Roanoke's Hometown Holiday Now Takes Up Two Nights. Here's How the Weekend Works
November 5, 2026
November 5, 2026
Last year, Roanoke's Hometown Holiday was one long Saturday. It ran from noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2025, at 500 S. Oak St., with the vendors, the parade, Santa and the lights all in one day. This year the city has split it up. A new Friday-night event called Holiday in the Plaza opens the weekend on Dec. 4. The Saturday celebration follows on Dec. 5 with a shorter window. A Christmas concert at a Roanoke address closes things out on Sunday.
So the first weekend of December now runs three days instead of one. And for anyone who wants to be part of it rather than just watch, the deadlines all land in November.
Holiday in the Plaza runs Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Roanoke City Hall Plaza, 500 S. Oak St. Admission is free. The city's Eventeny listing for Holiday in the Plaza calls it a new community kickoff, with live holiday music, hot cocoa and festive activities, hosted by the City of Roanoke. Community Impact's roundup of holiday events calls it a "brand new holiday event" with market vendors at the plaza.
The vendor rules show what kind of night the city has in mind. The market application says no food trucks and asks for curated, unique or handmade holiday goods. That makes Friday a quieter shopping evening on the plaza. The parade, the tree lighting and the big crowds come the next afternoon.
Roanoke's 2026 Hometown Holiday runs Saturday, Dec. 5, from 2 to 7 p.m. The city calendar lists a tree lighting, a holiday parade, visits with Santa and other seasonal activities in downtown Roanoke. Admission is free, and the event spreads along Oak Street.
The window is five hours this year, down from eight in 2025, and it starts two hours later. Saturday still has vendors. The 2026 Eventeny listing mentions local vendors, live entertainment, lights, a Christmas parade and seasonal treats, all at 500 S. Oak St. This year's parade theme is "Bumble & Buddies!"
The later start leaves Saturday morning free. In Keller, The Keller Pointe holds Breakfast with Santa that same morning from 8:30 to 11:20 a.m. at 405 Rufe Snow Drive. Breakfast is catered by DeVivo Bros, with sweets from Mrs. Claus's Cookie Shop and a photo with Santa. You sign up for one of three 50-minute time slots, prices start at $20, and you have to register ahead of time.
| Day | Event | Time | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Holiday in the Plaza | 6-9 p.m. | City Hall Plaza, 500 S. Oak St. | Free admission |
| Fri., Dec. 4 | Holly Days in Keller | 5-9 p.m. | Keller Town Hall, 1100 Bear Creek Parkway | Free admission |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Breakfast with Santa | 8:30-11:20 a.m. | The Keller Pointe, 405 Rufe Snow Drive | From $20, preregistration required |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Roanoke's Hometown Holiday | 2-7 p.m. | Oak Street, downtown Roanoke | Free admission |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Fort Worth Chorale, "Journey Home" | 3:30 p.m. | 101 Trophy Club Drive, Roanoke | From $22 |
The new Friday event lands on the same night as Keller's Holly Days. That one runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Keller Town Hall, 1100 Bear Creek Parkway, with a tree lighting, Santa photos and a light parade. The City of Keller holds it on the first Friday of December each year.
Holly Days starts an hour earlier and closes at the same time, and the two programs are different. A family could catch Keller's light parade early in the evening and still get to the Roanoke plaza before the market closes at 9. Or they could pick one Friday and save the tree lighting for Roanoke on Saturday, since both towns light a tree that weekend.
The Fort Worth Chorale's annual Christmas concert, "Journey Home," features music about the nativity story from around the world. It plays three venues: 1000 Penn St. in Fort Worth on Friday, Dec. 4, 2720 S. University Drive in Fort Worth on Saturday, Dec. 5, and 101 Trophy Club Drive in Roanoke on Sunday, Dec. 6. The Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee starts at 3:30 p.m. Tickets start at $22. College students get a discount, and K-12 teachers and students attend free, according to the concert's event listing.
If you'd rather stay in the car, Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Circle in Fort Worth, opens Nov. 26 and runs through Jan. 3. It's a 2-mile drive past three million lights, starting at $35. The speedway's website suggests coming early or on a weeknight to shorten the wait.
Most of the December weekend is set by people who sign up in November. Here are the deadlines on the city's Eventeny pages, in order:
Each application asks for current product photos. Applicants also need a notarized Hold Harmless Agreement unless they've filed one in the past 12 months. Food vendors face extra permitting steps. Food tents may need a temporary health permit at least two weeks before the event. For Saturday's Hometown Holiday, food trucks also need Texas DSHS licensing and inspection. Neither event has assigned vendor parking. Vendors are told to follow the parking map in their vendor packet. If you're a local maker weighing a booth, the Friday market is the one built for you, and it closes applications a day earlier than Saturday.
Before December, downtown has a few more dates. The city's Evenings on Oak St. Concert Series has played Austin Street Plaza, 211 N. Oak St., since September. The Halftones and PALADIN played in September, followed by Mattie Rose and 3 Fools on 3 Stools in October. Two shows are left:
In between, the Roanoke Veterans Tribute runs Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at 500 S. Oak St., the same City Hall address that hosts the Friday holiday market a month later.
The city hasn't posted a parade route, a tree-lighting time, road closures or attendee parking for either holiday night yet. The City of Roanoke calendar is the place to check as December gets closer.
The bigger change is a closed lot. In February, Community Impact reported that the city lot at 102 S. US 377 would close Feb. 21 to make room for a five-story, 430-space public garage. Construction was set to start Feb. 23, with completion expected in March 2027. If that schedule held, this is the first holiday weekend with that lot closed and the garage still unfinished. It's worth planning your Saturday arrival around that, and the 2 p.m. start makes an early arrival easier than it was last year.
We'll be following Oak Street through the season and will share the parade route and parking details once the city posts them. If you have questions about how downtown Roanoke's growth affects your own plans, the team at Diamond Realty Group is happy to talk it through. Contact Us anytime.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
At Diamond Realty Group, we believe every client deserves honest guidance, personalized service, and a seamless real estate experience. Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, our team is committed to helping you move forward with confidence.
ADDRESS 16128 Hollyhill Ct Justin, TX 76247