open House
December 13, 2025
Sip, shop, and stroll in your holiday pajamas at this event by Paducah Main Street! Downtown bars and shops will keep the lights (and spirits) on late for this laid-back, laughter-filled night of holiday cheer. After sampling festive cocktails and shopping local, check into a nearby hotel to make a fun overnight of it in Paducah’s holiday-lit downtown. The open house is free, but tickets for the cocktail trail are available here.
Grand Holiday Market & Soireé
The Grand Lodge
December 20, 2025
Get into the spirit of the season with an artful, memory-making day of local shopping, live music, treats, and festive cheer in the heart of historic downtown Paducah. Admission is free, with fun for the whole family and donations accepted to support Paducah Cooperative Ministry. More info here.
Christmas in the Park
Through December 31, 2025
Drive through thousands of twinkling lights at Paducah's iconic Noble Park. This annual tradition lights up the park with fun and festive holiday decorations. Families will enjoy seeing reindeer, snowmen, Santa, and plenty more with holiday tunes on the radio to complete the experience. Admission is free, but people are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for Paducah's local food banks.
Need more inspiration? Take a look at this Christmas itinerary for a step-by-step guide to savoring the season in Paducah.
