Paulding County's Holiday Season Runs Through Downtown Dallas, and Dec. 5 Is the Busiest Saturday
October 29, 2026
October 29, 2026
"Be in the courtyard at 6:30pm for the countdown to the lighting of the tree and fireworks!" That's the instruction on the City of Dallas event page for this year's 7th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. That countdown kicks off a stretch where most of Paulding County's holiday calendar happens at one address, 11 Courthouse Square, over about three weeks.
Here's how 2026 lays out. Downtown Dallas holds four events between Nov. 20 and Dec. 12, plus the Rotary parade. The busiest single day is Saturday, Dec. 5, when the Dallas parade and Hiram's tree lighting share the date.
These are the holiday dates posted so far by the City of Dallas, the Rotary Club of Paulding County, the City of Hiram and the Paulding County library system:
All four City of Dallas events list the same address, 11 Courthouse Square. Count from the Friday before Thanksgiving to the second Saturday in December and you get 23 days. The rest of this post walks through the calendar in order, since each weekend changes what's possible on the next.
The season opens with back-to-back evenings. On Friday, Nov. 20, Girls Night Out + Pink Friday runs from 5 to 9 p.m. The city describes it as a celebration of "shopping small and local before shopping the big box stores on Black Friday," with discounts, sales and activities at downtown retailers. The listing also says more details are coming.
The tree lighting is the next evening. From 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, the city plans Santa photos, food trucks, vendors along Main Street and live Christmas music on the stage in front of the police department. The Main Street stores stay open late. The lighting and fireworks happen together at 6:30 p.m. in the courtyard. Families with small children can arrive late in the afternoon, catch the countdown and still be home at a reasonable hour.
Shopping late on Friday and coming back for the lights on Saturday is two trips to the same square in about 24 hours. If you can only make one, Saturday has the fireworks and Santa. Friday has the store discounts.
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26 this year. Midnight on Main is listed from 12 to 2 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, so it starts the moment Thanksgiving Day ends. The city's description says it plainly: "After enjoying the turkey and the casseroles, bring the family to downtown Dallas for traditional Black Friday shopping!"
This one is different from the tree lighting in a practical way. The listing says pop-up retail vendors are not accepted, so Midnight on Main is the downtown storefronts on their own. The city also says to check back for a list of Black Friday deals from downtown businesses, so the specific offers come later in November.
Everything in the calendar builds toward the first Saturday in December.
The Rotary Club of Paulding County's parade page says the Invitational Christmas Parade "is always on the first Saturday in December," which puts this year's 34th parade on Dec. 5. It rolls out at 11:30 a.m. and goes on rain or shine. The theme is "The All American Christmas." The grand marshal is Paulding County Gold Star Families.
The Rotary's participant rules include this line about Santa.
No group or entry except the Paulding County Rotary will be permitted to include Santa Claus on its float or in its theme.
The city's Downtown Dallas events page promises "an appearance from Santa himself" at the parade, and under those rules no other entry can put him on its float. The parade also raises money. The Rotary says proceeds after expenses go to local charities, and its rules name Paulding Christmas as an example. On parade morning, volunteers collect canned goods for Helping Hands, Inc. at registration. If you're coming to watch, bringing a few cans is an easy way to help.
For church groups, scout troops, businesses and clubs that want to be in the parade, the timing gets tight. Online applications are due by Nov. 24, and a $50 late fee applies after Nov. 15. On parade day, registration opens at 8 a.m., and entries need to be registered and in their assigned positions by 9:30 a.m. to be judged. Entries that arrive after 10 a.m. may be turned away, and the Rotary assigns every spot in the lineup. Questions go to [email protected].
Hiram's date was set months ago. At its March 3, 2026 meeting, the Hiram City Council approved a consent agenda that set the city's Christmas Tree Lighting Event for Dec. 5, 2026, as recorded in the meeting's summary minutes. The minutes give no time or location. The City of Hiram website hasn't posted either one yet.
The Dallas parade starts at 11:30 a.m., so whether you can make both depends on when Hiram schedules its lighting. Keep an eye on the city site through November.
The library adds one more event that week. The Paulding County Carnegie Library calendar lists "Main Polar Express at the Library" at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, two days before the parade. The listing gives few details beyond that, so check the library's December calendar closer to the date.
The week after Dec. 5 has one confirmed downtown event. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the City of Dallas hosts the Historic Tour of Homes. The city's Downtown Dallas events page describes it as a chance to "step inside the some of the most beautiful homes in downtown Dallas along the tour." No time has been posted yet.
The county's own holiday market hasn't been announced. Last year, the 2025 Paulding County Christkindl Market ran Dec. 12 to 14 at the Watson Government Complex, 240 Constitution Blvd. in Dallas. Hours were 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The county's December 2026 calendar doesn't list a market yet. If it comes back on a similar schedule, it would land on the same weekend as the Tour of Homes, but 2026 dates haven't been posted.
One earlier date matters for weekday plans. All Paulding County library branches close on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. The county's November calendar shows no Veterans Day ceremony so far.
Holiday schedules change with weather and late announcements. Before you load up the car, check mydallasga.com for downtown Dallas, pauldingrotary.org for the parade and cityofhiramga.gov for Hiram's tree lighting details.
If you're working out how to fit the Dallas parade and Hiram's tree lighting into the same Saturday, or you just want to talk through which holiday events are close to home, I'm glad to help. Reach out to Clay Thomas any time. Let's Connect.
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