# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey, 2026

> We found three Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey with 2026 dates: two parades and one tree lighting or lighting night, two free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
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## Christmas parades

- **Harrisburg Holiday Parade** at Front and 2nd streets, Market to North Street, Harrisburg, PA · downtown. When: Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Time: Sat. Nov. 21, 10 a.m. Price: Free. Giant balloons, marching bands and decorated floats. After the parade, Santa is at Strawberry Square. Official page: https://www.harrisburgpa.gov/events/holiday_parade.php (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Elizabethtown Holiday Parade** at Downtown Elizabethtown, Market St., Elizabethtown, PA · about 18 miles from Lancaster. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 4pm to 8pm. Price: No ticket listed. A downtown parade with Santa's Workshop open the same evening. Official page: https://www.discoverelizabethtown.com/event-details/elizabethtown-holiday-parade (checked 2026-10-30)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Mayor's Tree Lighting & Santa's Arrival** at Penn Square, Lancaster. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: Fri. Nov. 27, 5–8 p.m. Price: Free. Santa arrives with a fire bureau escort, then the tree in Penn Square is lit with a sing-along. Central Market stays open late. Official page: https://visitlancastercity.com/events/lancaster-city-for-the-holidays/mayors-tree-lighting/ (checked 2026-10-30)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Christmas parade in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey in 2026?
Harrisburg Holiday Parade: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, Sat. Nov. 21, 10 a.m. (Harrisburg, PA · downtown). Elizabethtown Holiday Parade: Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 4pm to 8pm (Elizabethtown, PA · about 18 miles from Lancaster).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey?
Mayor's Tree Lighting & Santa's Arrival at Penn Square: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, Fri. Nov. 27, 5–8 p.m.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey free?
Two of the three we list are free to watch: Harrisburg Holiday Parade and Mayor's Tree Lighting & Santa's Arrival. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Daytime ones are easiest with toddlers: Harrisburg Holiday Parade. Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).