Holiday markets & tree lightings in New Castle County
Tree lightings, holiday markets and town winter festivals are the easy side of the season: an hour outside, some cocoa, something to look at, often free to walk in. This list comes straight from our calendar, soonest first, and fills in as dates are announced. Organizers post dates on their own schedules, so more turn up as the season gets closer. For light displays, see the holiday lights guide. For Santa visits and Nutcrackers, see holiday shows.
1 event on Nov 21, grouped by area.
Hockessin, Greenville & Pike Creek (1)
See everything on the full calendar →
Good to know
- • Middletown's Christmas Tree Lighting & Caroling on the Square is Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Town Square (the four-corners intersection downtown). It's free and open to all. source
- • Rockwood Park & Museum's Holiday Open House is Friday–Saturday, Dec. 4–5, 2026, 5–9 p.m., with the tree and menorah lighting Friday at 6 p.m. Free for all ages: park lights, museum tours, free photos with Santa, local performers and craft vendors. source
- • Christmas in Odessa, a self-guided walking tour of historic homes decorated for the holidays, is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., rain or shine. The Odessa Tree Lighting Ceremony is at 4:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Old Academy (315 Main St.), with the countdown at 5:30 p.m. Tour tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the day; kids 6–12 are $5 and kids under 6 are free. source
- • The Holiday Celebration and Market at Glasgow Park is Friday–Saturday, Dec. 11–12, 2026, 5–8 p.m., with the tree and menorah lighting Friday at 6:30 p.m. Free for all ages: holiday market vendors, local performances, visits with Santa and crafts. source
- • Newark's Winterfest is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Old Paper Mill Road Park (weather date Dec. 13), with holiday entertainment, caroling, ice carving, and local artisans and small businesses. source
Questions parents ask
When are the tree lightings around New Castle County?
Most fall between the Friday after Thanksgiving and mid-December, and the ones we've checked start around dusk, roughly 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dates change every year, so this list updates from our live calendar as organizers post them. The lighting is often partway through the event, so check the ceremony time, not just the start time.
Are holiday markets and tree lightings free?
Many town and county ones are free to walk into. You pay for what you buy and for the food trucks. House tours such as Christmas in Odessa are ticketed. Look for the Free tag on each listing and check the event's own page before you go.
Any tips for a tree lighting with little kids?
Our take: get there 20–30 minutes early for parking, since the bigger ones can use shuttle lots, and plan to leave soon after the lights come on. Dress warmer than you think; you'll be standing still in the dark. For toddlers, a daytime market or festival is usually the easier outing.
Get the good ones before they fill up
One countywide shortlist every Friday morning, with ages, cost and logistics on each pick. Free.
More guides
Dates refresh from each organizer’s listing twice a day.
Event dates come straight from our live calendar and refresh automatically. Last reviewed October 23, 2026. Confirm anything dated on the source before you go.