Holiday Magic in Tupelo

Your Ultimate Guide to Shopping, Dining, and Celebrating the Season

Tupelo, Mississippi, is positively the place to catch the holiday spirit.

Get ready for a sleigh ride of delightful discoveries as you experience the Tupelo Spirit this holiday season!

Events
Shopping
Food & Drink
Holiday Cocktail Trail

Holiday Events

Two women sitting in a red Christmas sleigh decorated with red velvet bows and green garland

From lighted holiday parades to maker markets, Tupelo has many festive events and activities to get you into the holiday spirit. Enjoy the magic of the holidays with these special holiday events. Spend the afternoon strolling through beautifully decorated streets, shop exclusive holiday deals from local merchants, and enjoy a bite to eat at your favorite downtown restaurants.

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Lighting of the Park

Dates: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 6pm
Location: Ballard Park | 655 Rutherford Road

Ballard Park is lighting up for the season! Enjoy a night filled with Christmas music, fireworks, hot cocoa, and cookies. Plus, next door, the Oren Dunn City Museum will be hosting their Christmas Open House with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Festival of Christmas Trees

Dates: November 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Location: Ballard Park | 655 Rutherford Road

See the decorated lights and Christmas trees on display throughout Ballard Park this holiday season.

Deck The Depot

Dates: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: The Depot | 208 N Front Street

Step into a winter wonderland at Deck The Depot, a brand-new holiday market experience in Downtown Tupelo! This festive celebration will transform The Depot into a cozy Christmas market with shopping, photo ops, live entertainment, holiday crafts, and food trucks.

Ice Skating at Cadence Bank Arena

Dates: November 24, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Time: Various Times
Location: Cadence Bank Arena and Conference Center | 375 East Main Street

The Cadence Bank Arena transforms into a holiday skating rink from all season long. The whole family can lace up and take a spin beneath the glow of sparkling lights

People ice skating at an indoor rink in Tupelo, MS

Black Friday Flea Market

Dates: November 28-30, 2025
Time: Friday 5-9pm | Saturday 9am-7pm | Sunday 10am-4pm
Location: Tupelo Flea Market | 1879 Coley Road

Enjoy a special Black Friday edition of the Tupelo Flea Market. Take advantage of great deals and support local businesses and makers as you start your holiday shopping.

The Nutcracker

Dates: December 5-7, 2025
Time: Various times
Location: Tupelo Ballet | 209 Commerce Street

The Tupelo Ballet invites audiences to experience its 43rd annual production of “The Nutcracker,” featuring talented pre-professional students, special guest artists, and a live accompaniment by the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, bringing Tchaikovsky’s timeless score to life.

77th Annual Reed's Tupelo Christmas Parade

Dates: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Downtown Tupelo | Main Street

Celebrate the season with this beloved local tradition. Enjoy festive floats, school bands, community groups, local businesses, and a grand finale appearance by Santa Claus himself.

People holding a sign and walking in Reed's Tupelo Christmas Parade

Plaid Tidings

Dates: December 11-13, 2025
Time: Various Times
Location: Lyric Theatre | 201 North Broadway Street

Plaid Tidings is a holiday-themed sequel to the 1950s nostalgia musical, Forever Plaid, all tied up in a box with a big bow on top! Filled with Christmas standards that have all been "Plaid-erized," the boys are back to do their Christmas Special.

The Snow Globe

Dates: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 11am-12pm
Location: Link Centre | 1800 West Main Street

Step inside a world of snow and wonder with The Snow Globe, a child-led story about love, forgiveness, and the magic of home. Follow a young girl’s journey through the forest where owls, foxes, deer, and other creatures help her rediscover the joy of sisterhood.

Christmas Spirit of Tupelo

Dates: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 3pm and 7:30pm
Location: Tupelo Middle School | 1009 Varsity Drive

Featuring Itawamba and Northeast Mississippi Community College Choruses and NMSO Children’s Chorus, the Christmas Spirit of Tupelo is a tribute to the enduring Tupelo Spirit that has supported the arts for generations. The concert showcases holiday favorites and fresh takes on beloved classics.

A red street sign in a shop window that says "Santa is Coming"

Christmas Flea Market

Dates: December 19-21, 2025
Time: Friday 5-9pm | Saturday 9am-7pm | Sunday 10am-4pm
Location: Tupelo Flea Market | 1879 Coley Road

Get some one-of-a-kind handmade goods to finish your holiday shopping list a few days before Christmas.

Tupelo's New Year's Eve Party

Dates: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Time: 6pm-12:15am
Location: Fairpark | 71 East Troy Street

Tupelo’s annual New Year’s Eve Party returns with a fun lineup of bands and DJs on two different stages in Downtown Tupelo. The party has something for all ages to celebrate at the start of 2026. KidsFest kicks off the night, and the fun continues with live music, fireworks, and a midnight countdown from the BNA Bank Fairpark Stage.

A band performs on stage at Tupelo's New Year's Eve party

Gifts & Shopping

Shop, Sleigh, Repeat

Tupelo has three distinct shopping districts: Downtown, Midtown, and Barnes Crossing, where you will find unique gifts and clothing from recognized retailers to boutique stores. Explore local favorites like Reed’s Department Store, where you’ll find gifts, clothing, shoes, and more for women, men, and children. Travel back in time when you shop for antiques at Relics Antique Marketplace, inside the former Tupelo Garment Factory, where Elvis Presley’s mother, Gladys, worked.

More Tupelo Shopping

A gift box wrapped in while paper with a green ribbon and ceramic Tupelo ornaments attached

Festive Food & Drink

'Tis the Season to Savor

Do Christmas calories count? Not in Tupelo!

Mornings are made a little more magical with a holiday-inspired cup of coffee, like the gingerbread latte paired with a fresh blueberry Danish from Strange Brew Coffeehouse, on North Gloster Street.

Savor the warm hospitality and delicious Southern flavors at Sweet Tea & Biscuits, featuring daily specials and favorites like the Fried Green Tomato BLT, Momma’s Famous Chicken Salad, and the Trio Salad Plate. After your meal, make the most of your time in Tupelo by checking off your holiday shopping list at the adjoining boutique, The Vine Collection.

Warm up and celebrate the season at Nautical Whimsey with cozy Italian flavors, including dishes like rosemary focaccia bread, Florentine-stuffed ravioli, prosciutto e scampi, chicken parmesan, and more. Or end the day at Downunder with featured dishes from Australia, like the classic meat pie and kangaroo dip sandwich. You’ll also find Downunder’s Kris Kringle cocktail in our special edition digital Holiday Cocktail Trail featured below.

Explore More Dining

Quiche and fruit on a blue and white plate

Mix and Mingle on the Holiday Cocktail Trail

This special edition digital Holiday Cocktail Trail will take you to seven different restaurants and bars in downtown Tupelo that are serving up jolly creations from November 28, 2025, to January 1, 2026. From the Kanakaloka's Margarita at Jobos to the Italian Christmas Spritz at Nautical Whimsy, enjoy this yuletide adventure. When you’ve completed the trail, redeem an early Christmas present from us, a #MyTupelo cocktail shaker to keep the festive spirit flowing!

Download the Digital Holiday Cocktail Trail Pass

Follow @MyTupelo to Keep Up With All Things Tupelo

Stay connected and make the most of every season in Tupelo! Follow @MyTupelo on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and X to discover upcoming events, festivals, and local happenings. From seasonal celebrations to outdoor adventures and community experiences, there’s always something new to enjoy in Tupelo.

Author

Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau

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