The City of Gastonia will be a festive place for this year’s Christmas celebration. The annual Christmas in the City parade, marketplace, and tree lighting ceremony are scheduled for Sunday, December 3 from
3 – 7 p.m. in Downtown Gastonia, with a special appearance by Santa Claus.
Event details:
- Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Jaycees, will begin at Chester Street and Main Avenue and will end at Main Avenue and Broad Street and will start at approximately 5 p.m.
- Christmas Marketplace near the Rotary Pavilion, hosted by the City of Gastonia, will start at approximately 3 p.m.
- The tree lighting at the Rotary Pavilion, hosted by Keep Gastonia Beautiful, will start at approximately 6:30 p.m.
- The Parade is sponsored by the Gastonia Jaycees.
- CaroMont Health is a sponsor of the Christmas in the City event.
A special note to attendees:
- Street closures:
- Main Avenue from Trenton St. to Broad Street will close at 2 p.m. (Traffic can still travel on US-321 and MLK Jr. Way until 4:30 p.m.)
- Broad Street from Franklin Boulevard to Long Avenue and Main Avenue from Broad Street to S. Avon Street will close at 3 p.m.
- Chester Street, York Street, and MLK Jr. Way from Long Avenue to Franklin Boulevard will close at 4:30 p.m.
The Christmas Marketplace will feature craft and business vendors, and food trucks will sell meals and treats. Some of the free activities at the Marketplace will include face painting, winter themed inflatables, a trackless train, letters to Santa and coloring booth, carolers, and a stilt walking elf. Santa will also be at the Rotary Pavilion in Downtown from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to take pictures, so make sure to stop by before he heads back to the North Pole after the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.