Holiday Season Kickoff
Light Up Main Street 2026: Old Town Newhall's Holiday Kickoff
On Saturday, November 21, the City of Santa Clarita flips the switch on the holidays: Light Up Main Street fills five blocks of Old Town Newhall with lights, real snow, Santa, and live music, capped by the community Christmas tree lighting in front of the library at 5:30 PM. This year it means even more, coming just shy of three months after the August fire that tested Old Town's spirit. Here is the complete guide from your local insider, Sam Silver.
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 4-8 PM Sam Silver 6 min read
Light Up Main Street 2026 takes place Saturday, November 21, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Main Street in Old Town Newhall. The City announced the date on September 22 as part of the official save-the-date, with the event presented by DrinkPAK. The centerpiece is the community Christmas tree lighting at approximately 5:30 PM in front of the Santa Clarita Public Library's Old Town Newhall branch at 24500 Main Street, with the City Council leading the countdown. Expect five blocks of lights, real snow, Santa visits, live performances, and plenty of photo ops. Free to attend.
Date
Saturday, Nov 21, 2026
Time
4:00 - 8:00 PM
Location
Main Street, Old Town Newhall
Tree Lighting
~5:30 PM at the library
What to Expect on Main Street
Light Up Main Street is the night the whole valley kicks off its holiday season. Here is what makes it special.
The Tree Lighting at 5:30 PM
The main event: a tall, fully decorated community Christmas tree in front of the Old Town Newhall Library at 24500 Main Street. The City Council leads the countdown and the crowd cheers as the lights come on. Each year it is the moment the valley officially shifts into holiday mode.
Five Blocks of Lights
From the historic old courthouse to Market Street and beyond, the storefronts light up in coordinated displays along five blocks of Main Street. The old-town buildings, marquees, and trees make it one of the best holiday photo backdrops in the SCV. Bring a camera; you will use it.
Real Snow on Main Street
Yes, real snow. Snow machines drop genuine flurries onto Main Street throughout the evening, and the kids (and plenty of adults) love it. Come prepared: it is the most magical 15 minutes of a Santa Clarita winter, and there is almost never a line to catch a snowflake.
Santa Visits & Photo Ops
Santa makes his Old Town appearance for the season, with photo opportunities for families. Combined with the snow, the lights, and the live performances, it is a full holiday evening in a small-town setting that families drive across Los Angeles County to experience.
Live Performances
Local choirs, dance studios, and musicians perform on stages along Main Street through the evening, from school groups to community talent. It is a night that showcases the SCV's performing arts scene as much as its holiday spirit.
Old Town Dining & Shopping
Main Street's restaurants, cafes, tasting rooms, and boutiques stay open for the evening, many of them hosting holiday specials. In a normal year this is the single biggest shopping night of the season for Old Town. This year, supporting those businesses means even more.
The First Holiday Season After the Fire
On August 24, 2026, the Newhall Refinery fire devastated a stretch of Main Street, destroying the Newhall Refinery restaurant, The MAIN performing arts theater, and several neighbors' businesses. Light Up Main Street on November 21 is the first big holiday gathering on Main Street since that morning, and the community intends to show up loud and proud. Every dinner reservation, every tasting room visit, and every gift purchase at an Old Town business is a direct act of recovery support.
How to Make the Most of the Evening
Sam's playbook for a smooth, memorable Light Up Main Street night.
Skip the Street Parking
Use the Civic Center parking structure or the public garages on Market Street and 6th Street, then walk in. Main Street parking disappears by 4:30 PM. Arriving by 4 PM gets you the best spots and first crack at dinner.
Dine Old Town First
Make a 4 PM dinner reservation at a Main Street restaurant, eat, then walk out into the lights. You beat the dinner rush, support the recovery, and step outside at the golden moment between day and night.
Plan Photos Around 5:30
The tree lighting is the crowd magnet, so grab your family photos at the historic courthouse and the snow area just before the countdown. You get clean backdrops, and you are already positioned for the big moment.
Dress for a Valley Evening
Late November nights in Newhall are genuinely cold. Layers, gloves for the kids, and comfortable shoes for walking five blocks on repeat. The snow machines make it feel even colder, and the hot chocolate lines prove it.
The Holiday Season Ahead
Light Up Main Street opens a packed holiday stretch in the SCV. Here is what follows it.
Festival of Trees: Nov 20-22
The Boys & Girls Club of SCV's 24th annual Festival of Trees decorates the Canyon Country Community Center (18410 Sierra Hwy) with full-sized and tabletop trees, wreaths, and gingerbread houses, with live auctions, a Kids' Corner, and live entertainment on stage.
Thanksgiving Week
The COC and SCTC turkey trots open Thanksgiving morning, community dinners follow at the Newhall and Canyon Country Community Centers, and the valley shifts into giving mode. Full plans in the Thanksgiving guide.
Holiday in the Park: Nov 26
Six Flags Magic Mountain transforms into a winter wonderland from late November through early January, with millions of lights, holiday shows, and Santa. The holiday events guide has parking and timing tips.
Full Holiday Events GuideSee You on Main Street
After 22 years in Santa Clarita, Sam still looks forward to Light Up Main Street more than almost any other night of the year. If you are new to the valley, this is the night to catch the SCV's small-town heart. Come say hello, and if you are thinking about making Old Town Newhall or any SCV neighborhood your home, Sam would love to give you the insider tour.
Veterans Day 2026 in Santa Clarita
The ceremony at Veterans Historical Plaza on November 11, plus ways to honor our veterans all month. From U.S. Army veteran Sam Silver.
Read MoreFall 2026 in Santa Clarita Valley
The full autumn calendar: harvest festivals, Veterans Day, and the holidays ahead.
Read MoreHoliday Light Displays & Tours
Where to see the brightest neighborhoods and displays across the SCV this winter.
Read More