Gastonia to Host Annual ‘Christmas in the City’ Event

Gastonia, NC (December 1, 2025) Come and walk in a winter wonderland in Downtown Gastonia to celebrate this year’s Christmas in the City on Sunday, December 7, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This annual event features a Christmas parade, marketplace, and tree lighting ceremony, with a special visit from Santa Claus.

Event Highlights:

• Christmas Parade: Sponsored by the Gastonia Jaycees, the parade begins at 5:00 p.m., starting at Chester Street and Main Avenue and concluding at Main Avenue and Broad Street.
• Christmas Marketplace: Located at the Rotary Pavilion and hosted by the City of Gastonia, the marketplace opens at 5:00 p.m. with craft and business vendors, food trucks, and free family-friendly activities.
• Tree Lighting Ceremony: Hosted by Keep Gastonia Beautiful, the tree lighting begins at the conclusion of the parade at the Rotary Pavilion.

Special thanks to CaroMont Health, a proud sponsor of this year’s Christmas in the City event.

Free Activities at the Marketplace:

Attendees can enjoy a variety of free activities, including face painting, inflatables, a "Letters to Santa" station, a coloring booth, and more. After the tree lighting, children can visit Santa at the Rotary Pavilion for photos before he returns to the North Pole.

Street Closures to Note:

To ensure the safety of the event, the following street closures will take place:

• 2:00 p.m.: Main Avenue from Trenton Street to Broad Street. (Traffic will still flow on US-321 and MLK Jr. Way until 4:30 p.m.)
• 3:30 p.m.: N. Broad Street (from Franklin Boulevard to Long Avenue) and Main Avenue (from Broad Street to S. Avon Street).
• 4:30 p.m.: Chester Street, York Street, and MLK Jr. Way (from Long Avenue to Franklin Boulevard).

Come join us for an evening of festive fun and community spirit as we kick off the holiday season in downtown Gastonia! For more information, see the City Events calendar our website.

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Gastonia, N.C., just minutes west of Charlotte, is one of the area’s best places to live and work with an ideal combination of location, size and livability. Gastonia is the largest of Gaston County’s 13 municipalities and one of the largest cities in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Selected as an All-America City three times, Gastonia’s desirable quality of life is the result of its beautiful natural surroundings, friendly neighborhoods, responsive government and vibrant business environment.