You don’t have to leave Calhoun County to find Christmas magic this year. From drive-through light shows and town-square parades to local shopping, markets, and cozy restaurants, the holidays are packed with things to do right here at home.
Here’s your 2025 guide to a hometown Christmas in Oxford, Anniston, Jacksonville, and beyond.
Light Up the Night
If you only do one big holiday outing this year, make it the lights.
Oxford Festival of Lights at Choccolocco Park
For 2025, the Oxford Festival of Lights is back at Choccolocco Park from November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026. It’s a 1.5-mile drive-through light show with more than 2–2.5 million lights spread across roughly 40 acres. After the drive, you can park and head into Santa’s Village for towering trees, food trucks, photos with Santa, skating, and the new Snow Mountain tubing experience with real snow.
Pile everyone in the car, crank up the Christmas playlists, and make a night of it.
Jacksonville’s Lighting of the Square
Jacksonville keeps things classic with its Christmas Light Ceremony on Public Square. This year’s lighting is scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM on Public Square in downtown Jacksonville. It’s a simple, small-town moment: lights, music, families bundled up, and the official “flip” that says Christmas season has arrived.
Between those big events and neighborhood displays all over the county, you can easily put together your own “Calhoun County Lights Tour” with a thermos of hot chocolate and a backseat full of kids (or grown-ups acting like kids).
Parades & Small-Town Christmas Magic
If you love marching bands, floats, candy, and Santa waving from the back of a fire truck, December in Calhoun County has you covered.
Oxford Christmas Parade
The City of Oxford Christmas Parade is one of the most beloved family events of the year. For 2025, it’s scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM in Historic Downtown Oxford. Expect floats, school groups, local businesses, and lots of lights rolling right through Main Street.
Downtown Anniston Christmas Parade
Anniston’s big parade lights up Historic Noble Street. The 2025 Downtown Anniston Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM, with floats, bands, dancers, community groups, downtown shopping, and a Santa finale.
Jacksonville Christmas Parade
Jacksonville’s annual Christmas Parade rolls on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM. The route starts at Pelham Plaza on Pelham Road South and works its way through downtown and Public Square, finishing near the Jacksonville State campus.
Pick one—or be ambitious and hit all three for a full tour of Calhoun County’s parade season.
Shop Local, Wrap Local
This is prime time for small businesses, and they pull out all the stops.
Christmas on Main – Oxford
Historic Main Street Oxford leans into the season with Christmas on Main, a downtown event built around shopping, live entertainment, and family activities. In recent years it has featured extended store hours, special sales, carriage rides, and more in mid-November.
Markets & Craft Fairs
Local churches and organizations also host holiday markets. For example, Greenbrier Road Baptist Church in Anniston has previously hosted a multi-night Christmas market with vendors and food trucks in December, giving folks a place to find handmade crafts, décor, and gifts.
Combine that with:
Boutiques and shops around downtown Oxford and Anniston
Stores at the Oxford Exchange and along Quintard
Specialty shops (music gear, bikes, sporting goods, etc.)
…and you can build almost your entire Christmas list within the county—and keep those dollars local while you’re at it.
Holiday Eats & Cozy Nights Out
When the weather finally turns cold (or at least “Alabama cold”), it’s time for comfort food and warm dining rooms.
A few local favorites to put on your holiday list:
Hubbard’s Off Main (Oxford) – Southern comfort food and a historic downtown setting that feels made for winter evenings.
Classic on Noble (Anniston) – A true Anniston mainstay for years, known for its beautiful holiday decorations, special-occasion meals, and that “old downtown” Christmas feel. With the owners retiring and the restaurant closing, this season is a chance to soak it in one more time and say goodbye to a place that’s been part of so many Calhoun County celebrations.
Mellow Mushroom (Oxford) – Easy pizza stop after lights or parades, especially with kids in tow.
Coldwater Mountain Brewpub (Anniston) – Local brews, hearty food, and frequent live music—perfect for a laid-back holiday night out.
Top O’ The River (Anniston) – A go-to for catfish and seafood when you’ve got visiting family and need a classic local spot.
Many of these spots offer gift cards, which double as easy stocking stuffers and “hard-to-buy-for” gifts.
Family Fun & Local Events
Beyond lights and parades, keep an eye on community calendars for:
Holiday shows at the Oxford Performing Arts Center (OPAC)
Christmas programs at local churches and schools
Santa photo events at businesses, parks, and community centers
Holiday craft days, story times, and kids’ events at libraries and churches
Check the City of Oxford, City of Anniston, and City of Jacksonville websites and Facebook pages for updated event dates, times, and any weather changes.
Give Back Where You Live
In the middle of all the activity, Christmas is also an important time to support neighbors who are struggling.
Look for:
Toy drives and Angel Tree programs at local churches and organizations
Food drives through area churches and nonprofits
Coat, blanket, and winter clothing collections
Opportunities to volunteer at community dinners and outreach events
Groups like United Way of East Central Alabama, local churches, civic clubs, and school groups often coordinate these efforts—supporting them keeps your generosity right here in Calhoun County.
A Hometown Christmas to Remember
From the Oxford Festival of Lights at Choccolocco Park to parades on Noble Street and Public Square, Christmas in Calhoun County doesn’t need big-city hype to feel special. It’s the combination of small-town events, packed local restaurants, late-night shopping on Main Street, and familiar faces under twinkling lights that make this season feel like home.
This year, instead of rushing past it, pick a few of these local traditions and put them on the calendar:
One big lights night
One parade
One “shop local” day
One holiday dinner out
One way to give back
String those together, and you’ve got yourself a pretty perfect Calhoun County Christmas.
From all of us at Calhoun County Insight, Merry Christmas and happy holidays! 🎄
